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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:54 pm
by Clint
i could easily do the software side in linux or dos. i dont have any programming tools for windows(anyone want to "lend" me a copy of visual c++). but here's a summary of what needs to get done if someone wants to mess with it.

pc parallel port address is 0x378

pins 2-9 can output 5v when triggered high.
pins 18-25 are ground.

Pin 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Value 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128
and 0=off

say pin 2 = forward (on value 1)
pin 3= back (on value 2)
pin 4=left (on value 4)
pin 5 = right (on value 8 )
pin 6=booster bit (on value 16)

so if you press up arrow on keyboard, send a 0x1 to port 0x378,
which will pull 5v on pin 2. connect to forward on transmitter(npn trans, relay, diode..etc ph2t can do this part, im not good with circuits.)

say you want to go backward and right at the same time.
backwards is 2, right is 8, add it up=10.. convert 10 to hex
0xA.. so send a 0xA to port 0x378 and it will turn on both pins 3 and 5
for back+right.

basic code
setup:
initialize the port ioperm(0x378,......)
outb(0x0,0x378) turn all data pins off (0x0)
(corresponding function is _outp(..) in windows)


poll for valid keypresses
send pin on value of keypresses to port. outb(keypressVal,0x378)
turn pins off when not keypressed. etc


schematics for the hardware from noxorc's original post(cool)
http://www.tinyrc.com/forums/attachment ... 1042427751

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:12 pm
by guerd87
Well it seems that this could be harder than i though

I cant get a copy of VB and i have no ideas on the code side of things, clint, do you know how to code in c++ with text only programs?

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:43 pm
by Clint
I've been having trouble finding vb or vc++ too. does no one do decent warez anymore :-( . I have cygwin so i may look at installing mingw(gnu
windows api) on top of that. we'll see what happens. We'll still need a 3rd
party dll to access the printer port as windows doesnt allow direct
hardware access.

it still looks doable. :-o

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:33 pm
by CaboWabo
I think you can grab a trial version of Visual Studio 2005.

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:14 pm
by Clint
CaboWabo wrote:I think you can grab a trial version of Visual Studio 2005.
Sweet! ordered.

total cost was $6.47 for the dvd with a 180 day license.

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:44 pm
by guerd87
nice stuff :) i was talking to one of my programmer mates but he has been too busy with work and stuff to help me out, so im out of the codeing side :(

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:28 pm
by Clint
Got those microsoft dvd's today.