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Joystick
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This page was last updated on 04/14/2017. Total Pages: 729. Total Files: 993.
The Radio Shack CoCo joystick was the standard joystick sold for the CoCo by Radio Shack. Nearly all CoCo games and other applications were compatible with it.
Like the iconic Atari 2600 joystick, it was black with a single red action button, but it had substantial differences.
The RadioShack CoCo joystick was a black trapezoidal box, sized and meant to have its bottom face resting in the palm of an upturned hand. It had a single red fire/action button in the front face meant to be pressed with the holding hand's index finger, and which had a distinct click or snap when engaged.
The stick itself was thin and short, designed to be gripped with the fingers of the other hand like a pencil or chopstick. At first the stick was metal; later versions were of the same black plastic as the rest of the device and were more susceptible to being bent in place or snapped. It was relatively small and delicate because it was analog rather than digital, enabling finely detailed control.
An analog joystick is a joystick which has continuous states, i.e. returns an angle measure of the movement in any direction in the plane or the space (usually utilizing potentiometers). By contrast, a a digital joystick, such as the Atari 2600 joystick, gives only on/off signals for four different directions, and mechanically possible combinations (such as up-right, down-left, &c.).
Thus the CoCo joystick was, in a sense, a trackball or upside-down mouse with a stick attached to the ball. With it, one could draw loops around objects in DoubleBack or quickly fling the trampoline holders across the screen in Clowns and Balloons.
Manual TANDY® High-Resolution Joystick Interface Owners Manual
- Special Software is Required
The High-Resolution Joystick Interface is specially designed for use with the Tandy Color Computer 2 or Tandy Color Computer 3. Used with the Deluxe Joystick or Color Mouse, the Interface provides a highly accurate method of cursor control that can access up to 640 x 192 pixel resolution. It utilizes the cassette output of the Color Computer to convert analog voltage levels of the joystick into pulses of varying duty cycles. This conversion requires special software which will provide the necessary pulses into the Interface. Ask for information on available software which supports the High-Resolution Joystick Interface at your Radio Shack Computer Center or store. PRECAUTIONS The Interface is a very precise electrical device. Handle it with care. Do not drop, hit, or subject it to shock. • Do not attempt to pull out the connectors by the cables. It may cause damage to the cable and the connectors. • Do not carry the lnterface by the cable. • Do not use the Interface in extreme temperatures (either high or low) or in direct sunlight. • Do not spill liquid on the Interface. • Do not disassemble the Interface. • Should your Interface fail to operate properly, take it to your local Radio Shack Computer Center or store. SPECIFICATIONS Resolution: 640 x 192 Operating Temp. Range: 55 to 85ºF (12.8 to 29.4ºC) Storage Temp. Range: -40 to 180ºF (-40 to 71ºC) Humidity: 40% to 80% RH (non-condensing)
INSTALLATION Before connecting the Interface, be sure that power to the Color Computer and peripherals is turned off. 1. Connect the 6pm DIN connector 1 of the Interface to one of the 2 JOYSTICK lacks of the Color Computer. 2. Connect the 5pin DIN connector 2 of the lnterface to the CASS jack of the Color Computer. 3. Connect the 8-pin DIN connector of the Deluxe Joystick to the jack 3 on the Interface. OPERATION Your joystick or color mouse will operate just as if were connected directly to the Color Computer. Note, however, that the resolution on the display will be 10 times higher than normal. To begin using the Color Computer with the Interface, load the appropriate program and RUN it.
