Cassette connector

Expert (83)

21-11-2006, 18:20

Hi guys. Today I got myself a new MSX, the HB-8000 from Sharp, that used to be sold here in Brazil.

As expected, it's much better than my Gradiente Expert, which has failed me a few times before (it not aways turns on correctly, the colors have been a bit weird lately), I guess that should be expected, since it was already not in great shape when I got it.

Thing is that the cassette cable I used with the Expert does not work with the HB-8000. Looking for an answer online, this page www.faq.msxnet.org/connector.html said that the expert indeed has a different pinout.

Now, how should I go about making a cable for my new MSX? Could I use one of those old PC keyboard connectors for that? I mean, do they even fit? And are 5 pins enough to make a connector for use with a PC? I'd guess so, since I wouldn't need the "REMOTE" lines for that.

I just want some kind of confirmation from you guys, before I destroy stuff for nothing! =)

Thanks for the help.

EDIT: Oh, and what about the other end? How do CMTOUT and CMTIN map to L and R? Thanks!

EDIT AGAIN: I was looking at those pinouts again and... is it possible that just inverting pins 4 and 5 (switch L and R) on my current cable will do the job? If so, I can just make a simple adapter, instead of a complete new cable.

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Por MisterT

Resident (35)

22-11-2006, 18:07

Could I use one of those old PC keyboard connectors for that? I mean, do they even fit?

For what i know its the same 5pin DIN connector as the PC-XT keyboard / MIDI cables / AUDIO DIN 5
its al the same connector.....

Greetz

Por cax

Prophet (3740)

22-11-2006, 18:38

Old keyboard connector itself fits 100%, I used such a cable to connect MSX cassette port to my DVD's sound output in order to load my MSX from WAV and MP3 files created by MicroWAVer.

Por tokumaru

Expert (83)

22-11-2006, 19:48

Hum... I just tried the connector of a busted keyboard and it fits ok! I'll try to use it to make myself a new cassette cable. I was wondering if 5 only pins will do it. I guess so, since the "REM" lines aren't needed, right? Hope I don't fry anything.

Por tokumaru

Expert (83)

24-11-2006, 04:24

Just for the record: I modified my cable so that I could switch Left and Right at will, and now it works in both my machines. Just tried with "The Cure".

BTW, that game looked a bit glitchy on my machine (the background was unstable when much animation was going on). Could that be because it was meant to be used on PAL machines and mine are NTSC/PAL-M?

Por tokumaru

Expert (83)

26-11-2006, 02:13

Uh... guys, since the cassette connection now works, I was able to test some games on my new MSX.

However, some games would behave strangely. A couple of games (such as Adventure Island and Doki Doki Penguin Land) would show their title screens very quickly (as if the fire button was pressed) and would go straight to the game. Inside Adventure Island, I couldn't jump, only throw boomerangs.

Do you think there's something wrong with my keyboard? Somes games worked fine, and it doesn't seem to be any problems in the BASIC interface, all keys work fine.

Does anyone have any ideas of what could be causing this? Thanks for the help!

Por HansO

Paladin (672)

26-11-2006, 10:08

Uh... guys, since the cassette connection now works, I was able to test some games on my new MSX.

Do you think there's something wrong with my keyboard? Somes games worked fine, and it doesn't seem to be any problems in the BASIC interface, all keys work fine.

Does anyone have any ideas of what could be causing this? Thanks for the help!
Did you try a joystick yet? Do some tests with the strig and related basic command checking the keys of the joystick port. Perhaps the joystick interface is defective, telling the MSX that a key is permanently pressed.

In MCM magazine 22 is a joystick test program, it is on my Books and Magazines page, see MSX Club Magazine 22 Joystick tester.

Por tokumaru

Expert (83)

26-11-2006, 15:07

I see... it makes perfect sense. I'll try reading the joystick from BASIC. I don't have an MSX joystick though. I could only check if the MSX thinks the button is pressed, not if the joystick works.

Is there any other controller that's compatible with the MSX? With little or no hardware changes? 'Cause there are many other kinds of controllers that are easier to find around here.

If the joystick port is busted, is there anything I could do about it? Do you think it would be hard to fix?

Por HansO

Paladin (672)

26-11-2006, 16:04

Is there any other controller that's compatible with the MSX? With little or no hardware changes? 'Cause there are many other kinds of controllers that are easier to find around here.

MSX joysticks are not so special except for the second button addition.

If the joystick port is busted, is there anything I could do about it? Do you think it would be hard to fix?
Depends on how it is done in your MSX. IN MSX 1 machines it is often a separate LS TTL IC and easy to fix (I had to do it more than once after experiments with my Toshiba HX-10), on the later MSXes, especially MSX 2 and up it is part of the MSX Engine and that is fatal.

Por tokumaru

Expert (83)

26-11-2006, 20:46

MSX joysticks are not so special except for the second button addition.
But they are very uncommon here. Plus I don't like joysticks, I prefer post-atari 2600 controllers. I there any chance I could convert a, say, megadrive controller (already have some of these hanging araound) to work with the MSX? Are there any guides online for that kind of thing?

Depends on how it is done in your MSX. IN MSX 1 machines it is often a separate LS TTL IC and easy to fix
I see. Well, I am a noob with electronics, I sure can replace a chip, but wouldn't know how to find the problematic chip. Is there anyway I could try to "disable" the joystick ports?

Thanks again for the help!

Por hap

Paragon (2042)

26-11-2006, 23:21

Without modification, Megadrive joypads will work fine on MSX. MSX button 1=MD button B, MSX button 2=unmapped.