This is the repackaged receiver (originally the small blue box fro the previous pic), installed in a new enclosure and attached to the underside of a shelf. It requires 5V and 9V - the power supply is in the metal box. It then connects to a parallel port and free-to-download driver software emulates it as a game controller, with access to 4 analog axis and 16 (yes 16) digital buttons! And the driver allows for multiple units, so up to 5 of these things could be built and control the layout at once (if the software supported it).
This is the completed controller. The original PS2 controller shown above was stripped down, leaving a single main board. The new controller is scratchbuilt using 5k pots and various buttons, with a printed faceplate. Three of the four axis were used for throttles, with the button inputs for the rest of it. It all fits into the handheld unit, powered by 2 AA batteries. Some minor circuits were added to keep the unit "alive" (there is a sleep mode on the PS2 unit that needs to be disabled). The whole thing works amazing and was a bargain compared to R & D-ing a custom wireless solution.
The control layout works slick because I can have the two mains running plus do switching, all controlled separately, all from one controller. Each throttle can be assigned to DCC loco(s) or DC. It was a good example of a "purpose built" solution.
A few notes... The external switch panel I had posted a while ago is gone now - there is essentially no external/mechanical switching anymore. It is all controlled via the remote or on screen. Eventually there will be turnout control as well. It cleans up the wiring so much too as everything is internal.
Anyway that's kinda it for the moment. Any questions or comments please feel free.
Mark