Help with joystick

[John(Wales-UK)]

Hi

Bought this from a seller in Texas. No idea about it other than the 'Alpha Stick 3' and 50-way edge interested me.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Joe Zwerko]

That must be the Model III version of the Alpha Products Joystick. It had one chip (a 7400 or 74LS00) that decoded and responded to ANY I/O port.

http://bartlettlabs.com/MISE/manuals/Alpha%20Joystick%20(19xx)(Alpha%20Products)(pdf).pdf

The included cable must have had one of those now impossible-to-find IDC male card edge connectors.

Edit:
I doubt it came with a cable... it attached directly to the Model III I/O connector.

 

[John(Wales-UK)]

Hi

Doesn't appear to be the TRISSTICK.



Hmmm

 

[John(Wales-UK)]

Now back in box

 

[Joe Zwerko]

After a closer look at the circuit board in your photos, the SIP in back of the card edge connector puts 5.6Kohm pullups on all 8 data lines. The 74LS00 chip is powered by the (pulled high) IOBUSINT* signal. The device responds to any I/O port with A7 low.

There doesn't seem to be a 4-bit/5-bit mode switch like the Model I version, unless it's on the joystick itself (which seems likely). Five TRS-80 data bits are being used, so plug it in and see what INP(0) returns when your move the joystick and push the buttons.

 

[Patrick.B (TTR)]

sure looks like alpha products Alpha Joystick to me, but this add doesn't seem to be the right "version"

this one doesn't look like this one either