Posted by Derrick Renaud on 16, 2001 at 1:40 PM:
In Reply to: Switching the activator is the ONLY way to switch 8-way to 4-way (MORE) posted by The Maverick on 16, 2001 at 12:29 PM:
If you have ever seen a true 4-way jostick, it does not have metal levers on the switch. It just uses the small switch activator mounted so the activator is at the center of the direction.
An 8-way puts a lever on the switch and mounts it so the activator is off side from center. Turning the rubber piece on bottom of the joystick handle around does not do true 4 way either.
So if you want to be a purest, feel free to use only true 4-way joysticks.
But my circuit comes as close as you are going to get. Especially when passing thru center first. 4-ways should switch direction when 45degrees from center. My IC switches (depending on the joystick used) about 60 degrees, when rotating thru directions. And has close to 45 degrees on either side when passing thru center. Slowing rotate an 8-way joystick and listen to the switches click. 1 always activates before the other on diagonals, depending if you are left or right of the diagonal. This tells you your response points.
This circuit is for people who want the best of both worlds and do not want to mount 2 different joysticks. If you don't like it don't use it. But a mechanical switch is not going to be any better.
I will post some true joystick switch shots, if I can get them, to explain the difference.
Also if you think I am trying to make money at this you are wrong. Everything is there to make your own on my site. If I bought enough parts to make 50 I could sell them for $25 canadian for 2 (including wires and shipping)
: A circuit CANNOT "switch" an 8-way stick to a 4-way. NEVER.
: Here's why: In a 4-way stick you can NEVER activate two switches at once. A properly set up 8-way stick should easily activate two switches with a minor amount of deflection. So all a conversion circuit does is create a partially disabled 8-way stick rather than a properly functioning 4-way stick...
: the Mav