My First Project - Metal Slug X/Jamma MV-1B/25" KTMB to MAME Conversion

[Gamer Smurf]

I have been reading the forums for a few months now and at first decided I was going to buy a MAME arcade that was already built.  After talking with a guy on the phone from craigslist, I decided that I was going to build it instead.  He advised I go ahead and buy a cab on the cheap and start from there.  I did just that and ended up getting a Metal Slug X Neo-Geo cab and is my first ever build.  (My next cab will be built from scratch, but this one is for learning purposes).

Arcade Cab - The cab is a Metal Slug X Neo-Geo Cabinet.  Was built in 1999 from what I could deduct.  Has a working coin slot, although the locks were drilled.  Paid 175.00 for the cab in working condition.  Only thing that seemed to not work was the three first player buttons - the joystick, arcade monitor worked fine. 

Monitor - The monitor was sorta hard to figure out.  It had KTMB 25" on it but when I searched for the model, it was blank.  Like the company forgot to print it on the tube.  I did find a RCA sticker, a Sharp Image sticker and the KTMB one of course.  I deducted it was made by Kortex.  Still don't know exactly what model it is, but it does have the controls wiring and the RGB wiring on the Chassis, they look to plug into the Game PCB.  I'm not sure yet how to connect this to the PC, but I am thinking ill either need to use a j-PAC or splice the RGB wires and attach to a 1 to 5v arcade video amplifier/VGA cable and then into either a ArcadeVGA (has 1-5kHz built in) card on the PC or a 15Hz compatible card that uses Soft15kHz.

PCB - This is a 1 slot game, which basically means it can plug one cartridge game into PCB.  Its a Jamma / MV-1B PCB.  Don't know if I can use a JPAC cause I want 6 buttons per player and want to be able to expand to 4 players later. 

Control Panel  Currently has 1 Joystick/3 buttons per person.  What I don't know is if I need to use a I-PAC or a J-PAC.  If I use a J-PAC, doesn't it only support 3 buttons per player?  An I-PAC (2 or 4) can support up to 4 players with 6 buttons easily but doesn't have the VGA input,  if I understand correctly.

This is my first attempt at building a MAME cab, so I have loads of questions and hope to keep you guys updated as things progress.  Also want to make sure I write about the things that I found to be the toughest to research so the next poor sap wont have my problems.  

Thanks for the Help!

[jipp]

welcome to the forum. i have zero advice on adapters and what not.  as i could not find a cab local so i had to build mine.   even then im still a noob.. but with that.. i say good luck and look forward to learning how to convert the cab.

chris.

[BobA]

You can only use a jpac for a 2 player control panel.   It has the inputs for extra buttons for players one and two but cannot do 3 and 4.  There is also a slight difference in the speaker connection as the NG has stereo.
An ipac could be connected via PS2 to the keyboard input to allow 2 more players.  Not sure of this so you should check with Andy.

[BobA]

Here is the adapter so you can plug jamma into a neogeo

http://www.jammaboards.com/store/jamma-to-neogeo-adapter/prod_228.html

[Gamer Smurf]

The Neo-Geo MV-1B is already fully JAMMA compliant, so it does not require a MVS adapter.

Thanks for the info about the J-PAC though, I didnt realize it supported that many buttons.  Ill attach the layout im sorta basing my CP on.  31 buttons, spinner, 4way and 2x8 way joysticks.

[BobA]

Good thing it is only a one slot since you ended up with a jamma cab.  You will definately have to add an ipac to the pass thru if you want that many descrete buttons.  You can get alot more buttons without an ipac but you have to use the shift key on the jpac to give the buttons a second function.

[Gamer Smurf]

Bought my trackball, buttons and joysticks last night off ebay.  All Happ products.  Got a good deal at about 15% cheaper than the Happ website, so i'm pretty happy about that.  Also bought the Tmolding and am currently ordering the marquee and CP overlay that looks like this one:   http://www.robboweb.com/mamecab/gallery/imagepages/image14.htm

The monitor I have has the RGB plug, so I am going to splice it and connect it to the VGA amp and first try using soft15khz and see if works.  If not, will buy the ArcadeVGA.

Also, I bought the wood to start designing the Control Panel and just purchased the buttons etc.. so wanted to have them in hand for measurements of the trackball, etc..

[Gamer Smurf]

Bit the bullet and decided to just purchase a Arcade VGA card from Ultimarc.   Also bought the Arcade Monitor Amplifier and breakout cable.  I am trying to figure out how to wire my arcade monitor to it.  My monitor has RGB E VS HS and the colors are red/black  brown/black  Blue/Black  White/Black  and White.  Theres no wire going into the VS slot but the colors match to RGB E HS. 

Also, I bought my IPAC-2.  I will be starting on designing the CP starting sometime this weekend - in the meantime, ill be trying to figure out how to wire the Monitor to the PC.