Completely Dumb 32 User Quezzies

[DrDekker]

I recently dug my CD32 out of the loft the other day.  I bought it second/third/fourth/whateverhand some years back and have never really paid any attention to it until now.

I don't have a manual for it - so what I'd like to know is: -

1) Can a mouse be connected directly into one of the joypad ports or is an SX-1/SX-32/whatever thingy required?

2) What is the 'expansion' port used for?  Is it for an external keyboard?

TIA

Dr Dekker

[Xamiche]

1. You can plug a mouse into the joypad port if the game supports it.

2. The expansion port is for SX-1/SX-32/FMV expansions. Or whatever a developer decides to create for it. I don't know of any expansions besides the SX-series or the FMV. There might be though. Try google.

I've always loved the Amiga CD32. I recently repaired two non-working 32s. Man was I ever stoked. :-D
Some people like to buy the SX32 expansion and turn their CD32s into working Amiga 1200s, though good luck finding an SX32 you don't have to hock a kidney for.

Here's a fun fact...

The CD32 was released in Canada and was planned for release in the United States. However, a deadline was reached for Commodore to pay a patent royalty to Cad Track for their use of their XOR patent. [1] A federal judge ordered an injunction against Commodore preventing them from importing anything into the United States. Commodore had built up CD32 inventory in their Philippine manufacturing facility for the United States launch, but, being unable to sell the consoles, they remained in the Philippines until the debts owed to the owners of the facility were settled. Commodore declared bankruptcy shortly afterwards, and the CD32 was never officially sold in the United States.

Had Commodore been able to sell the CD32 in the US, we might still see Commodore around today. I'm thinking we need to find that federal judge and... :madashell:

[DrDekker]

@ Xamiche,

Thanks for your quick reply.

This expansion port you mentioned for the SX/? - is this the edge connector under the rear cover?  Or is it the female connector marked 'expansion' adjacent to the joypad ports?

Cheers.

[Xamiche]

Ahh...I was referring to the edge connector at the back. I'm not certain what the 'AUX' connector near the joypad ports is for. Maybe Commodore had some plans for it, but went bust before anything was made.  :-?

Edit:
Okay, after some googling I've found that the 'AUX' port is for a keyboard. I'm not sure what type though. An Amiga 2000 keyboard with a mini-din adaptor would probably work.
 

[Amithony]

Xamiche wrote:

Had Commodore been able to sell the CD32 in the US, we might still see Commodore around today. I'm thinking we need to find that federal judge and... :madashell:

Much as I'd like to believe it, they would have found other ways to do things the wrong way. Im still hanging out for the world beating AAA chipset

[Xamiche]

Amithony wrote:

Xamiche wrote:

Had Commodore been able to sell the CD32 in the US, we might still see Commodore around today. I'm thinking we need to find that federal judge and... :madashell:

Much as I'd like to believe it, they would have found other ways to do things the wrong way. Im still hanging out for the world beating AAA chipset

I'm forced to agree. But there's nothing wrong with a little harmless scape goating. :-D

[Amithony]

Xamiche wrote:

I'm forced to agree. But there's nothing wrong with a little harmless scape goating. :-D

I concur. I wonder if we keep emailing them and blogging how bad they are at identifying markets for their platform, if someone will take notice. Also, good to see you sold your ami stuff. I managed to land a cheap A1200 + monitor + 1000+ disks for $300 ! Talk about bargain. It will sit along side my A4000 when i have the bickies to buy a power supply.

[Xamiche]

Amithony wrote:

Xamiche wrote:

I'm forced to agree. But there's nothing wrong with a little harmless scape goating. :-D

I concur. I wonder if we keep emailing them and blogging how bad they are at identifying markets for their platform, if someone will take notice. Also, good to see you sold your ami stuff. I managed to land a cheap A1200 + monitor + 1000+ disks for $300 ! Talk about bargain. It will sit along side my A4000 when i have the bickies to buy a power supply.

Very nice indeed. :-D

Actually, while there's a live CD32 thread I have a question too? Given that the Amiga CD32 controller and the Super Nintendo controller are pretty much identical, button-wise, has anyone out there hacked a SNES pad to work for the CD32? I could probably work it out but I'm lazy and if someone already has a schematic for the re-wiring of a SNES pad, I'd be grateful.

[Amithony]

Xamiche wrote:
Given that the Amiga CD32 controller and the Super Nintendo controller are pretty much identical, button-wise, has anyone out there hacked a SNES pad to work for the CD32? I could probably work it out but I'm lazy and if someone already has a schematic for the re-wiring of a SNES pad, I'd be grateful.

Hmm I vaguely recall an article regarding this somewhere. I'll have a dig in the archives. I'm sure it would be cool to whack  on the forum somewhere. I know the atari ones were pretty good in their day too.

How are these:
http://joystick.world3.net/
http://www.geocities.com/cpepin1976/2600nes.txt

[darksun9210]

the aux port next to the joypad ports can accept a standard A4000 style keyboard, plus a mate of mine had a box called the "CD32 communicator".
it was a box that plugged into the Aux port, and the serial port of an amiga and you needed to run something on both machines... i think it was the utilites unlimited CD on the CD32, that booted the CD32, disabled the 'reboot on CD door open', and set the aux port up as a serial port.
some software was run on the other amiga, and the CD32 showed up as a CD drive on the amiga.
which was pretty cool, if a little slow. but it worked.

I dunno about the control pad though... although, are you talking about the compotition pro pads? i think they released a range covering the cd32, snes, and megadrive? the snes and cd32 pads being visually identical?

--edit--

it was the weird science network kit.
plus there was a modem and IR box for that aux port too
CD32 expansions...

[McVenco]

Amithony wrote:

I managed to land a cheap A1200 + monitor + 1000+ disks for $300 ! Talk about bargain.

Cheap? Bargain?

You Ozzies need to get out more :lol:

[Xamiche]

McVenco wrote:

Amithony wrote:

I managed to land a cheap A1200 + monitor + 1000+ disks for $300 ! Talk about bargain.

Cheap? Bargain?

You Ozzies need to get out more :lol:

In the Aussie sun?  :-o Are you crazy??
I'm planning on living past 40. :-D

It's Aussie, not Ozzie. ;-)

[Speelgoedmannetje]

I made a cdtv-to-cd32 keyboard adapter. check this

[McVenco]

It's Aussie, not Ozzie. ;-)

In Holland, an Aussie is something completely different. But thank god that that time is over....

Aussie, and where to find them

[DrDekker]

Whoah!

Thanks for the feedback chaps.  My mistake - I was referring to the 'AUX' port all along - it's not marked 'expansion' at all - nicely sussed.

@ Speelgoedmannetje - since you've made a cdtv-to-cd32 keyboard adapter - does this then mean that the cd32 has all the necessary keyboard controller circuitry on the mainboard?

If so, do you think it likely that a PS2 keyboard adapter (i.e. the IBMKey design) can be hacked to work with it?

Thanks again.