Author Topic: Gameport CH gear (Read 413 times)

hubsonfire · « **on:** May 16, 2006, 07:07:26 PM »

Hoping to upgrade without spending more on sticks than I spent on my PC. I replaced my sound card a while back, and have found that my gameport works, and an old CH stick I've been given is fully functional.

However, at present I only have this archaeic CH F-16 Combat stick (manufactured in '95, still 10 times the stick my saitek is), and am curious as to whether I can get a throttle and rudder setup to function, without breaking the bank. I'm also curious as to whether a USB/gameport adapter, such as the one radio shack sells, will work properly with the CH gear. I know I've seen a few folks say they've used the adapters for the pedals in prior threads, but I wasn't sure if the sticks worked with the adapters. I'd try to get a complete gameport set, but it appears that the gameport will not allow simultaneous button presses to function, which puts a damper on things in AH. A complete gameport setup isn't going to be great if I can't use buttons simultaneously, and adapters would be worthless if the buttons won't work at all.

Anyway, if I am going to upgrade anything, it has to be done inexpensively, and thought I'd see what you lot had figured out regarding the older gear and newer systems, adapters, mapping, etc.

Thanks,
hub

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2006, 07:28:32 PM »

If you have gameport gear and you want to use it in a USB, it has to be designed from the beginning to allow this. You can't just plug any old gameport device into an adapter and try it via USB. I've done this. It doesn't work.

Having said that, you can TRY. If it IS designed to work that way, great! If not, I would suggest just getting another gameport card.

I have 2 gameports. One is a back panel that connects to my motherboard. One is a back panel that connects to my Audigy sound card. Both work fine. I am sure you can pick up a PCI card with nothing on it but a gameport, and if that's the only thing on it, it'll be dirt cheap (~$10).

Failing that, if you can't find one, just get an old PCI Sound Blaster 16 (also in the vicinity of $10-$20) as they all come with gameports.

Very cheap, very effective.

EDIT: Oh, as for sound cards, I think you can just disable one and use the gameport on it, if you pop in a second Sound Blaster 16 like I mentioned. Just disable it in windows, but the gameport should still show up. There's a way to do it

Krusty · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2006, 07:33:37 PM »

I just checked and I have a spare PCI SB card with a gameport. Let me know if the USB adapter thing doesn't work out.

My old Wingman DID work with a USB adapter, but then it came with it. My current MS Sidewinder (analog, first version) does not.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2006, 08:11:52 PM »

I currently have an SB Live-5.1-Value-something-or-other, and the gameport works fine. My other sound card, an SB PCI 128, worked fine on my older PC, but I could never get the gameport to work on this box. The 128 is old enough to be unsupported, and I never had any luck finding drivers which would allow the gameport to work, so I just mothballed that in favor of the current card.

Asus used to offer the gameport header for this motherboard, but I've been unable to locate one. My current budget means there's 0 chance of a USB CH setup, so I've been trying to come up with a workaround. I have used a USB adapter (the aftermarket type, not the little dongles like Logitech used to sell with the wingman sticks) on an old gameport Suncom SFS throttle, but only the throttle axis was recognized- no buttons would function since it required a keyboard connection and some sort of software running in the background to map the "keys" on the throttle. Complete PITA. I suppose I need to pick up another adapter and see if winders recognizes the buttons on the stick in some coherent manner, then figure out rudder and throttle setups later.

CptA · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2006, 09:12:11 PM »

Head on over to the experts at the CH Hangar Forums .

They have a special section devoted just to getting older CH gameport gear working in WinXP.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page, or just do a simple search of their forums...I'm sure you'll find something helpfull.

Good Luck!

CptA

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2006, 09:46:54 PM »

First off, dont even bother with the Radioshack USB converter. I speak from experience. The stick will never stay calibrated. Download the drivers from the CH website and the stick will work in XP plugged into your gameport just fine. Need one of the "gameports" that will plug into the gameport header on your motherboard? Check with Creative. Thats what they shipped with their Audigy soundcards. If you cant find one anywhere else, I have one leftover, I'll try to find it.

The stick and rudder pedals work just fine in XP. The only problem is the throttle. It can be made to work, but it's a pain. Ask Akak, he's the man with the knowhow on that one. My analog CH stick and rudder pedals right at 9 years old now. Instead of the throttle I use a N50 gamepad. More buttons to program with stuff and the slider wheel makes a good throttle control.

Download the drivers here

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/tech_support_pc.html

hubsonfire · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2006, 01:35:12 AM »

I downloaded and installed the CH analog drivers for XP. As great as they are, I still lack a rudder and useful throttle axis. Also, I am able to use only a single button at a time. This means I can't fire both primary and secondary weapons at the same time, nor can I zoom and pan up. I don't recall this being an issue on previous gameport sticks, but this is a PC which hasn't even successfully run the gameport in the past.

I've heard that the throttle's axis can be made to function, but that no additional button/hat/switch functions will work. I don't really care as long as my throttle isn't a tiny little thumbwheel. Before I installed the CH software (analog drivers), winders recognized the stick and my suncom throttle as a 3 axis 14 button joystick (yeah, I know, I don't have a clue how it came to that conclusion either). After, the stick is recognized and calibrated perfectly.

The main issue, for me anyway, is getting simultaneous button presses to work, and the obvious lack of a rudder axis. I was curious about the adapters, wondering if they would allow multiple presses at once, and also whether or not they would even be recognized.

So far, I'm thinking getting the gameport to work under XP is more of a curse than a blessing. I do, however, appreciate the feedback. Without that, I'd be up **** creek. This is about the least intuitive system I've ever dealt with.

TequilaChaser · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2006, 05:53:21 AM »

hub,

I have used my ch setup any almost every configuration possible with both the "Radio Shack GP to USB adapter" and with an added on soundcard / gameport....

I used my combat stick once with the USB adapter, it worked including the rotary throttle and the rudder pedals, only thing was had to use Speed Keys!! ( yes speed keys is a win98 prog, but CH Hangar has a batch file to set it up in WinXP or can do it even easier - load up win98 on a partion or another old Hard Drive and install speedkeys, program ya stick, then put the stick back on your WinXP machine...... )

You can use your GamePort CH Gear in WinXP and it is quiet easy once you relax and let go of the frustration......

I currently using a 8 to 10 year old Fighter stick/Pro throttle/pedals and loaded my speedkeys to the onboard memory/flash chip in the stick and throttle......

you can erase the stick settings and go back to default and use stick mapping in the game, only if you are using a Game Port, if using the USB adapter speed keys is going to be a must.......

I personally had no problem with either type gear connection for the most part.......

AKAK , as S2A mentioned is information loaded, as well as Ren, and alot of others on these boards who have not stepped up to the USB plate yet.........

Horn was the one who helped me with all of this in the beginning ( when I was frustrated that is )

TequilaChaser · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2006, 05:59:23 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by hubsonfire
I downloaded and installed the CH analog drivers for XP. As great as they are, I still lack a rudder and useful throttle axis. Also, I am able to use only a single button at a time. This means I can't fire both primary and secondary weapons at the same time, nor can I zoom and pan up. I don't recall this being an issue on previous gameport sticks, but this is a PC which hasn't even successfully run the gameport in the past.

I've heard that the throttle's axis can be made to function, but that no additional button/hat/switch functions will work. I don't really care as long as my throttle isn't a tiny little thumbwheel. Before I installed the CH software (analog drivers), winders recognized the stick and my suncom throttle as a 3 axis 14 button joystick (yeah, I know, I don't have a clue how it came to that conclusion either). After, the stick is recognized and calibrated perfectly.

The main issue, for me anyway, is getting simultaneous button presses to work, and the obvious lack of a rudder axis. I was curious about the adapters, wondering if they would allow multiple presses at once, and also whether or not they would even be recognized.

downloading the CH WinXP analog drivers is only 1/2 of it, you need the batch file, so you can load the DOS type speed keys prog to program........can find a link to it in the CH Hangar forum as well......unless you wanting to use AH stick/key mapping feature.......this 2nd option is going to be more difficult but still think it is doable......

when I set my stick up, I had to switch the way it viewed the Pro Throttle, in the speed keys program, also I recall on all these old analog sticks, CH instructions said to choose it as a 3 axis/4 button set up.......( you might choose combat stick, but the 3 axis/ 4 button stick option is better for some reason )

can email me offline if ya want any help setting it up.......

eagl · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2006, 06:25:23 AM »

Yes you can fire both guns at the same time. AH key/stick mapper works quite well and you should be able to map both primary and secondary guns to one stick button. I don't use speedkeys but I have mapped all the buttons on my CH flightstick pro to my satisfaction using just the AH in-game key and stick maps.

As for everything else, there is no reason why USB rudders shouldn't work with an analog stick so the big question is if you can find a reasonably priced throttle. You may consider just getting USB rudders from CH, using your existing stick, and digging into the keymapper to put the throttle keys where your left hand can get at them easily.

I'd stay away from Ebay... Even a "like new" stick with old pots may spike badly and there's no way to tell in advance or return it if it sucks. You're better off shopping garage sales or swap meets.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2006, 08:02:35 PM »

I know I can map "fire both" to a button; my point was that simultaneous button pushes don't register ingame. For whatever reason, while my usb stick allows several buttons to function simultaneously, the gameport stick does not.

Also, I was pleased to find out that Speedkeys can be set to run under XP using the Compatibility tab under Properties. However, without a throttle it's kind of useless, but good to know should I be able to locate one. I was unable to find the batch file in question on the CH Hangar, so this is a good thing.

Krusty · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2006, 11:16:05 PM »

It must be a problem with the stick itself. I've been using primary/secondary keys on my analog stick for a long time (pressing both at same time to fire both).

Specifically I don't know what is wrong, but it's got to be stick related.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2006, 02:06:29 AM »

Hmmm, interesting. I don't know if it makes any difference, but what OS are you running? I have XP Pro with SP2 on this box, while my old PC had 98SE on it. I didn't recall any oddities with the gameport on it (the older PC which used, without problems, the other gameport), so perhaps it's something I've done to this one.

The stick, while old, seems to exhibit no problems, and was in good working order when last used. I'd like to think there are no problems with it, but I can't say with any certainty.

Krusty · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2006, 05:45:37 PM »

XP Pro, SP2, up to date patches/etc
1.5GB (before this 512MB)
SB Audigy with gameport worked same as the motherboard-connected gameport.
MS Precision Pro Sidewinder analog (original type), no software, just configure/calibrate in Windows/Control panel/Game Controllers, then map it inside AH.