I want to build a Vectrex panel...

keithsarcade

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
8,875
Reaction score
160
Location
St Peters, Missouri
Not sure which section this belongs in, but since I'm talking about using arcade parts, lets try here first...

I've been giving some thought to building a custom control panel for my Vectrex. Just thinking something basic, a standard 4 or 8 way stick and 4 buttons, but would like to add a potentiometer for games like hyperdrive, vaboom and so on.

What I could really use help with is the interface. I have no idea how to go about it. I did a quick Google search with no luck yet. I know theres some options, like using an old genesis pad and hacking the hardware, but I'm not sure, might be better to build a circuit from scratch, especially seeing as how I'd like this thing to have both analog and pushbutton controls.

Looking for anyone with any insight on this. Or even someone who can build the curcuit for me, and I can build the rest.
 
I would like to build a minicab for mine. Somehow incorporate 2 of the joysticks, too.

I found this one, not sure if its still available...

http://vectrexmuseum.com/collection/vecArcade.php

I say go big! Convert a barrier (22" vertical monitor) into a vectrex cab...

Neat idea, I've thought about something like this too. Not sure if you could wire a larger vector monitor to the Vectrex logic board though. Also you'd lose the use of overlays which is part of the charm of playing the Vectrex. If this has been done I'd love to see it.
 
I have considered this also but it's not that simple with the analog joystick. You need to hack a game pad to do this properly. I would also consider buying a premade interface. I love the Vectrex but I hate the original controls!
 
After doing some quick research it seems the best option would be to hack a PSX pad as mentioned here:

http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/vec_psx_adap.html

...then taking that hack a step further with an arcade joystick, buttons & pot. Seems this way (if I'm reading this correctly), I can keep my goal of having a joystick & pot on a single panel, with a single connector, as it would seem that I can keep both pushbutton (from the D-Pad) and analog (from one analog stick) controls.

Still, this schematic looks like a mess, having a hard time trying to figure it out. Anyone have any ideas?
 
After 2 failed attempts at wiring up a joystick, I'm giving up. The first attempt would only move left & right, not up & down, and the second attempt made left move left/down and right move right/up, still with no response from up and down switches.

Still want to build a panel but I've spent way to much time on this and only getting frustrated. I will pay for a working interface or wire job.
 
You know something, I was on this guy's site before I started, it was still under construction at the time. Now after failed attempts on my part he has some product. The way my luck is I guess. I did try contacting him thru YouTube for build advice but never got a response. I wonder if he will respond to email.

I can do with any of those panels. I acually have the same Asciiware stick he has listed, and his has a custom board, wonder if he'd sell just the board?

Only dilemma that would leave is how to add a paddle control to it. Is it even possible?
 
Well I wasn't able to wire up a panel without problems, but I did convert an Atari Paddle...


Looks like Recycled Gamer now has a decent selection of hacked panels, think I'll order one of those and say I'm set.
 
Last edited:
Well the founder of the Vectrex Wiki liked my paddle enough to name it the "Vecdrive" controller and put it up on his page. I put an update on my site (linked below) if anyone's interested.

On another note, right when I was ready to buy a panel from recycled gamer, it appears he's sold out. So looks like it's back to plans of building my own. Second photo shows the mockup I came up with. This should all fit in a large Radio Shack hobby box (8x6x3) and still be fairly comfortable. I found a clean schematic here:

http://www.madtronix.com/files/vectrex_gamepad_shematic.pdf

...but I'm still concerned since I've already tried this twice and failed. Ill try it again, but I still welcome anyone who wants to make a few bucks and can successfully wire this up.
 

Attachments

  • sam_2280.jpg
    sam_2280.jpg
    87.8 KB · Views: 13
  • vecpanel.jpg
    vecpanel.jpg
    94.9 KB · Views: 15
Back
Top Bottom