Castlelink/Sidewinder Pinouts

[pasan]

I'm just wondering if anyone has tried to build their own castle link for the sidewinder. I'm not too keen on purchasing one as the cost just seems to be too much.

[Dagger Thrasher]

I doubt you'd be able to build one to be honest...I'm pretty sure that the processor on the CastleLink is custom-programmed at least (if not proprietary altogether). For the sake of $20 or so, surely it'd be worth just buying one instead of the hassle of trying to make one?

[rccardude04]

The Castle-Link has its own little CPU unit with firmware directly from Castle.

Unless you can build the cpu unit and find a version of the firmware that's not an "upgrade" directly from castle, you might as well just spend the 25 bucks, which is pretty darn cheap if you ask me.

-Eric

[pasan]

Thanks guys. I got one from ebay for $16 + shipping. I'm going to try and figure what exactly goes on inside that little controller once I get it in my hands.

[Joe Ford]

It's encrypted...no way you'll be able to make your own. Even if you had all the hardware available you still would have to crack our code. ;) Just so you know...if you were to purchase all the parts separately to put one together it would cost you a LOT more than $25...the great thing about mass production, lower prices. :)

Joe Ford
Product Specialist
Castle Creations <--------

[pasan]

Thanks for clearing that up Joe :) Hacking and modding is a passion of mine thats why I was asking out loud what others may have already been thinking. Btw, ever considered releasing the source code for the Castle Link software for the linux users among us, or making ?*nix port?

[rccardude04]

Thanks for clearing that up Joe :) Hacking and modding is a passion of mine thats why I was asking out loud what others may have already been thinking. Btw, ever considered releasing the source code for the Castle Link software for the linux users among us, or making ?*nix port?


Wouldn't that reduce their profit?

Pasan, why don't you reveal your source for your lipo batteries so that we can go buy them cheaper instead of from you? Makes sense, right?

-Eric

[Joe Ford]

Pasan...we've never considered, nor will we ever go to open source code for Linux or any other OS. It's proprietary code...we'd never sell another controller again once the code got overseas. ;)

[rccardude04]

Pasan...we've never considered, nor will we ever go to open source code for Linux or any other OS. It's proprietary code...we'd never sell another controller again once the code got overseas. ;)

Told ya. :D

-Eric

[pasan]

mmhmm that clears up my doubts for now. Oh and just fyi, I've already ordered the castle link hardware. Sorry if my questions came across as hostile, I guess i'm not afraid to ask a question no matter how dumb it might seem :D

[Joe Ford]

Nah...I'm an easy going guy. Didn't take it as hostile at all. Working in this industry for 3 years probably has something to do with that though...I can read people much better than I used to...even when it's just in print. ;)