WiiU/GC adapter and possible Dolphin compatible homebrew interfaces...

[cammelspit]

So, I was doing some research into the GameCube controllers because I was curious if the controllers were functionally USB or not. It seems they are not but the line of inquiry got the juices flowing in my brain. After some research there is 2 power pins, one a 5V and one a 3.43V/3.3V (Depending on info source) and both of these could be supplied directly from a USB port on PC with some regulators. There is only one DATA line. I guess I am asking if anyone knows exactly HOW the official WiiU/GC adapter is functioning. if it just gets normal power to both supplys and the data is just mapped to the USB data? If so then it's almost entirely software that drives it and as such making a home brew copy of the interface with a built in HUB would be as close to child's play as it could ever be. On the other side of the coin is it a custom style of interface or converting the signal? I don't own an official adapter and my oscilloscope was seized when I got sent to prison a few years back so I have no way currently of finding out. I can't remember exactly how USB data is done anymore, been years! I just think it would be SUPER neat to make a couple of the dozens of GC controllers I have with either a straight USB on the end or to make an adapter out of an extension cable that dolphin could work with like the REAL thing. Just a random thought but I think it would be BAD ASS to crank a few out for myself if nothing else.

[skid]

It does convert the signal from the GC to USB. We were hoping it wouldn't so that we could possibly hook up a real GBA to dolphin, but no...

[shuffle2]

It may be possible to modify the firmware on the adapter to add the functionality. However since Nintendo decided to stop producing them it's pretty much a moot point.

[cammelspit]

(03-11-2015, 01:29 PM)shuffle2 Wrote: It may be possible to modify the firmware on the adapter to add the functionality. However since Nintendo decided to stop producing them it's pretty much a moot point.

Ya, I was hoping it would be a more passive method. Even if the signals were just converted to a different format with software it could be made to work... I'll try and do a little more research to see if a truly passive method could be devised. But again, without all the tools I had at my store I may just not be able to do a whole hell of a lot. If there is a way to do it though that would be amazeballs.  I would hand build adapters like that for cost just to help out the community.

[skid]

The adapter both converts and filters the data coming in from the controllers.