I am looking for the technical specification/information and a place
to purchase two types of USB connectors used in the Microsoft Xbox. One is the
female circular USB connector that connects to the game controller;
the other a larger rectangular USB connector, male, that inserts into
the Xbox console itself. Could you find the technical information
(e.g., pin outs, schematics) and a distributor for these two USB
connectors?

http://www.xbox-linux.org/docs/usbx.html tells you all you want to
know about the connectors

and the connectors themselves can be bought at Microsoft

Thank you for the link. What I'm looking for is more along the lines
of the part technical description provided by the manufacturer and a
supplier of those parts-- a lot like you'd find from companies like
Digikey and Mouser. To my knowledge Microsoft only sells the finished
cables with the connectors. I'm looking for only the connectors so I
can put them on a board I am making for the Xbox.

go to xbox-scene.com, i have used the info found there to make my xbox
controllers into PC usb controllers by simply wiring directly, but if
you just want the wiring then its:- red=+5v, black=ground, yellow=
light gun/pen (not used i think) & the twisted pair of green/white
cables are for data- & data+.

are looking for the BREAKAWAY part of a xbox controller?
you could cut the wire in the middle and just extend..
What ya up to?

Jim, thanks for your thoughts and the link to xbox-scene. 

Before posting the question and in building my first prototype, I did
as you suggested and cut the connectors out of the breakaway cable and
soldered them on to the board I made. It works well. The problem I now
have is finding a supplier of those connectors so I don't have to keep
buying and tearing the cables apart.

The XBox uses standard USB 1.1 pinout but with a different connector.

The link below is great for getting both types of connectors for the XBox
http://www.lik-sang.com/list.php?nav=left_sub&category=88

Also for pinout information check out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
http://www.xboxhackz.com/Hackz-Reference.htm (Go to the section "Game
Controller USB Pinout")
http://www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Xbox_Linux_USB_HOWTO

If you want some drivers that will run the Xbox controller on a PC check out
http://www.redcl0ud.com/

Last if you want to write software on the PC using Microsoft's
DirectInput is very easy and fast to setup.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dninput/html/diov.asp

Andy,

Thanks for your response. I contacted a Lik-Sang a few weeks ago and
here's how they responded:

Dear Peter,

Unfortunately we only deal with completely finished cables.

If it's connectors you are after, you should try to search the
internet for some factories in Guangdong, China. I am sure one of them
will end up being helpful for your quest.

Best regards,

Pascal Clarysse
------------------------
Lik-Sang.com - Alternative Gaming Community Pacific Game Technology
(Holding) Limited

If you want to get in contact with Lik-Sang.com, you can use our
online Customer Support Center for just any request you might have:
<http://www.lik-sang.com/contact.php>
Enquiries are usually replied to within 24 hours, except on weekends.

It was actually this response that prompted me to post the question
here to Google. Still haven't found a place that sells only the
connectors.

If I replace one of the Xbox controller sockets with a USB socket (
http://xbox-scene.com/articles/usb.php )
and then I change one controller to have a USB connector, to be used
w/ computer, will it still function properly if I use it with the new
USB socket I just made on the Xbox?

I hope that made sense.

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