BT Gamepad hack

kryten007 · 01-21-06, 05:14 PM

Hey folks, thanks for checking this out! This project was "completed" several months ago, but i only got around to posting it now. I wanted a better control layout for gaming, but the only option out there seemed to be that folding bluetooth game pad. It looked perfect, except that i had read here that while it does work with the Axim, it did not fit on it. Once i got the necessary money together, i got it with the intention of extending it somehow. When it arrived, i did just that. It worked OK, but it was awkward to hold--and isn't that why i got it in the first place?

While not a big console gamer, i am a fan of the way Sony designed their Playstation controllers. With that in mind, i decided to take the innards of the BT gamepad and put them in a modified PS controller. I was extremely lucky in acquiring the controller. i wanted a black one (like the PS2's), but also one with out the analog sticks (PS1 only). Ebay said there was no such thing, so i was prepared to compromise. When i went to the local GameStop, however, two minutes of searching yielded exactly what i wanted--and for only $3!

The wiring was not as easy as i thought. The D-pad was OK with one wire for each button and a common ground, so it wired into the PS controller's board just fine. No such luck with the action buttons, however. While Sony did it the logical way (like the D-pad), the BT gamepad did not have a common ground. WHY?!?!? Well, a bit of dremmeling took care of that and each of the PS's buttons now had 2 wires. I then wired the PS's "L2" and "R2" shoulder buttons up to the BT's "L" and "R", and the "R1" up to the BT's "start" (as the PS's original start button had been removed).

Now all it had left to do was attach to the Axim itself. The brackets it the center are cut up pager belt clips that i had laying around. the hug the edge of the axim like they were made to! The underside is where things get really ghetto. as you can see, i made spring cylinders out of two mechanical pencils. The spring itself was pulled from an old battery charger--it fit perfectly in the tube! These cylinders allow the whole thing to stretch, in order to hold the Axim.

As any maker/hacker/fiddler knows, no project is ever really "done". In the future i plan on:
1) angling the axim back a bit
2) replacing the pencils with something better (brass tubing, perhaps)
3) increasing the amount it stretches a bit for landscape use (i had intended this since "v1.0", but a measurement error left it short this time)
4) Do something about the flagrant hot-gluing

You can see some pics of it on flickr. Be sure to click the ling, as there are far more (and better) pics to be seen. I hope you enjoy!

www.flickr.com

jonny5rd's Axim Bluetooth GamePad Hack photoset

01-21-06, 05:18 PM

Wow! Thats some setup!

I have the same ATI remote for my computer.

kryten007 · 01-21-06, 05:27 PM

Thanks! Good eye on the remote :) What card do you have?

01-21-06, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by kryten007

Thanks! Good eye on the remote :) What card do you have?

Its a pretty old card. ATI TV wonder VE. I don't even use it anymore.... but I really like the remote. I now have an amazing HD tv tuner
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/eng/Products/ATSC5Gold.aspx

pmcizhere · 01-21-06, 06:05 PM

Wow, that's cool! Sure, it's a little messy in the back, but if it works, then I would buy that over the gamepad they sell. I too am upset that it doesn't fit my x51v, nor have they updated their drivers to support WM5 (I was kinda hoping that was what this thread was about...But cool nonetheless.). Nice hack work!

willyb311 · 01-21-06, 06:21 PM

that is sweet - you did an awesome job designing that thing.
it's a shame you couldn't sell your idea - I would definitely buy one (if it was reasonably price of course) :)

kryten007 · 01-21-06, 09:18 PM

Thanks pmcizhere and willyb311! Sorry to disappoint, pmc--i am glad i haven't updated! I wish i could sell it too, i had thought about making some for sale here. it is pretty labor intensive, however, (not to mention the cost of parts) so I'm afraid it would cost more than anyone would pay. lol, if you do have $100 to blow, by all means let me know!

pmcizhere · 01-22-06, 06:02 AM

Well, actually I do have the gamepad already, and I do have an old PS1 (No-analog-sticks) controller that I would not mind getting ripped apart. Two, in fact, one that I would gladly donate (I'm only in high school with a lot of classes and homework, so I have no job...). Perhaps that could lower the price a little? :D Don't mean to sound cheap, but you know how it can be...

kryten007 · 01-22-06, 01:45 PM

Hmmm... i will think about it. I mean, i would love to, but i too have tons of class/homework so i don't know when i would have time to do it. I will certainly let you know if it looks like i'll have the time anytime soon.

cng · 01-22-06, 02:47 PM

Hey, you made it on Engadget!

Superb idea. So, this works with the X50v right? How about WM5? This would be awesome if it worked with fpsce (Playstation One emulator?).

kryten007 · 01-22-06, 03:09 PM

Well, according to pmcizhere, the drivers are not wm5 compatable. i haven't used fpsce, but i can't imagine it wouldn't work. as far as the axim knows, pushing a button on the gamepad is the same as pressing the axim's buttons. i have used it quite successfully with morphgear, flux challenge (came with the gamepad!), anthelion 2, and many others.

PS: engadget! i can't believe it!

GWing_02 · 01-22-06, 06:08 PM

Hey hey, small world, you're on Engadget.
They make a mockery of our post titles though... =P

That pad, though, that is sick. Good work.

01-22-06, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by kryten007

Well, according to pmcizhere, the drivers are not wm5 compatable. i haven't used fpsce, but i can't imagine it wouldn't work. as far as the axim knows, pushing a button on the gamepad is the same as pressing the axim's buttons. i have used it quite successfully with morphgear, flux challenge (came with the gamepad!), anthelion 2, and many others.

PS: engadget! i can't believe it!

Hey. Congrats on engadget! I think this is worthy material.

darkdestroyer · 01-22-06, 10:21 PM

Now just make it landscape and prettier...you've got a product that you can start a business with.

cng · 01-22-06, 10:30 PM

I know this may be lots of work but would you mind writing a guide, maybe with pictures if you have the extra time, and describe how to make one and we can all try this at home.

-take out the soldering iron-