This procedure describes how to convert a Mad Catz 7-Foot Xbox controller extension cable to a Female USB plug.

You will need the following:

1) Mad Catz 7 Foot Xbox Controller Extension cord $5
2) PC USB Bracket - The kind that connects to a motherboard. Free to $5
3) Soldering experience.

Step 1:

Cut off the small PS/2 sized end of the Mad Catz extension cord and strip about 2 inches of the exterior insulation off, exposing the braid wire.

Step 2:

Peel back and cut off the excess braid wire . Then peel the foil wrapping from around the individual wires in the center of the cable. Then strip the ends of each wire. The Mad Catz connector should have 5 center wires.

Red - White - Green - Black - Yellow

Once the wire ends are stripped, tin each one with your soldering iron.

Step 3:

Remove the metal bracket from the PC USB connectors. Strip and tin each USB wire on one of the connectors. On the PC side you should have:

Red - White - Green - Black - Thick Black

Step 4:

Match up the colors of the PC USB cable and the Mad Catz cable. On the PC side, the thick black wire will not connect to anything on the Mad Catz. On the Mad Catz side, the yellow wire will not connect to anything. Either trim or terminate these wires.

Cable Ends:


Joining the ends together:


Xbox Break-off connector Pin Out:

but why would you do this?

isn't the yellow cable a ground?

Yellow cable is for LightGuns and probably the Xbox DVD remote sensor. Not needed if you're just making a controller port to USB converter.

the yellow cable is a signal line, reserved for things like the light gun... you don't want to ground it. Just leave it unconnected and match up the rest of the colours

QUOTE (etiger13 @ Jul 20 2003, 04:31 AM)

but why would you do this? isn't the yellow cable a ground?

You do this so you can use a USB Keyboard and/or Mouse with Linux on your Xbox. Also, the Yellow wire is *NOT* ground. It's used for lightgun support, most likely frequency sync.