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NINTENDO CONTROLLER TO ATARI 2600 BOOSTER GRIP CONVERSION

FAQ Volume 1.01

BY Chris Pepin

cpepin1@hotmail.com

Copyright (c) 2001 by Christopher James Pepin

03/17/01

This FAQ should be available at my web site.

THE FORGOTTEN ARCHIVES
http://www.geocities.com/cpepin1976

It should also be available from http://www.gamefaqs.com.
Only the best source for Video Game FAQS in the world!

Here is a way to convert old 8-bit Nintendo controllers to
work just like the CBS Booster Grip Adaptor for the Atari 2600.  This
mod actually gives you three different buttons A,B, and Start.  A
being the normal fire button and B and Start being the two extra
booster grip buttons.  As of this writing, there aren't any games that
take advantage of the second booster grip button, but possibly a
future home-brew game might.

1)  Get yourself a 9-pin extension cable that has all of the pins.
A multi-meter to test the pins is almost a must.  You also need
some small pieces of wire, a soldering iron, and a small drill.

2) Have an old 8-bit standard NES controller, preferably in working
condition.

3) Cut the male end off the extension cable.

4) Open up the NES controller and unsolder EVERYTHING.

Remove the chip and cable.

Chip Socket Diagram

A B C D E F G H

I J K L M N O P

5) Take a razor blade and cut the circuits in the board directly
above holes I, J, K, L, & M and just below hole E.

6) Directly to the right of the chip socket, there will be four
vertical black stripes.  Take a razor blade and cut the circuit
traces where all four stripes attach to the rest of the board.

7)  Here's the pinout you need to follow.

9-pin female connector on the extension cable.
___________
\5 4 3 2 1/
  \9 8 7 6/
   -------

1. UP
2. Down
3. Left
4. Right
5. Booster Grip #1 (Button B)
6. Fire (Button A)
7. Don't Use (+5v)
8. Ground
9. Booster Grip #2 (Start Button)

All of the buttons need to be connected to ground on one side and
their respective pin on the other side, except for the two booster
grip buttons.  They don't connect to ground at all.  For them what
you are doing is sending the digital high signal coming off of
pin 6 and shooting it back down pin 5 or 9 respectively.  It's
just as if you had turned paddle one or two all the way to the left.

If you run into problems with using pin 6 to send the booster grip
signal, use the +5 volts off of pin seven instead, but that's a bit
more work to rig up.  So far, I haven't had any problems with pin 6,
but then again I only have one game that uses the booster grip. :-)

8) Solder the following wires into the holes left by the unsoldered
chip (see diagram above.) You also need to solder a wire from
hole G to hole P.  So when you go to solder the wire from pin 6
into place you need to stick both wires into the hole and solder
them together.

Pin 8 = I
Pin 4 = J
Pin 3 = K
Pin 2 = L
Pin 1 = M
Pin 6 = P
Pin 9 = E


Pin 5 is the trickiest one to solder into place.  What you need to
do is cut the circuit board to the left of button B right next to
where the trace joins up with the trace coming from button A
(this leads to ground).  Since the booster grip doesn't use ground
we can't have this connected.  Then we need to drill a hole in the
circuit trace between where we cut it and button B.  There's not
much room so be carefull.  What we are doing is creating a hole
where we can solder the wire from pin five into place.  The trouble
is, the green stuff on the circuit board doesn't take to soldering
too well.  Once the hole is drilled, you need to gently scrape some
of the green stuff off of the trace between button B and the hole
for the wire.  This will allow solder to stick to it.  Once all of
that is done, solder the wire from pin 5 into place.


9) Cut the circuit trace right below the select button.

10) Put the circuit board back into the case and screw the back on.
You now have an atari 2600 controller with three buttons and booster
grip functionality!

I've tried to be as clear as possible and I don't think I've left
anything out, but USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS AT YOUR OWN RISK.  IF YOU
USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS, I AM NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL
INJURY CAUSED TO YOU, YOUR PROPERTY, AND/OR ANYONE ELSE AND THEIR
PROPERTY.
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