Cerberus: Unleash the hellhound in your arcade stick

Tech Talk
1

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-004-300x225.jpg

Cheesy title… I know >: )

The Cerberus is, ultimately, a revamp of my TEasy Strike/TEasy Mod. It’s goal is to provide the user with solderless modding options for their **MadCatz Xbox 360 T.E. **arcade sticks to allow them access to PlayStation 3 consoles for “dual” functionality in a single stick.

However, it may overall result in the same basic principle to give the user a dual mod with next to no effort, it’s method for accomplishing that is far different. The TEasy Strike/Mod used spring loaded pins to access the original signals, the Cerberus does not. Instead, it utilizes undermounted sockets that interface with the original board. This method allows for a more solid installation, and also is actually easier for the user to do since there is little alignment required. The top right of the board has an alignment hole to see the top right most mounting screw through to give you one alignment point, as well as the board being thinner than the original Xbox 360 PCB so that the user can actually see the connection’s alignment while it’s happening.
[LEFT] [/LEFT]

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-008-300x225.jpg
The Cerberus board mounted to the original Xbox360 enabled PCB.

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-009-300x225.jpg
Alignment hole to view the mounting screw.
Also pictured are solderable points for Ground and VCC for usage with other modifications such as LEDs and optical joysticks.

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-010-300x225.jpg
User’s view when installing, you can actually see the connection for instant feedback on alignment.

[LEFT]As you can probably tell, the USB cable connection points look different this time as well. They are in fact IDC terminals (Insulation Displacement Connection), which make it so that you only have to remove the outer sheath of the USB cable. The 4 wires (VCC, D+, D-, GND) do not have to be stripped. Simply inserted into the terminals and closed tightly with your fingers, you don’t even need a flat head screwdriver like the TEasy did to punch the terminals down. They’re smaller, sleeker, and do a bang up job for ease of installation. Although they are easier to use, it’s good to note that extra care should be taken to ensure they are down all the way, which I will show an example of in the Installation section.[/LEFT]
[LEFT] [/LEFT]
http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-006-300x225.jpg
IDC Terminal front view. Note that “USB IN” is only labeled on the prototype, you will see “X360 IN” for this particular pair in the final version.

[LEFT]Now, the name Cerberus is not just picked because it sounds cool (although I do really like it). The PCB does in fact have 3 accessible faces for the user.[/LEFT]
[LIST=1]
[]Bottom Face – Accesses the original Xbox 360 PCB
[]Top Face – Accesses the JST connector harnesses that go to the rest of the arcade stick.
[*]Inner Face – This is a special advanced face that the user can access by soldering directly to.
[/LIST]
The third (inner) face, has been specially planned out for advanced users. You may notice that all of the components are centered into a small area of the board. The reason is shown below:

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-005-300x225.jpg
Third face shown, the silk screen outline denotes cut lines. The gold pads are solderable for advanced usage.

[LEFT]The top/bottom board components that allow the PC/PS3 controller circuit to function are smashed into a tiny area to give the more savvy user the ability to literally cut the board down to the size of a quarter. This allows the user to install this board into not just it’s standard function of MadCatz Xbox 360 T.E arcade sticks, but into virtually anything.[/LEFT]
[LEFT] [/LEFT]
http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-002-300x225.jpg
Bottom side for easy soldering, the cut away section to the left.

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-003-300x225.jpg
Top side, denotes what’s left after cutting, the heart of this board.

[LEFT]*It should be noted that although the advanced operation is available, once you begin cutting the Cerberus PCB you void any and all warranty/support. This is for advanced users with the abilities required to perform such modifications.[/LEFT]

*Also note that if you are using the cut down board and wish to use the Player LED signals. They are controlled via open collector configuration for usage with Common Anode LEDs. There are 4 0402 resistor positions (R2, R3, R4, R5) that you may wish to use. The original components are 0 (zero) Ohm resistors, so jumpers. Do NOT connect LEDs directly to these signals as you could cause irreparable damage to your setup.

[LEFT][SIZE=7]Installation Step by step****[/SIZE][/LEFT]

[LEFT] [/LEFT]
http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Picture-032-300x225.jpg
[LEFT] [/LEFT]
[LEFT]Install FAQ Section:[/LEFT]
[LEFT]
JLF section won’t fit by a smidge

[details=Spoiler][/LEFT]
[LEFT] [/LEFT]
[LEFT]First make sure the pins are lined up nicely and try again. You can see where the pins are rubbing into the plastic of the connector on the Cerberus and adjust by that. Then if that doesn’t work try out what mistcore has done below:[/LEFT]
[LEFT] [/LEFT]

[/details]

[LEFT] [/LEFT]
Features

The Cerberus‘ list of current features are as follows:
[LIST]
[]PC/PS3 Functionality
[]Player indications for PS3 (Player numbers will appear on the guide ring of your arcade stick after a standard instllation)
[]LS/RS control by switching the control panel of the arcade stick
[]Auto-detection on supported systems
[]Forced passthrough mode for Xbox360 mode. Hold 1P (x) while plugging into allow this.
[]Forced PC/PS3 mode for debug/forced mode on PC. Hold 1K (a) while plugging in. (FW 1.01)
[]S+S=H ability on both PS3/360. Pressing a dedicated Home button will disable this. (FW 1.01)
[]Updatability through a USB bootloader for any firmware upgrades/bug fixes in the future. Hold START while plugging into your PC to access this mode.
[/LIST]
Upgrading your firmware

TODO – Firmware update section

For those who know how you can upgrade the board via Atmel’s FLIP DFU. The chip is an Atmega32U4

Firmware Downloads:

v1.01
[LIST]
[]Added code for S+S=H with a ~1/3s delay, dedicated home will disable the function. Will show up on new plugins with 1.01 as the version.
[/LIST]
[LIST]
[]Also gave it a forced PC/PS3 mode, use LK to do so.
[/LIST]
Arcade Stick Compatibility

Due to the measurement based install of the Cerberus. It will only fit SSF4 T.E. arcade sticks and newer. This means round 1/2 and SE sticks are not compatible. Obviously the cut down board does not follow this rule.
For quick reference if your stick is compatible, look on the PCB. If there is a KGND signal on the top row, it is compatible. The ONLY exception to this rule is BrawlSticks which are not compatible.
Quck Reference List of some compatible sticks, variants of these exist and more than these are compatible: **
[LIST]
[*]Madcatz SSF4 TE (A.K.A. TE-S)**
[]Chun Li Blue
[]BlazBlue
[]Soul Calibur V
[]Fightstick PRO
[]Fightstick V.S.
[]Tekken Tag Tournament 2 TE-S+
[*]MadCatz Major League Gaming TE-S joystick
[/LIST]
*For the Fightstick PRO and the Soul Calibur V sticks, an extra step or two is required. Please see the installation section for details.

When you purchase a Cerberus, you will receive the following:
[INDENT=1]1 x Cerberus PCB with reference sheet for installation.[/INDENT]

Assembled Cerberus ($40.00) :

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Picture-037-300x225.jpg

Advanced Cerberus (Advanced Users, Special Request ONLY, $30.00):

Easy print reference for the bottom of the board

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Picture-004-300x225.jpg

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Picture-006-300x225.jpg

Unfortunately I pulled a stupid and when I went to process the board files, I used the wrong file to do so. Luckily the only thing that is botched is the bottom designators, the silk screen still remains. This will only affect advanced users, since the top silk screen/labels are all picture perfect and have been improved upon since last build.
I will make a downloadable/printable image that has these designators for easy reference, they just won’t be ON the board this time, sorry guys.

One possible extra use for the advanced version is a cheap fix for a 360 TE that has a busted PCB. Just remove it and swap it with the half assembled one, and voila you have a working stick again. With a little fiddling you can get this to work with round 1/2′s for a fix also since it’s no longer reliant on attaching to another PCB.

Head over to the Cerberus page of my website for the latest updates/downloads/install notes.

2

The current build lacks some silk screen labeling. Please use the below image for reference while installing:

http://www.phreakmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/SS-Labels-300x224.jpg

3

Yay! Puppies!

I seriously love this board. I’ve installed three so far in TE sticks, one for dual modding a SFxT pad, and one that I might keep for myself. >.>

Pics of the dual modded SFxT pad:

Cerberus-modded SFxT pad:

Spoiler

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz354/darabidduckie/Puppies/IMG_3100.jpg

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz354/darabidduckie/Puppies/IMG_3093.jpg

4

Holla! I also love this board. Super easy to install as long as you remove enough of the usb sheathing. Love seeing player led on ps3 too.

Here it is in my Soul Calibur V stick:

Spoiler

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8182/cerberus4537.jpg

5

Looking forward to getting some for Pro sticks, awesome stuff.

6

Can buy now?

7

Is this using Dual Strike code?

Price?

8

nice! this wouldve been so much easier than the original teasy, not that the og was all that difficult to begin with

edit: just saw the party piece (cutaway board). so many possibilities! GENIUS

9

This thing looks freakin’ beautiful; nicely done.

10

awwwwwwww yeah i was waiting for adual strike smd, now this comes into play~

11

Yeah the thing to make note of is for sure to give yourself plenty of wire, 1" to be safe is really ideal. The ONLY thing about these connectors is that they don’t bite as well as the old versions I used. So some troubleshooting may take place but it will be really simple (pull out wires, check bite marks, repress wires, repeat until it works) but overall I’ve only run into that personally once, the rest has been one shot.

Thanks man! I know you were looking for IDC terminals for kitty revamps but I stumbled on these ones like… right when they were released. Got super lucky since the old ones were humungous.

I will likely open pre-orders over EVO weekend. The ETA on full release is looking like 2 weeks post EVO. The PCBs are estimated to be complete this week, and then assembly next week, then one more week to ensure programming/testing/packing is complete.

As with all my stuff, it’s locally assembled/fabricated so I get quick turnarounds.

No, this is not the Dual Strike code at all, it’s all my own this time around. This uses a better chip and doesn’t rely on USB stack emulation w/ hardware hacking via external diodes (which could be part of the odd behavior the DS exhibited… just couldn’t nail it down). This USB is native, and the code is solid and proven (LUFA based, if we’re being honest). I’m still smoothing auto-detection a little, but firmware updates are super quick and painless.

Price is TBA, but it will be priced well in 1x fashion, with great discounts planned for volume for modders.

Henceforth, the smaller section shall be known as the party piece.

Thank you sir

Although to note, the pictures denote a prototype. The final board will be adjusted in the following ways:

  1. JST shrouded headers will be black, so all connectors will be black on this board
  2. Shade may change, but the board will remain purple
  3. Finish will be HASL, not ENIG. So the gold pads will be silver finish
  4. Silk screen adjustments to the logos has been done, as well as minor labeling tweaks.

Should look boss when in it’s final form, can’t wait to see it myself.

Yeah it should fill the gaps for some solid pad mods and others since the DS SMD is no longer around.

12

MISSHON COMPRETE!

high fives Gummo

13

Now I’m doubly interested. Good stuff on going with LUFA instead of the bitbanged USB. Im certain you’ll be happier with the results.
But I am saddened by the change to HASL. I love the look of the goldish pads, especially contrasting against purple.

14

Can’t wait to bulk order these. Glad I saw these in person. Keep up the great work.

15

Excellent, I have a lot of issues with Dual Strike products so I’m happy to hear the code is fresh.

Are there any plans to make the “inner face” as a stand alone product? I’m sure there would be a demand, especially from the people not comfortable with cutting PCB’s. And gummo has stated he has no plans to make an updated Dual Strike SMD board…

16

Yeah I’m so glad I took the dive and did my own this time around. It really was a mistake going the easy route and just using the DS implementation before. So many problems that were out of my hands, it just can’t be that way anymore.

Depending on how it goes, I’ll ask if they can swap back to ENIG for the next run. I love the gold pad finish, it’s just thought to be so much more expensive that I shy away from it unless I really really needed it. Although in truth so many places use ENIG finish from ROHS requirements that it may end up being the same price… should have asked I guess >.<

I hope they match this purple well, and it’s not like…ultra dark shade or something.

You weren’t the only one, believe me. You’ll like this a lot better.

Gummo has asked about it, but for now there’s nothing immediate on the table to do that. The goal currently is just versatility for the end user, and the cut lines are pretty lenient, basically after the solder pads there’s nothing so you could get a little squirrely and be fine. Honestly though, Gummo may take that front for now and cut them down for people for a small fee… I dunno.

Eventually when the projects gets a little further in I may consider it though, it really does depend on demand since that’s a whole other thing to order/stock.

17

I’M THROWING MONEY AT THE SCREEN BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING!!! :crybaby:

That purple is so sexy.

18

well then stop throwing it at the screen and start throwing it at me

19

y u no use 30 guage?

20

I knew you’d have something to say about that :slight_smile: