Hey ho everyone. I have done some searching on this board about N64 posts and I have some questions. I am totally new to this world and know knew nothing about it until yesterday when I watched so videos.
My ultimate goal is to do this, only with my N64 to my Android:
I don't own a Arduino yet, so before I get one and gut out my machine, I have some questions.
I read this tutorial here and learned about how to hook it up to the Arduino:
I get that you have to plug in two analog inputs and one digital input. My question is can I plug in two controllers at once. Because there are plenty of analog and digital inputs to what I understand. Is there more than one ground input on one ArduinoUNO, basically.
If that can work, then how about this. Lets say I open my N64 and cut off the controller port thats connected to the motherboard. Here is what the chip looks like:
So what if I solder wires to those three circuits, then stick the end of those wires into the Arduino? That way I can keep the ports where they are and I won't have to open an empty N64 shell to plug in a controller.
I need to tackle coding and connecting to a bluesmirf next, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Any help would be gratefully appreceated. Thanks in advance guys.
Does anybody have some input? Or did I post this in the wrong thread room?
I have been thinking since I made this post that I might need to buy a small breadboard to put inside the N64 case. Would this solve my small amount of "ground" problem? Thanks guys.
Sowden:
I get that you have to plug in two analog inputs and one digital input.
What gave you that idea? In my experience with the N64 controller, you only need to plug in 3.3V, Ground and a single Digital Pin.
My question is can I plug in two controllers at once. Because there are plenty of analog and digital inputs to what I understand. Is there more than one ground input on one ArduinoUNO, basically.
Yes, you would need to break out extra 3.3v and ground connectors, but it should be possible.
If that can work, then how about this. Lets say I open my N64 and cut off the controller port thats connected to the motherboard. Here is what the chip looks like:
When I did it, I just stuck wires into the 3 small ports on the controller and used electrical tape to secure it, didn't have any issues.
Arrch:
What gave you that idea? In my experience with the N64 controller, you only need to plug in 3.3V, Ground and a single Digital Pin.
Awesome. Thanks for that info. As I mentioned, I know nothing of this electronics world.
Arrch:
Yes, you would need to break out extra 3.3v and ground connectors, but it should be possible.
Alright, a couple of questions on this point. Ground connectors, your just talking about the wires right? Or were you referring to the breadboard that I mentioned above? There is a ground connection over close to the digital input/outputs. Is that where I would plug the ground connector for the second controller?
I'm pretty sure I don't need to post this picture for you guys, but just for my thought process.
But you say that I need 3.3v on top of the 3.3v that I'm giving to the first controller. Does this mean that I need more power than what a USB connection (5v if I'm correct) can give me? Will I have to go the AC/AD power route?
Arrch:
When I did it, I just stuck wires into the 3 small ports on the controller and used electrical tape to secure it, didn't have any issues.
I will start out and experiment with this first. I will then try to solder the wires to the ports to see if I can make it work. My goal is to have a N64 that I can carry around with me that can be a portable controller station for my Android like the BlueNES in the video above. We'll see if I can make it that far. Thanks for your help dude. Later.
Sowden:
Alright, a couple of questions on this point. Ground connectors, your just talking about the wires right? Or were you referring to the breadboard that I mentioned above?
Either way will work, the ground on each controller and the Arduino's ground all need to be connected.
There is a ground connection over close to the digital input/outputs. Is that where I would plug the ground connector for the second controller?
Any pin labeled as ground
I'm pretty sure I don't need to post this picture for you guys, but just for my thought process.
I'm at work, so I can't see the pictures anyway.
But you say that I need 3.3v on top of the 3.3v that I'm giving to the first controller. Does this mean that I need more power than what a USB connection (5v if I'm correct) can give me? Will I have to go the AC/AD power route?
Depends on how much power the controllers need, but it can probably handle two without issue.
Sowden:
Alright, a couple of questions on this point. Ground connectors, your just talking about the wires right? Or were you referring to the breadboard that I mentioned above?
Either way will work, the ground on each controller and the Arduino's ground all need to be connected.
Arrch:
Any pin labeled as ground
Great. The Arduino UNO has two ground pins (one by the analog and one by the digital), so that should be enough for two controllers. There are plenty of digital inputs for both contorllers, so that should be fine.
Arrch:
I'm at work, so I can't see the pictures anyway.
No worries, it was a picture of the Arduino UNO with all of the pins and connectors mapped out.
Arrch:
Sowden:
But you say that I need 3.3v on top of the 3.3v that I'm giving to the first controller. Does this mean that I need more power than what a USB connection (5v if I'm correct) can give me? Will I have to go the AC/AD power route?
Depends on how much power the controllers need, but it can probably handle two without issue.
Ok, so heres my next issue. Looking at the UNO, I only see one plug for the 3v3. Does that mean that I will need a breadboard to split that one input?
Thanks for your help dude, I think I can make this work now.
Sowden:
Ok, so heres my next issue. Looking at the UNO, I only see one plug for the 3v3. Does that mean that I will need a breadboard to split that one input?
Or you can just splice a wire; up to you on how you want it to look.
Sowden:
Ok, so heres my next issue. Looking at the UNO, I only see one plug for the 3v3. Does that mean that I will need a breadboard to split that one input?
Or you can just splice a wire; up to you on how you want it to look.
That would be perfect. Because I was starting to think about connecting a bluesmirf to it, and thinking that both of the grounds were already taken up. Thats great man, If I ever get it up and running, I'll post pictures. Thanks for your help.
I would get a screwsheild. You are going to have a mess and terrible connections if you try to jam the wires in the arduino ports. Breadboard you should have regardless for testing but i wouldnt run anything long term from a breadboard.
splice whatever ever you want to call it. With a screwshield you just put both wires in the hole and screw them down.
Breadboard connections are not solid. you breathe wrong and a wire falls out. I find them to be a pain in the ass for all but your first shot at a circuit. After that I go straight to the screw shield so I can actually pickit up and move it around.
Brilliant! That will work... But this brings a new question. Alright, lets say we screw three cables into the 3.3v port. Will that cause a short due to trying to pull more power that it can supply (9v more than likely)? Thanks guys. Later.
i assume you are adding three devices that use 3.3 volts and are incorrectly thinking that will add up to 9.9v
power doesnt work like that.
you just add up the amps not the volts
it will always be 3.3v but you will be using more amps.
and yes you can overload your arduino. It can only supply I think 750milliamps. (check that not positive) plus your USB port cant supply much anyway so if you are powering via USB you have to watch that.
but i just cant imagine a controller using enough amps to be a problem. Unless its has a rumbler or something in it. if its just buttons and maybe an led i would guess its fine. You could put your ampmeter in the circuit with one controller and see how much it actually pulls.
also it wouldnt be a "short" anyway. A short is when you send power to ground with no resistance like a transistor, led, or resistor in between.
What you would be doing (if it actually is a problem in your case) is overloading your power supply. Which heats it up. And then you release all the magic blue smoke and then you buy a new arduino. or i guess you could replace the power thingy you burnt up.
caveat. im a complete newb too so dont take my word for anything. read up on it.
Ah, I see. Yeah, I know very little of your world, but I am learning very quickly. But no, there will be two controllers and one bluesmirf sharing that port. There will probably be a ground that will be sharing two as well. Geart, thanks for your input guys, I now have the knowledge I need to make this happen. Later.
Hey everyone. I'm back because I have hit a road block that I can't seem to figure out.
So I bought the Ardunio in the mail and got it today. I also ran out and got some wires that have connecting pins on each end. With a type B USB cable, I was all ready to go. I hooked everything up like we have been discussing in this thread and there seems to be a disconnect somewhere.
I have ran a small pin 13 led code that worked on the board so I know the board isn't faulty. I have also changed out N64 controllers to make sure that its not the controller. The only other thing it could be is a faulty USB cable (which I think is not likely since the code gets sent successfully) or there is something I'm not doing right in this cable hookup. Can you guys catch what I'm doing wrong? Since I know nothing of any of this, your help is gratefully appreciated. Thanks guys, later.
Alright, I ended up getting it to work. I didn't know I had to open the "Serial Monitor" for the Ardunio to start transfering data. I realized I had to have Processing 1.0 running for my computer to read the signals coming from the N64 controller. I downloaded the N64_Controller.zip from the link above and played it to get it to read the controller.
Whats next is to get it to talk to the bluetooth. But in the mean time, does anyone know about a better way to calibrate the analog controls for this mod? I'm running Project64 with a modded N-Rage input pluggin if that helps anyone. Thanks guys, later.
