What's the deal with Hori Mini Pad N64 controllers?

[regnad]

Where I live, Saitama (Japan), there are a ton of the elusive, coveted Hori mini pads I can get used for about 3 bucks each.

I love the analog sticks, but the thing doesn't work with pretty much any USB adapter on a PC. I have a Mayflash adapter, which works fine with an original controller, but the Hori analog stick goes crazy and refuses to calibrate.

On another forum, someone told me the Hori also won't work with an Apaptoid, RetroZone USB adapter, or Boom adapter. He said the Hori analog stick works differently with them all, but with none of them correctly.

What's going on here? Is there a solution?

[NFG]

That's rather interesting.  I have one of those, (I lived in Saitama for years, was there two weeks ago) but I've never used it on a PC.  Works fine on the N64 obviously. 

[regnad]

Interesting, but also hugely frustrating.

Anyone have any ideas? I'd love to figure out how to get this thing working on a PC.

[kendrick]

I have a perverse idea. Obviously, the Hori controller is providing a signal that the real N64 can accept, but that must be out of the published spec. What happens if you use another convertor on it, one for a console instead of a PC? I'm envisioning a scenario where you have the Hori controller plugged into an N64-to-PSX adapter, and then you plug that adapter into a PSX-to-USB adapter. If you have all that gear lying around, it's probably worth seeing if the PSX adapter accepts the Hori pad input correctly.

[regnad]

That's a very clever idea indeed!

I don't have either of those converters lying around unfortunately!

[regnad]

Any other ideas?

[NFG]

Short of reprogramming the device to adhere to the standard protocol, I doubt you'll have any joy here. 

[regnad]

Ugh.

[Link83]

Have you tried reseting the analog stick after installing the USB adaptor? Whilst the analog stick is in a neutral position just press L, R and START all at the same time:-
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/nintendo64/trouble_accessory.jsp#wontmove
All N64 controllers had to support this.

Alternatively it sounds like this might explain the cause of the problem:-
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39162
No solution though

[regnad]

Just tried the L/R/start. Did nothing unfortunately.

But if the Hori stick is compatible with the Gamecube stick (as is implied in the second link), and a Gamecube controller works on a PC with an adapter, why would a Hori not work?

[blaze3927]

i believe not, however there are rumors that the adaptoid (expensive) n64 usb adapter supports every type of n64 controller.
also wtf $3 each???
can i order ten off you 

[regnad]

At the store up the street there were two nice ones, which I bought for myself, and one with a broken stick for about $1.50, which I didn't.

Sorry! If there were ten, I'd have bought em!

On another message board someone tells me the Adaptoid does NOT work with the Hori.

[blaze3927]

have you maybe tried something like ppjoy?

[regnad]

Solution found!

This guy's adapters work like a charm with the Hori pad: http://www.raphnet-tech.com/products/gc_n64_usb_adapters/index.php

Hooray! Simple solution!

[ulao]

Yeah, most adapters are all based on the old Ned's design. Poor guy, everyone practicably ripped him off.  I chose Ralf's design my self.  I took it a bit further and added rumble support and currently I'm working on adding mem pack reading.

Here is my project.

http://bliss-box.net/Bliss-Box/index.html

Again, my project is based on Ralph's and you will see him mentioned all over my site. He really knows his stuff.

[regnad]

Do you have a working driver for Raphael's N64 adapter? I'd love to have rumble for my Hori pad!

[ulao]

Ah, I see how you may have got confused ( got your PM ), no my adapter is way more advanced and completely re-written. I use HID FFB ( no drivers required ). I have only tested this with xp but I suspect other os's will work.

[regnad]

Do you have an adapter that will work with the Hori pad? Do you make adapters that don't have a billion different plugs? I really just want to run a Hori mini with rumble on an emulator.

[ulao]

Yeah, if you read the page I do make custom adapters. I dont have a Hori  pad, but if it works with Ralphs it will work with mine.