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There are no known compatibility issues with analog joysticks.

With digital joysticks and non-standard gameport type joysticks & devices, there may be incompatibilities that will prevent the JAMBox from performing its intended function. Below is a guide to do some basic troubleshooting.

• Step (1) With JAMBox disconnected and your joystick/gamepad connected to the PC, use Control Panel and open (Joystick, or Game Controllers) icon. Verify your device is present.
  • If it is present, use Advanced Tab, and verify it is on Controller ID 1. Then return to the General tab, highlight controller, and click on Properties - use Test tab and test your Joystick device operation & buttons. Hint: You may need to calibrate / re-calibrate to ensure proper operation at this point.
  • If it is not present, consult the manual / CD / Floppy disk that came with the joystick device, and follow instructions. Do NOT Proceed with JAMBox installation until you can test & operate your device in Control Panel!
• Step (2) Now connect JAMBox, but DO NOT plug in any switches - JAMBox chains between the game controller port on your PC and the actual Joystick device / Game controller. From Control Panel, verify Joystick operation as in step 1. If there is a problem at this point, verify NO SWITCHES are connected to the front of JAMBox and verify plugs are properly connected and firmly pushed in.
• Step (3) Now plug in a switch to Button 1 and test in Control Panel. If you experience difficulties, then the joystick device is NOT compatible with JAMBox.
  • What "Digital" joysticks do to cause problems with JAMBox
    • There are 4 range (axis) inputs and 4 binary switch inputs on the standard gameport. Analog joysticks typically use 2 buttons, but can use 1, or 3, or 4 buttons directly via the gameport. The original design was for 2 "2-axis, 2-button" joysticks (so 2 people could play a game on the PC).
    • Due to the nature of binary logic, 4 bits (binary switches) can be polled to create 16 possible combinations. "Digital" joysticks use this property to add more than 4 buttons to a single joystick. Since they typically use their own driver, they cease to follow the standards of the gameport interface, and are NOT compatible with the original specifications of an open & closed switch (that JAMBox interfaces via the gameport).
  • What can you do?
    • It is possible that some combination of switches may work - this is solely dependent on the design of the joystick. Test various combinations within the "Test" area of Control Panel to see if a usable configuration is possible.
    • Try using the Standard Gameport driver (under manufacturer Microsoft) to a 2-axis, 2-button joystick controller (General, Add button) and test with joystick - if this generic driver does not work, then you are using a device that is NOT compatible with the gameport and hence, not compatible with JAMBox.
    • Use an analog joystick - most of the advanced joysticks are not ideal for users that need switch capability.
    • If all you need are the switch capabilities, you can connect a 50k-ohm resistor between pins 1-3 and pins 1-6 to look like a centered joystick using the Standard Gameport driver

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