MorseMail Home | Joystick connection | Mouse connection
MorseMail as of version 2001.03.25 has the option to use the sound card joystick port for key connection. The joystick has two "trigger" buttons which can be used for the connection of a key or paddle.
Note: I have found considerable variation in how well the joystick port tracks the keying. On some machines it seems to work fine while on others it is somewhat erratic. If you have a real joystick available, it might be worth experimenting with the trigger buttons to see how responsive it seems before embarking on a project to connect a real key.
Unfortunately, Radio Shack doesn't normally stock a compatible male DB-15 connector. If you have an old joystick lying around, perhaps you can "borrow" the cable. I suggest you wire the cable to a small project box in which you mount jacks appropriate to your key connection convention.
Be very careful with your connections as there can be considerable current available through the +5 pins to ground. If you use an old joystick cable, be sure to insulate any unused wires. I take no responsibility for any damage that might happen to your equipment!
If you don't currently have a joystick connected to your computer then once you have your cable made up and connected you will probably have to go through the control panel "game controllers" setup to enable the port. Just choose the basic 2-axis joystick.
1 : +5vDC 2 : Stick 1 button 1 3 : Stick 1 X-position 4 : Gnd 5 : Gnd 6 : Stick 1 Y-position 7 : Stick 1 button 2 8 : +5vDC 9 : +5vDC 10 : Stick 2 button 1 11 : Stick 2 X-position 12 : Gnd 13 : Stick 2 Y-position 14 : Stick 2 button 2 15 : +5vDC
You connect your straight key between Stick 1 button 1 (pin 2) and Gnd (pin 4, 5, or 12). For a paddle, this is the dot connection and Stick 1 button 2 (pin 7) is the dash connection. You ground the button inputs (pin 2 and 7) through your key for contact closure.
You need to connect the Stick 1 X-position (pin 3) and Stick 1 Y-position (pin 6) position inputs through individual 100K resistors to +5vDC (pin 1, 8, 9, or 15) for the computer to think a joystick is connected.
73, Harry, AB7TB, and hope to hear your fist on MorseMail!
last edited 2001-04-08