RJ-45 Multi Console Cthulhu Arcade Stick Tutorial Ver.2

Tech Talk
1

Edit again:
I turned this into a pdf. Please download this tutorial here. Copy it, share with your friends, Host it on your website. IDGAF.

PDF version of this tutorial

Edit:
Photobucket doesn’t allow free image hosting anymore so this thread/tutorial is probably done for. I don’t have the time to move my images to another free hosting service. I feel this thread is possibly horribly outdated as it doesn’t cover this generation at all. If anybody wishes to copy my images and update this thread to a new thread, you have my blessing. Here is my photo album for this thread.

800×600 89.2 KB

Edit:Also Dreamcast and 3DO

Intro
This post is a rewrite of Acceptable Risk?s RJ-45 Tutorial. This was posted to include new info such as recent console support added because the pinouts are spread out in the Cthulhu thread. Also I instead uses a Pass through over a keystone punch down type jack.

The MC Cthulhu is a purpose built PCB for hooking up with arcade joystick components. To work with different consoles, you only need to solder wires from a controller extension cable to the appropriate spots. If you look at the top op the pcb there are 3 rows of solder points with columns labled “GABCDEFV”. Each extension cable wire must be soldered on to the appropriate column. When plugged in, the MC Cthulhu PCB can autodectect what system it is plugged into and then make your joystick work for that supported system. Be sure to download the latest firmware to ensure that all of the console cables you make will be compatible.

Originally the MC Cthulhu was able to support 5 consoles using 3 cables, therefore only 3 rows, but now it has grown to include many systems. Because there are 8 columns for system cables a Ethernet jack was a natural fit. The connecter used is typically an RJ-45. If you want to do a dual mod with Xbox 360 pad then you should check out this tutorial.
http://forums.shoryuken.com/t/rj-45-mc-cthulhu-imp-xbox-360-dual-mod-tutorial-diagram/92427

Kitty info Update: If you dual modded your stick with a Kitty board, they come preinstalled with a RJ-45 jack. If you connect that to a RJ-45 pass through, then you can use the same cable pinouts for making your own custom cable.

Begin Tutorial

Tutorial Parts 1 and 2

Spoiler

Supplies List:
MC Cthulhu
Arcade stick case and buttons.
Soldering Iron and Soldering supplies
Digital Multimeter (Recommended feature: beeping continuity tester)
Wire stripper/cutter
Neutrik or SwitchCraft RJ-45 Jack.
Cat 5 or Cat 6 ethernet cable. For pass through you need a cable with a connector at the end.
Cat 5/6 Crimper and wire cutter/stripper.
Cat 5/6 8P8C crimp on Connectors.
Extension cables for systems you want to use
24mm drill bit (forstner or Holesaw) for mounting hole and drill.
(optional)
Ethernet boots
Neutrik ruggedized boots for use with Neutrik Jack.
Hammer

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/RJ-45_Tools_Supplies.jpg

** Part 1: Mounting the RJ-45.**
I think it was Robokrikit that first linked the community to these. These are Neutrik RJ-45 panel mount jacks, available at lizardlick.com.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/ne8fdp_thumb.jpg

If you have a Plastic arcade stick Like a TE or SE or Hori
You will need to find a suitable place to drill a 24mm hole. 15/16 inches is equivalent to 24mm. Make sure before you drill a hole that you have enough space inside for the internal parts and can plug in the cable to it without obstruction.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/Placing-Neutrik-Hole.jpg

Pictured is a Hole Saw and a Forstner bit. A hole Saw is great for plastic and metal, and will work for wood, you will have to clear out the material out of the bit with a screwdriver. Forstners are great for wood an plastic, but do not attempt to cut metal with a forstner bit.
So if you drill a 24mm hole you can then use the mounting plate to drill the 2 mounting holes.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/DrillBits.jpg

For a wood case it is recommended that you use a switchcraft RJ-45. I think it was Voltech that first used these.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/SwitchCraftRJ-45.jpg

If you must mount the Neutrik in a wood case look to a post below.

Drill free option Update:

Recently I modded a VLX but this can also be used with a TE or any stick with a cord notch. I didn’t want to drill into my VLX case so Instead I used an Ethernet coupler and hid that away in the cord compartment. I tied a knot in my ethernet cord so that the cord would not be pulled out of the notch used for the default usb cord. For a TE, you would cut off one end of the ethernet cable and then feed it through the hole previously used by the USB cable. After it is through the hole tie a knot in it. With the cut end on the inside you can then solder to the G-V row.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/VLX%20360/th_1b827ab6.jpg http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/VLX%20360/th_2cf280a1.jpg

Part 2: Soldering on the ethernet cable to the MC Cthulhu
To start you would cut off maybe a foot off a cat5 or cat6 ethernet cable. The length should be long enough to reach where the RJ-45 jack is on your arcade stick. Strip off maybe a inch or two off the outer insulation and untwist the cables.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/CutStripCat5.jpg

You want to use Ethernet Tybe B layout as most networking cables come in that wiring order. You need to take the 8 wires and strip off 5 mm off the ends and solder them to row 1 using the following diagram. If the are stranded like pictured above then you want to twist and tin each cable end with some solder so it goes in easier. Each of those colored wires corresponds to a letter on the GABCDEFV row.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/WiringEthernetColorsTo_GV_Row.jpg

It also helps if you solder on to an actual MC board instead of a picture of the board. (note pictured on the paper is a ps3 cthulhu, which is identical in appearance except for 4 diodes to the right of the G-V rows)

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/Cat5eSolderedonBoard.jpg

Now you just plug it into the RJ-45 pass through port.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/PlugIt_intoPort.jpg

2

This sign is for people coming from the RJ-45 MC Cthulhu + Imp + Xbox 360 dual modding tutorial.

Part 3: Making a USB/Xbox 1 Cable

making a USB cable

Spoiler

The First cable we will make is a USB cable. This is for use with PS3 and PC (and Xbox 360 if coming from above tutorial). USB cables (almost) always have a black, white green and red cable. Also note that the original xbox is also a USB cable with a proprietary connector and follows the same color scheme. Also note there is an additional yellow or brown cable for xbox but it is unneeded for the MC cthulhu. You can clip off and ignore that cable.
First I cut off one end of the USB cable and strip off about ? inch of the outer insulation off. I actually really like using this small wire stripper with a adjustable screw for stripping off outer insulation. It makes the job easier, but is optional.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/WireStripperBlueMini.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/USB_stripped.jpg

I then slip on an Ethernet boot.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/SlipOnaBoot.jpg

Looking at the Ethernet plug this is the corresponding pinout to the MC Cthulhu.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/8P8CEthernetPlug.jpg

USB cables follow a standard for wire coloring. The ground is always Black, D- is White, D+ is Green and Voltage is Red,For USB you should insert the wire into the Ethernet plug like so. According to this pinout diagram. Original Xbox is done the same way it is a USB with a funny end. On Xbox there is a Yellow cable that is not needed and can be clipped.



Color  Purpose    RJ45 Pin
Black  Ground      1
                    2
                    3
                    4
White  Data -      5
Green  Data +      6
                    7
Red    VCC        8

I then insert it into the Ethernet plug like so. Make sure the release tab is facing away from you.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/USB_Plug.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/CrimpItDown.jpg

Once you have done that you can crimp down the jack and test out your wiring. Test it out, and if it works so far so good. If it doesn?t something is wrong.

Part 4: Making a PS2 Cable

PS2 Cable

Spoiler

I will go into detail about how to figure out the pins on a PS2 cable and using this methodology you can apply this to any system cable. For the PS2 cord we will need to take an extension cord and cut off the female end and strip about half an inch of the large insulation and expose maybe 2 mm of the small wires. Looking at the inside of the controller connector we have the following pins.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/PS2_pinout.jpg

Using your mutimeter and your third hand, you need to do a continuity test on each pin to figure out what color wire the pin corresponds to. I usually jot this down. I?ve done maybe 8 different brands of PS2 extension cables and all 8 I think where colored differently so it is best to just do this every time. In other words **Colors between different brands of PS2 extension cords are NEVER the same, even among the same brands at different times in a few cases.**Don’t ever rely on color as to what purpose or pin number the ps2 wires are, only use color as a way to label what is what after you identified what pin it goes to.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/Multimeter.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/Psx_pinoutPostIT-1.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/Psx_pinoutPostIT.jpg

Sometimes instead of using the multimeter, I do it the cave man way. I go outside on some concrete and smash open the cut off female end with a hammer and just line it up to the male end and look at the wire colors that way.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/CavemanWay.jpg

Now once I get the pin colors right I refer to the following code and arrange another post it note with how I will insert what color order the wires in the crimp on connector.



PSX Pin    Purpose    RJ45 Pin    Cthulhu Column
4          Ground      1          G
7          CLK          2          A
2          CMD          3          B
1          DATA        4          C
6          ATT          5          D
                        6          E
9          ACK          7          F
5          VCC          8          V

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/PSX_NotingWireColorOrder.jpg

Now that I have that written down I slip on a blue boot. I like using Blue for PS2

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/BlueBoot.jpg

And now I slip on the Ethernet connector using the Color wire pinout I just made. I like to use a circle drawing compass or paper clip to help nudge the wires around in there. This is a bitch to do so if this is your first time expect to be frustrated. I like to pinch the wires together in the correct order in my thumb and cut them all to even length. I try to get them to stay like that as I insert them in.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/InsertingPSX01-1.jpg

Once In I make sure that all the wires are seated in deep enough. Check to make sure that the release clip is facing the right way and that the colors of wire are going into the right pins. Now double check.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/InsertingPSX02-1.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/InsertingPSX03.jpg

Now triple check. Once you are sure you got the wires in there right Crimp it down.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/CrimpItDown.jpg

Once you have figured out the method used with a Playstation cable you can apply the same method to other system cables.

Part 5: Pinouts for more cables

Pinouts List

Spoiler

Xbox
Picture taken from Toodles instructable (xbox- is same as USB, but a modified connector. 1 extra wire is not used)

http://www.instructables.com/image/FM2KRGHFRD86FDH/Get-to-know-your-Xbox1-cable.jpg



xbox Pin - MC Cthulhu Column- Color
1 -          V -        Red
2 -          D -        White
3 -          E -        Green
4 -          G -        Black

**Gamecube: **

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/GameCubeCableEnd.jpg




Gamecube pin    Purpose    RJ45 Pin
3              Ground      1
                            2
                            3
                            4
                            5
                            6
2              Data        7
1              VCC          8

NES

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/NesCableEnd.jpg



Purpose -Pin # - Cthulhu Column
GND -1 - G
CLK -2 - A
LATCH -3 - F
DATA -4 - C
VCC -7 ? V

SNES

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/SnesCableEnd.jpg



SNES Pin - MC Cthulhu Column
1 - G
4 - C
5 - F
6 - A
7 - V

TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine
The American TurboGrafx-16 uses has a female Din 8 port on the system while the Turbo Duo and all the Japanese systems use a Mini Din 8. I recommend that you buy a number of 6 ft monoprice Mini Din 8 cables. For an TG-16 you can buy a male Din 8 connector and solder that to an ethernet cable.
For only $1.56 each when QTY 50+ purchased - MDIN8, M/F, 1:1 - 6ft | Apple Cables

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/PCE_CableEnd.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/SD-80.jpg



DIN Pin # - Cthulhu Column - Monoprice color
1 - V - Brown
2 - A - Red
3 - B - Orange
4 - C - Yellow
5 - F - Green
6 - E - Blue
7 - D - Purple
8 - G - Black

Saturn

With Saturn support goodness. Using the pin numbers from gamesx: Sega Saturn Controller Data

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/SaturnCableEnd.jpg



Pin - Cthulhu Column
1 - V
2 - B
3 - A
4 - D
5 - E
7 - F
8 - C
9 - G

(Yes, use pin #1 for power, and don’t connect pin 6 to anything)

3DO
(I don’t have a 3DO and am assuming the D-sub follows normal pinout convention Picture is from a 3rd party genesis extension cable.)
3do will currently only work as the only controller, plugged directly into the system; trying to daisy chain off of it or use it through a daisy chain isn’t going to work.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/3DOcableEnd.jpg



Dsub Pin - Cthulhu column
1 - G
2 - V
6 - F
7 - A
9 - C

**Dreamcast: **(no VMU support. Also will only work with “arcade stick” compatible games)

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/Dreamcast_RJ45_MCC.jpg



Pinout:
DC Pin - Cthulhu column - Agetec Colors
1      - F              - Red
2      - V              - Blue
3      - G              - Black
4      - B              - Green
5      ? C              - White





RJ45 Pin - MCC Column - DC Pin - Agetec
1      - G      - 3      - Black
2      - A
3      - B      - 4      - Green
4      - C      - 5      - White
5      - D
6      - E
7      - F      - 1      - Red
8      - V      - 2      - Blue
3

--------------------Extra Related Info---------------------
**Wood mounting Neutrik RJ-45 **
Mounting Neutrik into wood case
So maybe you already bought a Rj-45 Neutrik or have a Neutrik ruggedized connector, but realized it won?t work for a wooden stick, I used a JLF plate to mount my Neutrik.
The problem with the Cat 5e RJ-45 Neutrik is that it is designed to only screw in through a thin material no more than 3mm thick. You can see the mounting plate and screws and how they fasten to the black plastic piece.

wood mounting Neutrik

Spoiler

One nice way to mount the stick is to hack a JLF plate. (Also you may use some Lexan or acrylic instead as someone in this forum posted)
By default he mounting plate fits in quite nice, but the black plastic part needs a little room. While at this step you want to put the mounting plate and draw in the corner mounting holes and drill into the JLF plate. This will be harder to do once you widen the hole.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/07af694b.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/0d4d7a52.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/64f89a38.jpg

Next you need to dremel the JLF plates joystick hole to about 1mm wider. Then when you can put in the back black part in you can screw it together.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/1256202229.jpg

Have yet to do this but next I will put the plate in a vise and hack away the extra metal and use the 2 holes close to the adaptor to mount with wood screws.

Now all I have to do is cut a rectangle notch on the back of my stick, just like they do with controller cords then round out the counter sink recess. I might try to counter sink in from the inside as well with a dremel and chisel.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/1256373171.jpg

Cutting up the mounting plate. If you have a big ass case you don’t need to do this.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03130.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03131.jpg

So for prepping I made measurements for the notch and mounting plate recess.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03125.jpg

Drills holes for radius of Neutrik plate.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03126.jpg

Cut. I’m using a coping saw. Make sure you cut the notch hole slightly smaller. You can take away but cannot put back.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03127.jpg

Chisel

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03128.jpg

Carve shape and refine with various dremel attachments and then Flush mount. I counter sunk the mounting plate from the inside. Carefully drill mounting holes for JLF mounting plate into wood. You want to avoid blow out of the wood so make sure that the drill holes are proper size and angled away from adaptor.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03135.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03136.jpg

Mounted. If you use Neutrik Ruggedized connectors you might want to install upside down, but in my case I used standard Cat 5e boots. It is easier to push in from bottom.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/DSC03134.jpg

DryFit

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/1256459167.jpg

Finished Stick
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/th_StickAll_withPaduakBalltop.jpg http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/th_DSC03200.jpg http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/Dhalsim/th_DSC03202.jpg

Keystone RJ-45 Jacks.
There are two types of RJ-45 jacks that you can use, a keystone jack with punch down terminals or a pass through jack. I reccomend the pass through jacks because they are easier and allow the cord to be detachable.
Keystone jacks:
Typical Keystone jacks require that you cut both ends of the ethernet cord and use a punchdown tool to get them into the terminals. I don’t reccomend these but they will work. Ironically all of my sticks use punchdown versions like the one used in the wood mounting because I bought a bunch of them before I saw the benefits of the pass through. If I did buy new ones though I would get the pass through for easy disconnection if needed.

from original RJ-45 thread

Spoiler

Extra Options

Extra Options

Spoiler

Neutrik Ruggedized Boot.
Jumping from rooftop to rooftop making a parkour video while holding an arcade stick cable? Maybe you want to use your cable as a possible flail type weapon? Are you a ninja that likes to use your arcade stick as a grappling hook? These boots are much fancier and more undestructable compared to the plastic ones I use and are really nice. I may buy a bunch one day for one of my sticks. These require the Neutrik RJ-45 port.
http://www.markertek.com/Cables-Connectors-Adapters/Data-Connectors-Adapters/RJ45-CAT5-and-CAT6-Connectors/Neutrik-USA-Inc/NE8MC.xhtml

http://www.markertek.com/Cables-Connectors-Adapters/Data-Connectors-Adapters/RJ45-CAT5-and-CAT6-Connectors/Neutrik-USA-Inc/productImage/BIG/NE8MC.JPG

**ScrewTerminals for GABCDEFV Row. **
If you don’t want to solder wires directly to the MC Cthulhu PCB you can solder on an optional screw terminal.
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?WT.z_header=search_go&lang=en&site=us&keywords=277-1279-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/Phoenix%20Photos/1725711.jpg

You can also use D-SUB connector. A DB-9 Should do the trick

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/1-DB09MSCW.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/1-DB09MSCW.jpg

You would solder system cables to the connector and use a hood to cover it.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/RJ-45%20Rewrite%20ver2/HOOD-DB9-Plastic-L-Com.jpg

DIN connectors
It is also possible to use a Din 8 or mini Din 8 connectors as an alternative to RJ-45.
Din or mini Din connectors.

Full din 8:
Female Panel mount to put on stick
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CP-1280-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/CUI%20Photos/SD-80SN.jpg

Male Connector
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CP-1080-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/CUI%20Photos/SD-80.jpg

Female Connector
[ur]http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CP-1180-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/CUI%20Photos/SD-80J.jpg

Mini Din 8
Hard to solder to, also picures on digikey used a generic mini din 3 pic but should have 8 pins

Panel mount
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CP-2580-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/CUI%20Photos/MD-30,40,50,60,70,80,90SN.jpg

Male Connector
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CP-2080-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/CUI%20Photos/MD-30,40,50,60,70,80,90.jpg

Female Connector
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CP-2180-ND

http://media.digikey.com/photos/CUI%20Photos/MD-30,40,50,60,70,80,90J.jpg

Other fancy Connectors that are alternatives to RJ-45

Also if you want to dual mod a MC Cthulhu with a xbox 360 controller youc an check out my other tutorial on the RJ-45 MC Cthulhu +Xbox 360 + Imp tutorial.

With that tutorial you can use the same method for making cables.

4

Thanks for this update - it contains some significant new information that’s all now available in a single guide. Great pic quality too.

Regarding the various different Neutrik jacks, I personally prefer the IDC versions as you don’t need to hack another RJ-45 plug to get it to work, and it also allows you to use the Neutrik jack as a terminal point for non-supported PCB’s (like a DC pcb), or a stock stick that already comes wth a PSX pcb (if installing a Datel pcb instead of a Cthulhu).

Something you might consider adding to your guide is a mention of the Neutrik NE8MC-1 (or similar) RJ45 boots. They perfectly complement a Neutrik RJ-45 jack and keeps the connection rock solid (as well as near indestructible).

5

GREAT tutorial rtdzign! I didn’t actually know until now that you could use the rows on the Multi-Console Cthulu for the PlayStation 3 support! Very neat! I highly doubt this considering some cables need more than 6 pins on an RJ-45 plug, but is there any way that the RJ-45 plug can still be used to support a USB cable for sticks dual-modded with MC Cthulu boards and Xbox 360 PCBs?

6

Damn, you’ve been busy rtdzign. Good shit. I’ll get this thread and the MC+Imp wiring thread linked up in the first post of the Cthulhu thread.

7

Ehrm, you have 8 pins, actually. So dual mods are possible, as long as you don’t need more than 8 wires total for both.

8

oh man, this is JUST the tutorial i was waiting on!! rtdzign, thanks a bunch =)

9

Damn rtdzign, you’re on a roll with these nice ass tutorials.

10

i have a question… how do you “lock” the plastic boot on the rj45 cable? :frowning: it always gets off for me

11

Yes you can. If you have an mc cthulhu + imp setup, then a couple of the wires from the ethernet cable(d+/d-) run to the imp board instead.

12

Use heat shrink tubing.

Cut a small piece of heat shrink and put it on your cable first THEN slip on the boot.

Of course, the boot is going to be behind the heat shrink tubing.

Use a lighter or hair dryer to shrink the tubing AFTER you’ve crimped on the Ethernet adapter cover THEN slip the boot onto the heat shrink. The boot isn’t going to slip off if you’ve done this right…

13

I saw rtdzign’s tutorial on that as well. He really is epic! :wow:

But the thing is, I’m not sure if the MC Cthulu with all these new systems would allow for the USB data lines to pass through the RJ-45 jack without limiting potential console cable additions to the MC Cthulu by leaving it with only 6 pins. In fact, doesn’t the Saturn support up abovee require all 8 pins to function? :wonder:

14

Thanks for this. I have been having trouble getting my Cables to work right. I have double checked my solders and everything looks good, double checked the Gamecube Wire I built, everything looked good, I think my issue may be my Keystone…

I’m gonna go over this new guide and attempt it again tonight…

15

Nice tutorial!! I’ve had my RJ-45 installed but been lazy to make cables. This is just what i needed.

Good stuff rtdzign. :tup:

16

if there is stuff you want me to add please post links. I was going to put in pictures of the ruggedized connectors and also if people could link me to the crimp on Mini Din 8 Connectors on Digikey ( I can never find what I’m looking for on that site) and the Solder on Full Din connectors. I’l like to include those as alternatives.

17

Yes, but it uses the same lines as the USB, so it still works fine going through the imp.

18

Wow great write up rtdzign thanks! Also wanna give thanks to Robokrikit for basically introducing many of us to the Neutrik idea.

You can also use plexi as a backing for the Neutrik RJ-45.

Plexi sample from I got from Tap Plastics

Back of MAS with plexi

19

Oh I didn’t actually know that! Which columns of the MC Cthulu share the same data lines as the USB connector? :wow:

This would seriously save me SO much hassle! :lol:

20

D is d-
E is d+

if you take a multimeter and continuity probe you will find a lot of the holes are the same thing with the exception of the voltage.