I've dissected a few joysticks that I recently purchased. One was quite
nice; four center-tapped 50K-ohm pots. $4.50 each. Unfortunately I got the
last two. Ah well. Another was a little odd; 40K on one axis, 46k on the
other. $4.95. Both of these were "raw" joysticks - no package or wiring
around them.
This next one is a "packaged" joystick and is intruiging, and to make the
deal even better, when I opened the boxes (I purchased two) each box had two
units:
CONTROL JOYSTICK has two 150K ohm vari-resistors and "FIRE" button. 1.3"H
metal control stick; no spring "return". 8� cord w/ DB-9 connector
2.5x1.4x3.5. #MA8699, NEW. $5.00
http://www.fairradio.com/monroe.htmThere are five pins on the DB9. Two of the pins are the switch on the "Fire"
button, there is a common between the two 150k pots, and then a separate wire
to each pot wiper (also wired to the other terminal of the pot). Very easy
to open up and modify.
Another "packaged" joystick is a CH Products Mach II. These are common PC
joysticks from a few years back and can be found on eBay and at swap meets
for not much money. The Mach III is the same thing with a "fire" button on
the joystick itself. I prefer the Mach II which has two buttons on the
housing. The one that I got has a weird connector on the cable since it is
for a PC Jr. An interesting feature is that there are center-return on/off
switches for each axis; very cool. There are also trim pots for each axis.
Another plus. A little more care is needed opening up this package, but easy
to work inside once upon. One pot measured 148K, the other 160K. There is a
separate wire to each pot, and then a third common connecting the two. There
is a wire to each switch and then a third common between those. This one
looks like a winner; the PC version with a DB9 would be great.
Ok, that's all I could find for small, inexpensive joysticks. Let me know
what you find!
Ivan