KoolBear's Descent  
"Once you've gotten hooked on Descent it is like a drug,
each time you find yourself wanting the rush to be even better"

3DP-Vert
 

In the beginning ... Read all about it here !
Downloadable files...
The Manual HERE
 Radio SHack Box modification print HERE
 

Personally speaking the M$ Sidewinder 3D Pro USB Convertor or 3DP-Vert is the greatest thing since sliced bread, running water and electricity. As an Old Skooler I remember very well the days when the Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro was the ONLY Joystick that a true Descent'r would use, I was a terror in Descent 2, sadly I had to upgrade my system to play Descent3 and lost my joystick port on my new computer :( It was fine because the eye candy of D3 made the change worth while.

Recently that has all changed! We have one hell'va excellent Hi-Rez and upgraded version of Descent 2 called D2X-XL. from Diedel you can read more about that HERE, This excellent effort will run both D1 and D2 campains.

Due to Diedel's project NovaCron decided that he was going to re-vamp the Default Textures of Descent 2, read more HERE.

So with a much improved Descent 2 and improved graphics I was ready to get back into D2, in steps Grendel and his discussion of a 3D Pro Converter that he had developed! I HAD to get one (ended up with 3).

Now life is looking wonderful again!

Thanks Grendel, Diedel and NovaCron and all those that support them!

YiD,

KoolBear

Read ON!

 

This is how a unit looks. (that's what you will get) Check out the left side of the board, there's a Pyro-GX for those that care :)
(click on images for full size)

Download the manual HERE and the box mod print HERE

 

 

#3 is the header option

 


#4 is the DB15 option, here w/ some stuff you can add on

     

 

#3 is the header option

#4 is the DB15 option, here w/ some stuff you can add on
     

The board is designed to fit into this box from RadioShack ($3.99, my local RS has them in the store). Note that you will have to cut/drill holes to have it fit.

[quote="Diedel"]
But where in all the earth do I get those Radioshack housing boxes in Germany? :? Well, maybe I'll find something in a local electronics store ... I hope. [/quote]

[quote="Grendel"]
Hm, didn't think about that .. a quick check brought up this box from Conrad (TEKO KLEIN-GEHÄUSE P1, Artikel-Nr.: 523917-62). It's not a 100% fit, this one doesn't have posts to screw the board to. You'll have to improvise some.
[/quote]

Here's the print used to modify the Radio Shack Box mentioned above and shown below

 

A brief glimpse into the history of Grendel's 3DP-Vert
 
Prototype #1   Prototype #2
   
Production PCB Layout
Detail of Pyro-GX printed on PCB
     
Production PCB
Production Parts (kit)
3DP-Vert in operation
     
3DP-Vert mounted in system
Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro
3DP-Vert mounted in box
     
3DP-Vert mounted in box (rear)
3DP-Vert mounted in box (front)
3DP-Vert mounted on I/O Bracket
     


Grendel
Inventor of the
3DP-Vert
Click here or on his avatar
Production PCB


Boxed option

Setup and Use of your 3DP-Vert as posted on DescentBB.net

There is no particular order for connecting the converter to the PC, in case you use it w/o any protection outside a PC it's recommended to proceed as follows:

connect a MicroSoft SideWinder 3D Pro to the converters DSUB-15 connector

connect the B end of a USB A-B cable the the converters USB connector

place the converter at a spot on your desk where the other end of the USB cable will reach a USB port of your computer. Make sure there is no metal under the converter or even close to it !

make sure the 3D Pro is in the neutral position

connect the A end of the USB A-B cable to a USB port on your computer while the converter is connected, do not touch it. Do no drop anything on it. Keep your pets away from it. I can't stress this enough: make sure nothing made out of metal comes into contact w/ any part of the converter while it is operating !! Failure to do so may destroy the converter and/or damage your computer !! It is strongly recommended to box the unit or mount it inside your PC.

The first time the converter is connected to your PC (while also connected to a 3D Pro) the "Found New Hardware" process will start and configure Windows for using the converter. After this finishes (about 10s), open the "Gaming Options" (2k) or "Game Controllers" (XP) panel found in the "Control Panel". You should see the entry "Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro (USB)". Double click the entry and operate the 3D Pro.

The converter can be disconnected from the USB port anytime, w/ or w/o the 3D Pro connected.
The converter can stay connected to your PC 24/7. You can power cycle or reboot the PC w/ the converter connected.
Switching the little emulation select switch on the back of the 3D Pro will cause the 3D Pro to reset. In that case the converter will restart and reinitialize the 3D Pro. You will loose the 3D Pro for about 2s if that happens.

I you are going to use the 3D Pro w/ Descent 3, proceed as follows:

open Notepad or editplus
copy the four lines (between the -----) and paste them into Notepad:

-------------------------------------
[controller settings]

name=Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro (USB)
deadzone=0.0
-------------------------------------
Check for spaces at the end of the pasted lines and remove them (important)
save this file as Mssw3dpu.ctl into your Descent 3 root directory (usually c:\games\descent3)

Or you can download it HERE and save it to your Descent 3 root directory (usually c:\games\descent3)

This seems to kill the default deadzone of DirectInput and is independent from the -deadzone commandline parameter. The later is applied by D3 on the values delivered by DI.

Grendel

 

 



 
Updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
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