And small update:

I found the manufacturer of these connectors: http://www.daiichi-seiko.co.jp/japanese/produ … %20type%29.html

Actually I didn't measure my connector accurately and it appears that it has 0.635mm pitch, not 0.625. And 0.635mm board-to-board type connectors can be obtained without problems. So I ordered this one: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-PCS-0-635-MM … aa-cdf4012c4f43

and will just modify it in order to fit, because I couldn't find a place when I can order a single piece of the original connector, and even if I found it, I guess that it would be really expensive. So, I will wait until that thing is delivered, and will have to do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YZnTL596Q 😜

adalbert wrote on 2016-05-07, 00:33:

And small update: […]
Show full quote

And small update:

I found the manufacturer of these connectors: http://www.daiichi-seiko.co.jp/japanese/produ … %20type%29.html

Actually I didn't measure my connector accurately and it appears that it has 0.635mm pitch, not 0.625. And 0.635mm board-to-board type connectors can be obtained without problems. So I ordered this one: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-PCS-0-635-MM … aa-cdf4012c4f43

and will just modify it in order to fit, because I couldn't find a place when I can order a single piece of the original connector, and even if I found it, I guess that it would be really expensive. So, I will wait until that thing is delivered, and will have to do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YZnTL596Q 😜

I am also looking for a Presario 1800 docking station or to make a adapter just for the gameport.
Would this work? --> https://es.aliexpress.com/item/32759721518.ht … searchweb201603_

I can´t watch your youtube video 🙁

Grettings!

Hi, I forgot what was on that youtube video, nor have access to it 😀

Anyway, I actually got a similar connector (except that mine was much taller), but never got around to wire it properly. It certainly is possible, but would require a great amount of work to secure that connector so it doesn't shift sideways and shorts anything out. Either by 3D printing something or messing with epoxy putty or something like that.

To be honest, i think it would be a better idea to solder some cables on the motherboard side and find a clever way to expose the connector. I attach a photo showing how far I got before abandoning this project...

oh! what a pity, your project was not successful. Well, you have discouraged me a lot, because the connector is expensive, and so that it does not fit ...
Maybe then I solder some cables to the board and take them out to a db15, I have to think about it ...
Thanks!

Soldering should be pretty straightforward, the pinout is in service manual. BUT I just found by accident datasheet for the proper connector: http://docplayer.gr/docview/77/76605769/#file … 69/76605769.pdf
http://www.i-pex.com/product/minidock-slim

It's I-PEX MINIDOCK 30030-080T (docking station part)
and laptop side part is 30029-080T

Unfortunately i can't find it anywhere to buy... 😀

adalbert wrote on 2021-04-05, 16:12:

Soldering should be pretty straightforward, the pinout is in service manual. BUT I just found by accident datasheet for the prop […]
Show full quote

Soldering should be pretty straightforward, the pinout is in service manual. BUT I just found by accident datasheet for the proper connector: http://docplayer.gr/docview/77/76605769/#file … 69/76605769.pdf
http://www.i-pex.com/product/minidock-slim

It's I-PEX MINIDOCK 30030-080T (docking station part)
and laptop side part is 30029-080T

Unfortunately i can't find it anywhere to buy... 😀

Yes!!! You're the best!

Don't worry, i found a uk store that had 7 units in stock, and i bought them.
I bought 7 because I am very bad at welding, and because the shipping costs were very very high. However, I send you the ones you need for free 😀

Let's see if we are lucky and send the correct connector. Cross our fingers.

Oh, that's really awesome, I hope that this for sure will be the right connector and I didn't mess up the product numbers while looking for it, let me know afterwards 😁 I attach the pinout for reference

By the way, i found that model it because I just happened to see a local listing for old Maxdata laptop, which had the same docking connector and it immediately caught my attention. Then I was sure that this wasn't a Compaq-specific thing, but just a generic part and I was able to finally find it by looking through various dock port manufacturers 😀

adalbert wrote on 2021-04-06, 23:47:

Oh, that's really awesome, I hope that this for sure will be the right connector and I didn't mess up the product numbers while looking for it, let me know afterwards 😁 I attach the pinout for reference

By the way, i found that model it because I just happened to see a local listing for old Maxdata laptop, which had the same docking connector and it immediately caught my attention. Then I was sure that this wasn't a Compaq-specific thing, but just a generic part and I was able to finally find it by looking through various dock port manufacturers 😀

I attach the DA-15 pinout for reference. I think that the connection would be the following:
DA-15 FEMALE --> MINIDOCK 30030-080T
1 --> 74 or 75
2 --> 59
3 --> 55
4 --> 78 or 80
5 --> 78 or 80
6 --> 56
7 --> 60
8 --> 74 or 75
9 --> 74 or 75
10 --> 61
11 --> 57
12 --> 64
13 --> 58
14 --> 62
15 --> 63

Hi @adalbert!

This morning I got the connectors, they are perfect! I have verified with a multimeter that 5V is reaching the correct pins, everything is fine.
I leave you some attached photos.
I have started trying to solder them, but they are very thin pins and I am not very skilled with soldering iron. When I have a pin soldered, and I start with another nearby pin, the previous one is unsoldered 🙁 🙁 Could you tell me some trick that could make the task easier for me? 🙁
Greetings!

Hi, that's great that this connector fits properly 😀 it would be good to use a "helping hand" stand and hold the wire vertically in correct position, then just solder it. Afterwards you can slide the heatshrink on it and heat it up, so that pin will be protected from desoldering when you move further. If you still have problems you could PM me so maybe I could solder it, though you would need to wait longer 😀

I would do this a little bit different however:

1. Take older HDD or FDD ribbon with bigger cables (usually they are grey). There should be 2x less pins and it should match the pin pattern on your connector. //edit: at least it looks like you are using newer-style 80pin cable, it should be 40pin
2. Gently cut the end from both sides with a knife - but don't cut it all the way, just enough to remove the insulation
3. Pull the insulation with pliers - grab it firmly and pull hard backwards
4. Put solder on each pin of the cable (don't solder it to the connector yet)
5. Now you can hold the cable to the connector, and it should be easy to solder every pin.
You should repeat that for another row of cables. This is how I do stuff like this 😁 Some pins will probably be unused here, but at least you can solder everything at one time. If everything works, pins can be covered with epoxy glue or hot glue.

adalbert wrote on 2021-04-13, 14:36:

I would do this a little bit different however: […]
Show full quote

I would do this a little bit different however:

1. Take older HDD or FDD ribbon with bigger cables (usually they are grey). There should be 2x less pins and it should match the pin pattern on your connector. //edit: at least it looks like you are using newer-style 80pin cable, it should be 40pin
2. Gently cut the end from both sides with a knife - but don't cut it all the way, just enough to remove the insulation
3. Pull the insulation with pliers - grab it firmly and pull hard backwards
4. Put solder on each pin of the cable (don't solder it to the connector yet)
5. Now you can hold the cable to the connector, and it should be easy to solder every pin.
You should repeat that for another row of cables. This is how I do stuff like this 😁 Some pins will probably be unused here, but at least you can solder everything at one time. If everything works, pins can be covered with epoxy glue or hot glue.

ribbon_soldering2.jpg

Thanks a lot! 😀

Come on! When I get home tonight, I'm going to try the second method, I think I'll be able to.

I will tell you the results 😀

Thanks again.

Hi! After four attempts, I already have a midi! but 3 buttons of the remote control fail me (I check the buttons by pressing them and measuring the voltages with a multimeter, because win98 is not able to detect it yet) I will have to check the solders that fail me, but very carefully, because with the previous revision I messed everything up and I had to start over, hehe!

Ah! At the end, the most comfortable way to solder the hdd ribbon, was bending the pins 90 degrees and putting insulation between them 😀

If you want a couple of connectors, send me a private message with your address and I will send them to you. (Free, of course)

Thanks for your help. Without you I would never have do it.

Great that MIDI works, hope you will sort other things too 😀 Are you using a real joystick for testing or just attaching something to the button pins only? To get the joystick detected, I believe that not only buttons, but also potentiometers for analog axes need to be connected. Are you even planning to use joystick, or some other kind of device here?
BTW i sent a PM 😀

I checked the tin solders and, now, everything works! I'm using an old QuickShot control pad and, for sound, a Pimidi MT32, and the Roland sc55 and sc88. The end result is aesthetically very ugly, but functional. Surely make another one more beautiful, I have to think how to do something more elegant 😉

As I still do not have permission to write private messages, I answer you here: I have no problem sending you two connectors to your country. Give me your address privately and forget about the shipping money, it's a gift 😀

oskarzer0 wrote on 2021-04-15, 22:59:

I checked the tin solders and, now, everything works! I'm using an old QuickShot control pad and, for sound, a Pimidi MT32, and the Roland sc55 and sc88. The end result is aesthetically very ugly, but functional. Surely make another one more beautiful, I have to think how to do something more elegant 😉

As I still do not have permission to write private messages, I answer you here: I have no problem sending you two connectors to your country. Give me your address privately and forget about the shipping money, it's a gift 😀

Okay, i sent the PM with details, thanks a lot 😀 Glad it's working, that's the most important thing 😁 maybe even putting black tape around would make it better, maybe 3d printed case as the best solution 😉 The joystick connector looks solid though 😀

I already know how to make it more beautiful. I have remove the upper part and there I will put a small da-15 glued, so there would be a single piece. Also I have remove all the pins that I do not need to avoid short circuits and I will solder them with fine wire, turning the pins 90 degrees to facilitate the task.

Yeah, looks much cleaner with unnecessary pins removed. Preventing shorts is important, because there are some "Adapter power" pins which may be 19V 😜

adalbert wrote on 2021-04-17, 18:16:

Yeah, looks much cleaner with unnecessary pins removed. Preventing shorts is important, because there are some "Adapter power" pins which may be 19V 😜

I sent you two connectors last Friday. They must be about to arrive! 😀

This is the latest version of mine. I like it better that way, but it can still be improved:

Thanks, can't wait to get them 😀 that looks good now, it's very small! I think i could prepare a 3d printed case for it, need to see the connector first, but if it will work maybe I print and send you back, I guess I could use two mounting holes on the docking connector, and two holes on the joystick connector.