USB Host Cable and SNES Game Controller Mod Tutorial

[Guest TheRain]

Hi guys-

I have written up a short overview and tutorial on how to build a USB Host cable for the streak, and also how you can build a Dell Streak Game controller using a Teensy board and an SNES Controller.

You can check out my Tutorial complete with a demo youtube video at the end here:

http://devdot.wikispaces.com/Dell+Streak+U...roller+Tutorial

Cheers!

Collin

[Guest Ellis Grouse]

Now that's pretty damn awesome... nice!

Might have to give this a try if I get a spare cable :)

[Guest gypsydigi]

Thanks pretty cool!

[Guest cowballz]

How much would u charge if i send u a snes.controller? you could pro lb make some bucks off.your mod

[Guest vinokirk]

Yeah dude, you should make and sell these!!! £££££ ka ching! If you dont im sure someone else will :)

[Guest adzman808]

Hi guys-

I have written up a short overview and tutorial on how to build a USB Host cable for the streak, and also how you can build a Dell Streak Game controller using a Teensy board and an SNES Controller.

You can check out my Tutorial complete with a demo youtube video at the end here:

http://devdot.wikispaces.com/Dell+Streak+U...roller+Tutorial

Cheers!

Collin

nice one...

i've just ordered a female to female USB adaptor, but will i also have to perform the cable mod to get this to work?

The replies i received in the thread i started kinda suggested i wouldn't need to do this.... but your guide (& you obviously know your stuff) suggests overwise...

can you advise me please?

thanks

[Guest TheRain]

nice one...

i've just ordered a female to female USB adaptor, but will i also have to perform the cable mod to get this to work?

The replies i received in the thread i started kinda suggested i wouldn't need to do this.... but your guide (& you obviously know your stuff) suggests overwise...

can you advise me please?

thanks

Hey there- yes you need to modify the cable, there's no way around that.

Also, I don't know if anyone has mentioned, but there is a little bit of work needed to get USB Mass Storage to work. Linuxslate discovered this and not I, and he has detailed how to get Mass Storage devices working here http://linuxslate.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1286562168

cheers,

collin

[Guest adzman808]

Hey there- yes you need to modify the cable, there's no way around that.

Also, I don't know if anyone has mentioned, but there is a little bit of work needed to get USB Mass Storage to work. Linuxslate discovered this and not I, and he has detailed how to get Mass Storage devices working here http://linuxslate.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1286562168

cheers,

collin

Cheers Colin,

this does all seem a little beyond me sadly...

but perhaps not...

OK some dumb ass questions...

rather than hack my one & only dell cable would i be able to to make the pin mod on the female to female adaptor i've ordered?

Also, the instructions mention connecting over "ADB" could you give me a little pointer as too what that is please? (Google gives me pages & pages of debugging apps & creating apps with simulation- waaaaay to in depth for me)

do i need to install something on my PC (droid sdk?)

Sorry for the stupid questions, i'm very new to android & really struggling to understand after so many (lost :)) yrs of winmo

& finally & a little off topic, but i've now tried 2 usb car chargers (that plug into the cigarette lighter socket) & can't get the streak to charge, is this something to do with the pins in the cable (i only use the standard cable) or the volt / amp output of the chargers

I'm using car chargers i have already (one ipod, one generic), do i need a dedicated streak charger?

Thank you very much for assisting me, i'm a tiny bit 'pist' that no one mentioned any of this in my thread about usb storage, TBH tho ppl prob incorrectly assumed that i wasn't an idiot :)

Thanks again

[Guest TheRain]

Cheers Colin,

this does all seem a little beyond me sadly...

but perhaps not...

For those reading this, just note this doesn't have to do with USB Host mode in general, or the game controller mod. It only has to do with connecting Mass Storage Devices.

Yes ADB is a development tool that comes with the Android SDK. It allows you to run commands on an android device from your computer (can be done on Windows/Mac/Linux). Alternatively you could root your streak (if you haven't already) install busybox, and install Android terminal and type the commands he mentions there.

As to your charging problem, in my experience YES some USB ports and chargers do not output enough power to charge/power a particular device. This may be your issue.

[Guest TheRain]

I failed to mention that USB Host mode can also be activated if you have a Dell Streak Dock, and the process is a bit more simple there. With the Dell Streak Dock, you can purchase a standard USB OTG adaptor and use that to enable host mode.

It's mentioned in Linuxslate's mass storage tutorial, but not in my tutorial- I'll add a note about it.

[Guest adzman808]

For those reading this, just note this doesn't have to do with USB Host mode in general, or the game controller mod. It only has to do with connecting Mass Storage Devices.

Yes ADB is a development tool that comes with the Android SDK. It allows you to run commands on an android device from your computer (can be done on Windows/Mac/Linux). Alternatively you could root your streak (if you haven't already) install busybox, and install Android terminal and type the commands he mentions there.

As to your charging problem, in my experience YES some USB ports and chargers do not output enough power to charge/power a particular device. This may be your issue.

Cheers buddy,

i look forward to bricking my device i mean getting this sorted asap :)

Thanks again

[Guest Alkiera]

Hi guys-

I have written up a short overview and tutorial on how to build a USB Host cable for the streak, and also how you can build a Dell Streak Game controller using a Teensy board and an SNES Controller.

You can check out my Tutorial complete with a demo youtube video at the end here:

http://devdot.wikispaces.com/Dell+Streak+U...roller+Tutorial

Cheers!

Collin

Is there somewhere you mention what software you're using on the teensy board to do the kb emulation?

For my purposes I'd just as soon have the SNES controller have a USB port on the end of a cable, so I can use it with PC emulators too; and for the Streak end, have a PDMI-USB Host cable, with a female USB, perhaps both the std one and a micro for future use, using std USB/microUSB cables, etc.

Especially if I'm going to butcher an expensive Dell cable and a SNES controller, I'd like both to be as functional as possible in the end.

EDIT: Just found the SNES-USB project on the teensy site. Cool.

Edited November 4, 2010 by Alkiera

[Guest TheRain]

EDIT: Just found the SNES-USB project on the teensy site. Cool.

Yah, I'm not using SNES-USB for teensy, but I'll post my source code soon!

SNES-USB translates the SNES protocol, mine does not, it just taps in to and reads the buttons, then sends them as key presses over USB.

[Guest TheRain]

How much would u charge if i send u a snes.controller? you could pro lb make some bucks off.your mod

It's pretty tough to do, and I make enough in my day job to be really *not* inspired to build these for people :) sorry guys.

The parts cost was something like:

spare dell cable@$20 + original SNES controller@$10 + teensy microcontroller board@$18 so around $50 USD .

oh yah... and blood and sweat@priceless :)

[Guest woytas]

It's pretty tough to do, and I make enough in my day job to be really *not* inspired to build these for people :) sorry guys.

The parts cost was something like:

spare dell cable@$20 + original SNES controller@$10 + teensy microcontroller board@$18 so around $50 USD .

oh yah... and blood and sweat@priceless :(

http://gizmodo.com/5681418/heres-how-to-tu...let-into-a-snes

You are become famous, mate! :)