Standard de25 discrete input pin arrangement?

Tech Talk
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I understand, in theory, it doesn’t matter what the 25 pins are in a DB25 arrangement, as long as you have one pin for ground, one pin for voltage, one special pin for system-specific stuff like I heard the Xbox 360 has, and one pin for each input (N,S,E,W,QP, MP, HP, 3P, QK, MK, HK, 3K, Start. Select, and home) which in most fight stick applications is 15. I guess 2 pins could be used for chat in and chat out. so that’s 20 pins reserved.

I know I’m weird enough to know I should try to fit in better, so are there certain conventions using a DB25 that I should know to make it “standard”? Like, is the end closest to the joystick mechanism a male DB25 or a female, the numbering system, and most importantly, which pins represent which function in the DB25?

A couple other things? Is there a standard DE25 arrangement for Jaguar, 5200, Colecovision, and Intellivision? The most number of independent buttons is 3 actions + 2 aux + 4 directions + 12 keys for the Jaguar keypad, or 21 pins, plus ground, voltage, and system makes 24. (The Jaguar Pro uses 5 remapped keypad presses as their X, Y, Z, L, and R.) Is it universal between systems?

Extra stuff for those who want more details

I would like my design to slip easily into the world of fight sticks if someone other than me decides to use my designs. Im hoping to show my design to Hori or some other big joystick maker, to see if they can make a mass-market ambidextrous fight stick. No one’s made one since the Beshu Gizmo for Genesis, and all these buttons are making it hard to make a turly ambidextrous design. But I think I found one, at least one to work off of for ergonomic engineers to fine tune.

The systems I’m planning to hook it up to are a Universal Retro RJ45 board (not sure of brand yet, expecting a Toodles in the mail, but it might be lost.) , A Genesis 6-button, a 3-button (because I have Ms Pac Man, and that doesn’t work on a 6) 3DO (got to have that daisy chain for 2UP), Jaguar, the 7800 Via Edladdin’s Gen-> 7800 adapter, CV via Edladdin’s board, INTV via 7800 fan’s Gen->INTV and Jag-> INTV converter, 5200 via a 15 pin PC digital controller and a Bohoki adapter, a lot of systems through the RJ45 plugs, and, for more modern systems, PS2-> other system adapters.

I believe a standard 25 pin setup would allow for quick swap in/swap out of various adapters.

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AFAIK the only DB25 standard that was around was from the old MAS superguns. However these days more supergun makers have instead adopted the DB15 standard from the old Neo Geo console.

So to that end, there is no longer a DB25 standard to work off of.

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But 15 inputs is not enough for 8 buttons, 4 directions, 3 aux buttons, a ground, a signal, and a system specific pin, like the 360 system pin typical of PS1/2 and beyond. that’s 18 pins.

I just wanted to check if every joystick was unique, or if there was a more standarized approach to save money and get interchangeable parts easier.

Remember, I have a unique need, I need 24 pins for the 5200 and Jaguar if I want every keypad press an independent pin.

Since the Jaguar Pro Controller is the bridge between the 5200 and the PS1 (controller design-wise, not corportately) I’m thinking of using 7, 8, and 9, default to QP, MP, and HP respectively, and 4 and 6 to L and R to equal 3P and 3K respectively. and then, since the most action + Aux buttons is 5 on the 5200 or Jaguar, the other pins are reserved for the other non-defined keys.

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Modern Sticks use USB or bluetooth.

Traditional “6 button” sticks can use db15 just fine. As for your own project stick, use what ever you want.

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I’m just seeing if there is an established standard for db25 discrete inputs. Using standards makes it shareable. I need 25 discrete inputs for the 12 keypad buttons on joystick in case I need it.

I know in theory, I can use whatever pin I want for whatever standard. I’m just seeing if there’s an established standard.

The reason why I ask is because for a Paleo Board soluiotn I was emailing Jasencustoms.com about that would work with everything, 25 pins are needed if each keypad button is independent.

They said they are looking for a Genesis solution, but the 8 pin bottleneck prevents the Genesis from working.

But you might as well get other systems to work too. Increase the customer base. Every customer counts.

5200 users are looking for a 2-button digital solution without paying ebay prices. I heard these RJ45 boards have digital-to-analog solutions already built in.

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There isn’t, that is why I mentioned the old Mas Superguns. They were the only company that was doing DB25s. but they had 10 unused pins as it was pinned generally for 6 button arcade games.

You’re pretty much free to wire it up however you want. But you could still wire the first 15 like MAS and do the last 10 however so you can be compatible with Mas out of the box. Or do the first 15 like DB15, so you’ll be compatible with modern superguns and neogeo. You would just need a DB25 to DB15 adapter. Which is easy enough to wire up yourself.

You could try checking out some old mahjong control panels and see if they have a pinout standard, but it is probably the 52 pin edge connector or something. Or an additional molex for the extra buttons.

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