Making dongles/keys

[BarryB]

Nice photo, thanks! Now we know the resistor value is 2.2ohms!!

I've got a copy of World Class Leaderboard for C64 coming complete with the dongle, the picture showed the resistor between 1 & 6 for that game I've also ordered some of those plugs and crimp connectors from Mouser to make my own.

Just remembered I made a B.A.T. II dongle for the Amiga a few years ago, found a post on EAB that said it was serial port dongle with a resistor on pins 20 & 5 + a capacitor on pins 5 (Positive) & 7 (Negative). Values I got from Keir Fraser, 15k resistor and 0.22uf radial capacitor.

Also, Keir helped me make a Robocop 3 dongle for the Amiga but that was more complicated and I've mis-placed the dongle but from the emails it was:

Dual Flip Flop IC 74HCT74N and a female 9pin D-Sub wired as follows!

74HCT74 --- 9 Pin D-SUB
1 (1/RD) ---> 7 (+5V)
3 (1CP) ---> 6 (Fire1)
4 (1/SD) ---> 7 (+5V)
5 (1Q) ---> 1 (U)
7 (GND) ---> 8 (GND)
10 (2/SD) ---> 7 (+5V)
11 (2CP) ---> 8 (GND)
12 (2D) ---> 8 (GND)
13 (2/RD) ---> 7 (+5V)
14 (Vcc) ---> 7 (+5V)

Also, connect Pins 2 + 6 on the 74HCT!

[ZrX]

Nice. That Robocop 3 dongle seems to output random bits to the joy up line when fire is triggered by software.

[BarryB]

Attached a pic I took of the Robocop 3 dongle I made, no points for neatness I colour coded the wires as follows:

WHITE = GND
ORANGE = +5v
BLUE = 1Q
GREEN = CLK
BROWN = 1Q/1D

247787.gif (6.82 KiB) Viewed 1109 times

[Mayhem]

Nice photo, thanks! Now we know the resistor value is 2.2ohms!!

I've got a copy of World Class Leaderboard for C64 coming complete with the dongle, the picture showed the resistor between 1 & 6 for that game I've also ordered some of those plugs and crimp connectors from Mouser to make my own.

Yes, I was figuring the stripes would tell you what the resistance is. I'm holding the dongle as if you'd put it in the C64, so the resistor is on the left hand side.

If I find where my copy of WCL is (I knew exactly where Leaderboard was to grab it), then I'll check to see if my dongle for that matches your description.

[ZrX]

Both are funtionally identical. The resistor value is also irrelevant.

[BarryB]

Well, the blue tape connectors arrived today, they aren't keyed so you have to be careful! As a test I loaded Leaderboard without any dongle and the game freezes when selecting which of the 4 courses to play!

Next, I powered off and plugged in the tape connector and with a mini alligator lead clipped it onto pins 5&6, powered back on and loaded Leaderboard, this time I could choose the course and play the game So really no need for a resistor, which makes me think they used one to make it look more 'complicated' than it actually was so no one would try to make one

[BarryB]

Ok, made a Leader Board dongle:



Original on the Right, copy on the Left! Copy works with Leader Board, which had pins 5&6 connected with a resistor! Unfortunately didn't justify spending £210 for the proper 'crimp' tool so had to use a pair of pliers and make a flat crimp connection!