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So people don't have to wade through that other thread (that has some wiring errors early on), I have put the schematics here

Disclaimer: I made my best effort to ensure that the factory board schematic is correct. Nothing will blow up your machine, but I can't guarantee it will work as I have not actually built it. I used a factory board to trace everything out. It is up to the user to have some knowledge of electronics to assemble either of these. For example, knowing which way to put in an LED, and the correct polarity of the regulator capacitors. If anyone wants to add to or modify either of these, all I ask is that you let me know what you plan to do first.

That said, the first schematic is of the factory RS232 SAS board. Since J82 and J2 don't have pin #1 labeled, I have drawn them as they are on the board with J82 at the top, and labeled them accordingly. I have included the pin to pin wiring for those that may be lucky enough to find one of these boards and just needs to hook it up. There were several errors in the early drawings in the original thead, so these have all of the corrections. I have shown J4 and J9 that are on the motherboard as you would be looking at it from the door of the machine. I drew lines on the pins that are used. Note: If you use J9, be sure to use pin 2. If you use pin 3 by accident, you will fry your board as it has 12vac on it.

The first schematic is mainly for someone ambitious enough to want to build one like the factory.  :79-

For those who want a quick and easy interface, the second one will do the job. I have built two of them and they work just fine. As I noted in the other thread, there are pre-made MAX232 boards on e-bay for about $4.00 that should work. But I don't yet have one to verify it (but have a few on order). This option requires that you supply a REGULATED +5V to the MAX232 (and motherboard). You can often find these type of wall warts on stuff like USB hubs etc. But you must make sure it is 5V regulated or else you need to build your own 5v regulator. The important thing with this option is that the +5V supply ground must be tied to the MAX232 (of course), but it also goes to pin 2 of J4, and it should also go to chassis ground. This is because the MPU normally gets it's ground for this part of the circuitry from the factory SAS board which gets it from pin 1 of J9. And if you don't supply a common ground, it may not work right, or be intermittent.

You may also notice that the MAX232 on my simplified interface is wired slightly different than the factory board (a few of the capacitors). I don't know why there is a difference, all I know is that they both work.

<edit> 05/11/11 Fixed more minor errors on the IGT board.

I will add mine that works.

Go for it.  :89- I was mostly concerned with someone making modifications to these that could result in  :98- 

Hey! What's all those triangles and squiggly lines for?   :96-  :200-

Just kidding...Great great stuff guys!!!
The wiring diagrams and schematics of the year!  :3- :244- :131-

I have to give a special thanks to Bunker for smoke checking his factory board so that I could get a closer look at it.  :209- 

Sorry, couldn't resist. :96-

I posted a similar picture in the other thread. What makes the simplified MAX232 option so easy to build and useful is that you can just solder the capacitors right to the MAX232 chip and then stick the whole assembly right inside of a DB9 connector. There will then be 4 wires coming out. TX, RX, GND and +5v. And if you terminate the wires with header pin connectors, you can just slide them right on the pins you need to. Note: The ground and +5 volt need to go to your regulated power supply (just tap into the wires). Then just slide the 4 connectors onto the correct J4 pins and you are done. I have mine routed out through the slot machine power cable hole and the DB9 is easily accessible at the rear of the machine.

Ok, for those looking for the really simple S+ solution, I had posted this link to an item on e-bay before.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAX232-RS232-TTL-Converter-Adapter-Module-Board-New-/280635493763 (http://cgi.ebay.com/MAX232-RS232-TTL-Converter-Adapter-Module-Board-New-/280635493763)
It's a pre-built MAX232 board. $3.99 shipped. I bought 2 of them. Took a little while to get them since they are coming from China or Hong Kong, but they work just fine. :71-

Connection is exactly like my simplified schematic above. Only 4 wires are needed. Gnd, +5V, TX, RX. See my notes on the external power supply above.

The pin labled TXD goes to J4 pin 9 and the one labled RDX goes to J4 pin 5

The pin labeling on the board is offset a bit, but corresponds to the 6 pins. The top 4 pins as shown in the picture, are the ones used.

I gotta give a round of applause to our U.S. Postal Service.
How they delivered my mail today is just bloody amazing! :131-
Every local school and airport around here is closed due to the heavy snowfall.  :3- >>>

More pictures of this amazingly small serial cable board.
The last one was a bit too dark however.
Please click on photos to enlarge if needed!
I'm guessing we're NOT using the bottom two (RTS & CTS) Pins,  Poppo?
I've marked them with little green ex's...>>>

ADD>>> I had to change the X's to red for Capt Happy.... :279-

Correct. Don't need those pins for this.

Bunker,

Why did you use Green X's  and not Red X's???  :262- :262- :262- :280- :208- :208- :279- :208- :208-

Thanks to everyone  :244- :244- :244- for their contribution on this project!!! K+ :259- Storm in here!

CaptainHappy :95-

Capt.
Please review Reply #8 and tell me if it passes inspection...  :200-

When I blow it up it looks like Christmas X's!!! Way cool, it is fun playing with you!

CH :95-

Poppo,
I'm the midst of making one of these but I'm stumped on the regulated +5vdc.
I don't have anything that's 5volts.
Is there a +5v source on the S+ that I can tap into?

I also have a couple of old S+ MPU boards.
Are there any components that I can use from them - to make a power source?

As I noted I uses a wall wart that was already a regulated 5V. While there are places on the MPU to get +5V, it would require soldering a wire on something and I would not recommend that. The other option is to build a 5v regulator like Foster shows on his schematic to use with your other wall wart or J9 pin 2. While I recommend the filter caps he shows, you can probably get by without them. I sent you a spare 5v regulator with your other board which should be there soon.

Oh thanks!
I'll wait on that then.
I don't feel like burning out tiny boards that
take forever to get here from China!  :96-

The strange thing though is:
I built a serial cable like yours utilizing a MAX232 chip and I only had a 12Vdc wallwarts.
I had total and full communications w/my S+ using the Sim program.
But I didn't have any communications with the Test App though.
Strange...

If you were using a 12V wall wart, (and it was actually putting out 12V), you are probably lucky you didn't cook the MAX232 chip. It's really only rated for +6V max.

Poppo,
I'm getting swamped with harness requests for the SAS Interface board.
I'm thinking of having guys just send me their boards and
I'll install a female serial port housing onto the boards at the J2 location?
Do you think this is a good idea?
That way the members can just plug in a store-bought serial cable?
What do you think?

Also, guys that don't have serial ports on their computers could use something like this below?>>>


http://cgi.ebay.com/Single-DB9-Serial-Port-w-Header-Connector-PCI-Bracket-/110553776159?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bd84c01f (http://cgi.ebay.com/Single-DB9-Serial-Port-w-Header-Connector-PCI-Bracket-/110553776159?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bd84c01f)

The only issue I see is needing to route the cable into the machine. You would need a hole big enough to fit the DB9 through. That is why I have mine outside of the machine, so only a rew wires need to fit in the power cable hole.

Hmm...I have a big round drill bit that makes holes for a doorknob.... :96-

That bracket with the RS232  DB9 is for computer motherboards that have a second serial port on them that terminates in a header that looks like the DCS header on the S+ or S2000,
it is a 2x5 0.100 header with 1 pin missing so you do not plug iinto the motherboard backwards.

In the casinos there is a hole drilled in the bench that you can fit your fist through (almost) for cables. Most machines I have seen have a plate that you can unbolt on the floor of the machine cabinet for cables. OF course, every machine has the hole in a different location, and we know how casino managers like to move machines around, so the benches end up looking like swiss cheese in the end.

I am a little confused after reading through and through this thread.  I understand that the S+ uses TTL.  Is that the same for S2000?  I use RS232 to TTL converters so I have one of those.  It takes 5VDC from the serial port.  Can that be hooked directly to the motherboard?  If so, which pins?

Think you're confused?
We did a 40 page thread on this last year!!!  :72-
Anyways, I'm not quite sure if you mean for an S+ or an S2000 machine
but since this topic is in an S+ forum...>>>

Pins 1 & 2 on the S+'s J9 motherboard header will power up the interface board.
It will be the two right-most pins when looking at an S+ motherboard horizontally.

At the other end:
Pin 1 goes to Pin 4 on the interface boards' J82A header.
Pin 2 goes to Pin 2 on the interface boards' J82A header.

Ohhhhh, so there is an interface board??? Actually I was going to try on the S+ and then the 2000. I was under the impression I could tap right in to the m board. What is the purpose of the interface? It isn't to convert TTL to 232 is it?

Yah...it's somewhere in that big 40 page thread on SAS stuff we did last year.
All the wiring pinouts and computer/laptop hookups are discussed in it.
We entered all kinds of pictures, drawings but didn't win any awards...  :208-

SlotMan

You can talk to the DCS port at 5V TTL levels on the S+ and PE+ and also on the S2000 and I Game platforms. Have a look at this thread - http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=11893.0

Ian

Ahhhh, the info i was looking for.  Thank you

When looking at the post referenced above it looks like it is just a USB to 232 using a max232 chip.  Where is the 5V being picked up from?  Also, there is a white wire on the DCS plug and not the PCB.

SLOTMAN

The S2000 has a RS232 interface built in to the Comm board.
It is J85 (5 pin)

Hello Slotman

The datasheet for the FTDI USB To Serial TTL convertor is here - http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/DataSheets/Cables/DS_TTL-232R_PCB.pdf
A piece of white paper was probably not the best background :25-  but there is another row of pins on the other side of the PCB. White is connected to the center pin (Right under the brown)

available from Mouser - http://za.mouser.com/ProductDetail/FTDI/TTL-232R-5V-PCB/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtf8aSAtgR7DlrGCyipOcry

I have two of these and use them all the time to interface to various devices - It was also the least expensive FDI device I could source locally.

If you are going to buy I would however get this one - http://za.mouser.com/ProductDetail/FTDI/TTL-232R-5V-WE/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtf8aSAtgR7DtM6b7hTwLVv
this uses the exact same PCB as the first device but is molded into the plug and terminated into a 1.8 metre wire. All you would need is to add the connectors and plug at the other end

the upgrade to that cable is here - http://za.mouser.com/ProductDetail/FTDI/TTL-232RG-VSW5V-WE/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsyM1rGGtQxrO%2fras%252bafkMw.
I see the price difference at Mouser is much smaller than from my local supplier.

There is a good product summary of the FTDI cable range here - http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBTTLSerial.htm#TTL-232R-5V

Ian

Wonderful reply, thanks for all the well detailed info.  :259-

Foster, are you sure it is J85 and not J82?  I am hooked in to J82 and keep getting a CRC error

Slotman give me a call if you get a chance

Just tried, got a busy signal. Haven't heard one of those in years. If you want to delete your number from this post j have it in my phone.

Hi Slotman

J82 - There is a diagram for the comms board on reply 39 on this thread - http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=11467.25.
You have to set your SAS settings to channel 2 to talk to he comms board. Also check the ribbon cable from the comms board to the backplane - they work loose easily.

Ian

Hello All.

I'm new to the forum (a few months browsing and recently created an account) and have a question and maybe one of you have done this before.

Do you know if the schematics from poppo (using the 74H04 and RS232) works also on a DSC port of a Game King? I've built a protoboard as per specs but I don't receive anything from the game machine (tried 3 machines).
SAS is set to port 2, and the comm analyzer shows the address being written (01 01 01...), but nothing is showing in my PC terminal. I'm using an FTDI USB to serial cable (2.08 driver) and a terminal emulator.

Hope I'm not pushing by posting on such an old thread.
Mosart

Although the connector is the same the wiring for the GK DCS port is a bit different (There should be a schematic somewhere in this section).
Would probably be much easier to use RS232 from the Commboard - Remeber to change to SAS port 3

That's fine, I'll give up on DSC for now!

Can you point me to the Comm Board pinout? I'm trying to avoid repost, but couldn't find it for GK.
I have 2 interfaces available in the GK's comm board. A 5 pin and a 6 pin cable.

Thanks again for your help. -Mosart

J82 - 5 Pin Plug

1 TX
2 RX
5 Gnd

...and I'm in business, it works flawlessly (and simply, no interface circuit necessary).

Now I'm out to attempt a TITO system with the machines I have (All GKs for now).

This forum is great, thank you again for the help!

-mosart

Glad its working - Plenty of info here to get You going although its a bit scattered.
Are you working on a Pc or microcontroller sollution?

My intention is to use a raspberry pi. For now, I'm trying to get sastest (and tito emulator) running from a PC, just to understand the comm/protocol required for tito.

You are right, info is scattered, so I'll keep on searching...

The PI is a great paltform for this - Please keep us posted on Your progress.
I have got to the point where i can poll the EGM and decode events from the machine. the tricky bit of course is getting the 9th serial bit behaving properly - there is a link in this thread on how to get this working on the PI - http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=22224.0

Will do!

It's going to be a good weekend!

 :79-

I've been scratching my head with something stupid...  :103-

How in heaven do I set the Validation ID in the Game King?

I used a key chip to set it up with Enhanced Validation, and SAS Redemption. Terminal id, etc, all in, however, any attempt to read returns a "Validation ID not configured". Same with TWA8000's Tito emulator.

I've read that 4C can override the id from the machine, but all I've read requires one to be set first.

 :37- (simple blocker hater!)

Do you have Blue (AFT) or Red (EFT) menus ? Will have to check the manuals our sollutions use system generated validation numbers so this is something that has not come up before

Blue, I think (pic attached). I'm not familiar with the differences.
I'm thinking  this could be an option set in the key chip menu. I can't find it anywhere else. But again, I'm sure it's here...

 :103-

Can you please post pics of the following screens

Setup - Comms Options - Validation and Redemption
Setup - Comms Options - IGT SAS - SAS Validation

If the options are greyed out it means You have to keychip to change.


Also dont know if you are aware of this - under diagnostics go to comms channel Analyzer and select port 3. this will show You comms to and from EGM to system and is very usefull to see exactly what the serial packets look like.

Sorry for the delay, I did not get notified by email of your reply. I will check the forum regularly...

Here are the screenshots. It looks like I can only set validation options via Key Chip Menu (but I couldn't find the "Validation ID").

(I'm in love with the COMM ANALYZER. It's a great tool)

Here are two more.

Those settings look fine although i must say its been ages since i did a setup for a tito environment with back of house server. Maybe one of ou USA techs that frequent the site can confirm ?

Hello Ian. I'm making great progress, and the raspberry pi is handling like a champ. Hi CPU usage for now, but it doesn't miss a beat. It runs with an FTDI usb to serial. Very stable.

Now that Game Kings are in, I'm off to get the S+ communicating as well, via DCS port (I read the 40 page thread on this, and I'm still confused).

Correct me if I'm wrong: a simple FTDI Usb to serial TTL cable will do the trick? It looks like the interface is required only for the J82 interface, not for the DCS.

(I wish S+ had RS232's at the J82 like the GK's. So simple!)

I have seen a tito system connected directly to the DCS, but I couldn't figure the interface. It was a multi layered board... I only know its possible at this point.

Thats great news - for S+/PE+ have a look at this thread - http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=11893.0 where I posted details on a FTDI to TTL serial. also see reply 30 in this thread. Or you could just use your current FTDI setup (USB to max 232) and build the interface or use a ebay RS232 module as described by Poppo in the thread.

What programming language are You doing your interface in ? Where You by any chance able to get stick parity operating properly using CMSPAR ?

Hello Ian,

Long time, but "unforgotten!" :-)  :79-

To answer your questions, I'm using C and FTDI D2XX interface with a FT232R chipset, and it enables mark parity and low latency comm through the API. I downloaded the Raspberry PI in their drivers page[1] and FTDI D2XX manuals[2]. Communication using J82 port is going fine so far.
However, I'm stuck on a problem. I have a few S+ machines that do not have RS232 interfaces (J82 is not RS232 compliant). I've built the posted schematics (TTL to RS232 interface) by Poppo (or Foster) and I can receive the SAS ID from the machine, but nothing gets sent. I've also tried using a simple FTDI USB to TTL (pins 9, 7, 5, 2 on the DCS), and got the same results. Receive no problem, but can't send anything. Are you aware of any detail that I may be missing? The FTDI USB-TTL appears to be a straight forward solution...  :103-

If you need help setting up the serial port please let me know so I can post the code snipped that does that.

[1] http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm
[2] http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/ProgramGuides/D2XX_Programmer's_Guide(FT_000071).pdf

Cool - Good to know the D2XX route works - Have considered that before but never took it further. Code snippets to get this running on the Pi would be great If you are willing to share.

Ok so machine is chirping its adress ?
For S+ I recommend base SP1213. Also push your delay between polls up to 200ms. If that does not work let me know and I will dig for schematics for the DCS interface circuitry.

I've been PMing Mozart about his communication issue. I am used to a S+ where you have to supply +5V to the motherboard port. Not sure if the GK works the same way, but he has his RS232 adapter's 5v (power in) line going to the DCS port only. I'm thinking he needs to supply +5V like on the S+. But maybe the GK is different.  :103-

Yes, machine is talking (01 01 01 01...) and I receive it properly, in a terminal. But when transmitting, nothing shows in the Comm Analyzer (when testing via GK's DCS port, same results). I have the same results when using USB-TTL (ftdi) directly wired, or using a circuit posted by Poppo.

SAStest also does nothing (it keeps waiting for a response to initial sync command).

BTW, on the GK, if I switch to the rs232 port (J82), it works flawlessly. It's the DCS that's killing me.  :30-

Hello Poppo,

I will attempt to supply vcc+5 to the DCS interface from a separate power supply. I think I'm already doing this, via FTDI USB-TTL circuit (VCC pin on the ftdi interface, to the DCS pin 7), but I'll try a different route.

In fact, on the MAX232 schematics you posted (named "schematics of the year!  :131- ) I'm receiving 13vdc from the dcs, and regulating to 5vdc before supplying it back to DCS pin 7.

I'll post results. I'm close!

I'm not sure if that FTDI USB-TTL supplies the VCC or needs the VCC. Since it is USB powered, it may indeed supply 5V. However, USB has a low current rating, so I don't know if would be wise for that to be an output.

In any case, if you use a separate 5V supply for pin 7 be sure to use a common ground with everything else.  You might also have to supply 5V to that FTDI USB-TTL board on the VCC line. Of course if you have a meter, it would be easy enough to just measure what is on that line.

I would use the +VB in the S+ to a 7805 regulator to pin 7 in the DCS port.
+VB is available in  the SDS (J9) connector pin 2
 

No go  :60-

I've pulled the VCC line (USB-TTL to pin 7 on the DCS) and wired an external 5v power supply (2A). So... from the external power supply, VCC on DCS pin 7 and ground on DCS pin 3 (which is shorted to pin 2, according to IGT manual). Pin 2 is still connected to GND in the USB-TTL.

This way, I'm powering the DCS interface independently and have a common ground. I can still receive data (machine SAS address) but nothing transmitted (nothing shows on COMM ANALYZER). The TX LED on my USB-TTL is alive, but the vgm does not react/receive.
When I pulled the external 5v power, I stop receiving, which tells me that the interface is properly powered.  :103-
I've tried also using a pull up resistor (750) on the SDO line as instructed by the IGT manual. RX works fine, just to rule it out.

Suggestions are welcome. I'm running out...

Not sure about the GK, but is it set up to actually accept the commands? I know on the S+ there are a few different settings that need to be enabled.

Not aware of anything other than Enhanced Validation and Redemption.
When I switch the primary SAS channel to 3 (rs232 port and using a straight usb-rs232), all works fine. Back to channel 2 and ttl, I only receive.

Do you know what else must be enabled? I can search for the equivalent in the KeyChip menu.

I am not familiar with the GK, only the S+.

Does your USB-TTL need the DTR tied to CTS to trasmit? Do you by any chance have a logic probe that you could put on the TX line of your TTL converter to see if it's sending anything? One thing I like about the IGT RS232-TTL board is is has LEDs so you can see that it's actually doing something.

 

Posting BP schematics on new site - looks like issue may be with a gnd on pin 1.

I'll check the new site...
I don't know if this USB-TTL adapter requires DTR tied to CTS, but I'll try. The TX LED on the adapter lights up, but it's on the way in. I'll try to probe it (even with a meter, to see voltage oscillating).

Gnd on pin 1, I'll try that and post results.
Please post link of new site thread, so I can follow. Thanks.

 :3- I think I got the DCS port figured out... It makes little sense to me, but it works.

Here is the recipe: I'm using a USB-TTL jumpered to 5v FTDI adapter, and the only pins in use are RX, TX and GND in the adapter end, going to 5, 9 and 2 on the DCS, respectively. The power provided to the DCS port pin 7 is 13v (not 5v as my previous assumptions), so basically I loop back 13v from pin 8 to 7. I also loop agnd from pin 1 to 3, to ground the power circuit.

So communications run on 5v but the internal DCS circuit needs 13v (which it has on pin 8!!).

To figure it out, "I threw the book away" and noticed that applying 5v to the DCS would lit the DS1 (LED) slightly (pale shine) on computer tx and nothing was received on the Analyzer. So... I decided to give it more juice (out of frustration!), and voila!

I'm not sure if this is the correct way of doing this, but I have it synced since this morning and she runs fine.

Any thoughts?

It's been working fine for a week now, I'm assuming it's properly wired.
Any thoughts?

As long as it works and does not  :98- then all should be good.  :244-