Problem //e board returned to life, but the joystick isn't working right?

[DistantStar001]

Overall, the computer boots, loads programs, passes self-test, and performs very well, but with one small exception. The joystick (a 9-pin CH Mach III I believe) isn't being recognized properly.

The board has had some (rather sloppy) work done to it. All of the RAM sockets, as well as the sockets for the EF-ROM and the S02 chip, have been replaced. Some of the traces from the RAM chip at F6 are broken, there are a number of bodge wires in their place. Also, one pin seems to be free floating. However, I've checked all the connections, and everything seems to be connected. Also, as mentioned, the computer is more or less fully functional now! All and all, given everything that has been done to this board, I'm taking an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude to this. However, the joystick is the one lingering issue I have.

I've tested both the stick and a set of Apple-branded paddles on this board, as well as on 3 other working //e's and a //c. Both work perfectly with the other 4 computers, but not this board.

MECC Computer Inspector isn't recognizing anything connected to the port (I also tried a 16-pin Mach III as well). In games (Centipede, Star Trek SOS), the stick automatically goes to the lower-right corner but the games do respond to input from the stick (up, left, down, fire).

When tested on the other computers, MECC Computer Inspector reads the stick as slightly off-center (jumps back and forth by a pixel or so every 15 to 20 seconds) but it's not enough to affect gameplay. So, at this point, I'm pretty sure that it's not the joystick.

I suppose I could just accept that this thing won't be a gaming machine... But then, this thing is so close to being fully functional, why give up now? If anyone has any ideas, it would be very much appreciated.

 

[bibilit]

MECC is not good at detecting Joysticks, and some are simply discarded and the message is the same "nothing connected to the port"

If the joystick is responding properly but needs slight adjustements, probably not the board.

 

[DistantStar001]

Unfortunately, the joystick is not responding properly on this computer. However, it does on the 4 other Apple IIs mentioned. Also, MECC is recognizing the stick on the other computers as well.

On this machine, I can get it to go left, up, and down, but left to its own, the computer thinks that the stick is going right, even in a neutral position. This does not happen on the other machines. When left in a neutral position, the other computers register no motion.

Even if MECC doesn't want to play nice with this board, there's still something causing it to register the wrong inputs from the port (or not register any input on the specific pins responsible for registering right motion, as that behavior is the same as if there were no stick attached).

 

[DistantStar001]

OK! Figured it out. It was the 558 all along! I could have sworn that I tested it in another board, but I guess not. Anyway, Thanks for the help.