How to build a USB cable for the Universal PCB

The Universal PCB (UPCB for short) project was started to allow a single game controller, especially fighting sticks, on as many different consoles as possible. Information about the project can be found on the following thread in the Shoryuken.com forums: Shoryuken.com

This Instructable will cover how to build a Button Select USB cable for the UPCB. The Button Select USB cable is probably the most important cable you can use with the UPCB; in one cable, it allows you to play your controller on both PC's and Playstation 3 systems. It also allows you to use the USB Bootloader so you can upgrade your UPCB firmware when new versions come available.

The process of building this cable is identical to building any UPCB console cable, so there will be a lot of blatant cut and pasting from the original console cable Instructable. Since every UPCB owner should have one, it was felt the Button Select USB cable deserved its own Instructable.

Step 1 Check .H file for cable information.

The main, and most current, archive for the UPCB project can be found in the first post of the UPCB thread on Shoryuken.com: Shoryuken.com

Download the latest version, and extract the .zip somewhere easy to reach. Inside the main directory is the source code for the UPCB project.

Each supported console system will have a separate .H and .C file for that module. The .C file contains the actual routines for that system. These will not be of help unless you just want to see how it works. The .H file contains a large amount of comments which detail how that system communicates, what type of connector it uses, and pinouts. The current section in the USBTEMPLATE.H file we will be listed below.

The main information we need right now is that there are no components needed. If any were, they'd be listed in the 'How to create a UPCB cable' section.

We'll be referencing this set of information frequently during the building of the cable, so don't be afraid if it seems a bit much. The comments describe the communication in great detail and can seem a bit confusing. Just ignore then as we focus on building the cable.

       USB Pinout	(Looking at the end of a USB cable that plugs into a PC or other USB port)	___________	| 4 3 2 1 |	| _ _ _ _ |	-----------    <- thicker half of cable where the contacts are.		Pin		Description	1		VCC	2		D-		3		D+	4		GND		To Make a UPCB cable for Button Select USB	D-Sub 15 Pin		USB Pin	1					4 (GND)	2					High	3					Low	4					Low	5					Low	6					Low	7					Low	8					1 (VCC)	9					NC - Not connected to anything	10					High	11					High	12					NC - Not connected to anything	13					2 (D-)	14					3 (D+)	15					Low

Comments

[gan007]

i tried your cable design and connected my old 15 pin joystick to the cable.
1) connected via usb to pc
2) Configured the setting in Control panel in game console option
3) while selected the details like mine which as(4 button, pov,and throttle).
4) it says device not connected.

What can i do to work my old joystick.

[Cubie2]

Hey!!! thats what I am trying to do!!! gan007! :P

[jasonjohn89]

wow very nice its game port right ?... works for joystick? issit possible to make this for micro genius gamepad?

[Toodles]

I am not sure I understand what you are asking. This is not a converter, this is simply a cable. The Universal PCB sits inside an arcade stick. The buttons and stick are wired to the UPCB, and the UPCB has a D-Sub 15 connector on the back. Depending on what cable you attach to that D-Sub 15 connector, you can use the stick and buttons on most consoles, like the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Saturn, Playstation 3, and others. The cable described here is for using your arcade stick on a computer or Playstation 3. Read the linked to the Shoryuken.com forms on the first page of this Instructable, and the other Instructables about the UPCB. That should explain things pretty well.

[Steamdnt]

(removed by author or community request)

[Toodles]

Absolutely. The project thread hasn't changed.

[Steamdnt]

(removed by author or community request)

[Toodles]

I haven't yet and don't instead to start now.