best interface for just a trackball?

[Marsupial]

I want to make a trackball module to add to my arcade from time to time for gaming (missile command) or maintenance. I would have a USB port in the front of the cab to connect to. The module would have only a trackball and 2-3 buttons.

Now, in the whole planing: what interface is the best / cheapest for this?

Being that ultimarc's a-pac has been replace by the u-hid nano (35$) and that you can get a mini-pac (without harness) for 29$ that will handle more then the u-hid nano, I am thinking I should go with a mini-pac.

I however see that the opti-whiz trackball & spinner interface is 15$ with the ez-solder option; I don't know this setup at all and wonder if it would do what I want. I already have the sensor quadrature setup on the trackball itself, all I need it the USB interface.
GGG don't have much info on their webpage. And I don't know this "active low" thing they're talking about (should I worry about the mini-pac too for that matter?)

Hints are welcomed.

[DeLuSioNal29]

What about this option?  (X-Arcade trackball)

http://www.xgaming.com/store/refurbished/product/x-arcade-trackball-arcade-mame-mouse/

[Blanka]

The optiwiz is the cheapest option, but I wonder if you can beat that X-arcade option above. The 3 inch trackball alone costs that much. A Utrak has an USB option for 14$, the same as an optiwiz, but the unit itself is 79 like the X-arcade.

Edit: the X-arcade ones are refurbs....

[BobA]

I however see that the opti-whiz trackball & spinner interface is 15$ with the ez-solder option; I don't know this setup at all and wonder if it would do what I want. I already have the sensor quadruple setup on the trackball itself, all I need it the USB interface.
GGG don't have much info on their webpage. And I don't know this "active low" thing they're talking about (should I worry about the mini-pac too for that matter?)

Hints are welcomed.

Active low indicates that an input low will turn on an output low.   Since trackballs track hi and low diuring use it seems like a non issue in most cases.  The working trackballs on this interface include the happ and the betson/imperial which are the most common trackballs so your trackball is probably covered.

[bkenobi]

If you already have the trackball and have an old USB ball mouse sitting around, the cheapest option is to just hack it.  Cost=$0.  Time=10 minutes (once you know what you are doing of course).  I have a few hacked mice here.  If you want one, I'll send it to you for the cost of shipping...but you are probably better off going through GGG at that point I suppose.  Let me know!

[severdhed]

I used an optiwiz with my utrak and it works great.   The price was right and it supports 3 mouse buttons

[Marsupial]

As mentionned, I already have a trackball, need to interface it to the PC.  I'd like to avoid PS2 as I don't think its as hot-swappable as USB.  Sadly, most USB mouse I have are led-driven, not ball-driven.

Might look into getting a balled mouse locally which would do the trick... or bkenobi might get a PM.

Otherwise, it seams the optiwiz is the way to go.

Thanks guys.

[Marsupial]

got an USB ball-mouse for 2$
it has an on-mouse phone. Beurk. but the phone doesn't coexist on the same board as the mouse, they are separate device using the same cable (in fact, its two cables in one....)
all I have to do is to re-wire the USB on the mouse and remove the board from the casing and I'm all set.

I even have 3 buttons and a scroll wheel, will have to deal with the scroll wheel somehow.

what's the pinout of the 6-pin molex connector of a trackball?

[BobA]

Trackball Info

[taylormadelv]

Nothing beats the Mike's arcade trackball adaptor! It can be used with trackballs AND spinners.I have used it with green AND red boards. Gives you three mouse buttons. I have used this with success on Tempest Spinners and the Ram Controls Major Havoc roller. I seem to recommend particular product once about every 5-6 months or so. Not sure why you would use an A-Pac with a trackball...

[BobA]

If this is the interface you are referring to it looks like a great alternative. First time I have heard about this interface.  Thanks for the info.

trackball interface

[taylormadelv]

Yes. It's almost like a secret, it's so simple and cheap. You can use old or new trackballs. Not every Tempest spinner will work but not many peeps will go that route I imagine anyways. Only thing is that you need to have a functioning tracking device with working optic boards and then you're golden.

[Marsupial]

Is there any plus compared to the OptiWiz?

[severdhed]

Is there any plus compared to the OptiWiz?

i havent used one of these, but the plus that i can see is that all the required cables seem to be included.  So, while at $18, it is more expensive than a optiwiz(which i love), the optiwiz is $14.95 for just the board.  if you want the wire harness to interface with your trackball, thats another $12.95, and if you want the harness to connect the mouse buttons, thats an additional $9.95...which makes a grand total of $37.85, which is a little over twice the price of the other option.  I didn't want to cut the wires on my trackball, so i purchased the trackball harness along with my optiwiz.  i did pass on the button harness, opting to make my own using some wires from an old pc case i had lying around instead. (reset switch wire, power switch wire, etc)

i am very happy with the performance of my optiwiz, and would not hesitate to buy another one. (and i plan on doing just that when i get a trackball for my other cabinet).  one advantage that the optiwiz has over the other interface is the easy usb disconnect.  the other interface is a hacked mouse, with an attached ps2 cable.  which means if you need to remove your control panel from your cabinet, you will need to disconnect the ps2 port and pull the cable up through the cabinet as you remove the control panel box.  with the optiwiz, it is usb and the cable unplugs from the pcb, which makes it a little easier to work with if you need to move things around.


-edited for stupidity

[BobA]

Severdhed

Do you mean optiwiz everywhere where you say keywiz?

[severdhed]

Severdhed

Do you mean optiwiz everywhere where you say keywiz?

hmm...i guess i'm a little slow today.    yes, i meant optiwiz.  i love my optiwiz and my keywiz

[Marsupial]

Making the mouse hack really is as easy as can be.

I followed this:
http://www.mameworld.info/massive/How-to/Trackball_Hack/trackball_hack.html

which doesn't seem like lots of info, but ennough to be able to work it out.

I still need to wire the buttons.

However, when I compare the mouse on this computer with the trackball, the trackball movement is way slower then the mouse.  Not sure if its even an issue...