Main > Project Announcements
1st MAME project (updated: 03 Feb. 2011 - pictures!)
orchidius:
Welkom op het forum Panja!
I'm from Belgium and I'm just finishing up my own first build I started this summer, so I know exactly what you're going through :). First of all, let me reassure you, you've come to the right place. This community is populated by the best experts around on anything arcade-related. You can not believe with how many big and small problems these guys have helped me (and many others)!
As for the arcade shops, you needn't worry about where they're located. For my first build, I started buying stuff from ebay and arcadeshops around the world. No matter where the seller is located, as long as he's willing to ship to the Netherlands (they most likely will be), you'll get the products. The only thing to consider is shipping cost and deliverytime. Almost all sellers have great customer support, and will gladly resend your package or refund you IF it gets lost in transit (my joysticks got lost in transit and I got new ones right away with some extra balltops for the inconvenience!). So no need to worry there, just look around for what you want and what seller is cheapest. On all matters, the BYOAC wiki is a great source for information. It also has a relatively complete list with arcaderelated vendors with their location and some information. Check it out! http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Vendors
Then, wiring and Ipac. First of all, Andy from Ultimarc notes in the official Ipac "literature" that any gauge wire will suffice as long as it's thick enough to be clamped by the Ipac connector. So go with whatever you have laying around. On a little sidenote, as Jipp said, don't use wire that is too stiff/thick. It's a PITA :P I got my Ipac4 with PS2 cable, and I have no complaints about it whatsoever. It's supersupereasy to setup (even my mother could've got that thing to work...) and I absolutely see no reason whatsoever to pick USB over PS2. Ofc I don't have experience with the USB setup, but I can warmly suggest the PS2 version.
As for the 70cm TV, it's your cab, so you can make it into whatever you want. I do however think 70cm is a bit of overkill for a regular standup cabinet... I used 50cm, and that's just right. Also, a 50cm CRT would allow you to just use it as a whole instead of having to decase it. I decased mine, but if I were to do it over again, I would DEFINITELY leave it cased. But again, it's personal taste...
Best of luck with it, and if you have any more questions, shoot!
Panja:
Thanks orchidius for the warm welcome! :)
And thanks for the answers as well.
Much appreciated!
I will skip the 70cm CRT. Probably it's to big and I do want to keep the TV cased. So much easier and a lot more handy if it needs to be replaced some day.
Next tuesday I planned a "meeting" with my cousin to discuss the dimensions and the materials we're gonna use (and order).
So it's going to happen soon! Excited!!! :D
jipp:
ooo sorry for thinking you were in the Uk. i fail.. but hey, it made me look up a world map which i have not done since high school. so, its all good. and good luck on your project.
:)
chris.
jipp:
--- Quote from: orchidius on January 07, 2011, 06:26:14 am ---Welkom op het forum Panja!
I'm from Belgium and I'm just finishing up my own first build I started this summer, so I know exactly what you're going through :). First of all, let me reassure you, you've come to the right place. This community is populated by the best experts around on anything arcade-related. You can not believe with how many big and small problems these guys have helped me (and many others)!
As for the arcade shops, you needn't worry about where they're located. For my first build, I started buying stuff from ebay and arcadeshops around the world. No matter where the seller is located, as long as he's willing to ship to the Netherlands (they most likely will be), you'll get the products. The only thing to consider is shipping cost and deliverytime. Almost all sellers have great customer support, and will gladly resend your package or refund you IF it gets lost in transit (my joysticks got lost in transit and I got new ones right away with some extra balltops for the inconvenience!). So no need to worry there, just look around for what you want and what seller is cheapest. On all matters, the BYOAC wiki is a great source for information. It also has a relatively complete list with arcaderelated vendors with their location and some information. Check it out! http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Vendors
Then, wiring and Ipac. First of all, Andy from Ultimarc notes in the official Ipac "literature" that any gauge wire will suffice as long as it's thick enough to be clamped by the Ipac connector. So go with whatever you have laying around. On a little sidenote, as Jipp said, don't use wire that is too stiff/thick. It's a PITA :P I got my Ipac4 with PS2 cable, and I have no complaints about it whatsoever. It's supersupereasy to setup (even my mother could've got that thing to work...) and I absolutely see no reason whatsoever to pick USB over PS2. Ofc I don't have experience with the USB setup, but I can warmly suggest the PS2 version.
As for the 70cm TV, it's your cab, so you can make it into whatever you want. I do however think 70cm is a bit of overkill for a regular standup cabinet... I used 50cm, and that's just right. Also, a 50cm CRT would allow you to just use it as a whole instead of having to decase it. I decased mine, but if I were to do it over again, I would DEFINITELY leave it cased. But again, it's personal taste...
Best of luck with it, and if you have any more questions, shoot!
--- End quote ---
morning. my problem was the computer did not recognize the ps2 cable coming from the ipac2 as a keyboard.. only a mouse is all it would recognize the port as. now, iv no tried this on a modern computer yet. i was testing the control panel out on a old 500mhz laptop i had in the closet.
so this problem could be unique to laptops? or just dinosaur laptops that should fo been retired years ago.
i will test the ps2 on the modern computer see if i can duplicate the problem i had on the laptop.
thats the only reason i mention the usb. save someone from a head ache. i was ready to rewire my cab.. laughs when all i needed was the ps2 to usb adapter.
have a great day :)
chris.
Panja:
LOL @ chris! :D
I know Holland is tiny, but we're def. there! ;-)
If you would give it a try on a modern computer that would be a great help!
Cheers