Ipac 2 trackball ?

[Homer41]

My cabinet construction is coming along pretty well and it's time to start planning my control panel. Got a few ?s about the ipac 2. I've searched around several ipac wiring diagrams and I haven't seen where or how to wire in the trackball. Probably going with the 3' happ trackball. I'm sure it's compatible, just want to make sure before I purchase one. Probably a stupid question, but I'm a total noob! Thanks

[BobA]

The Ipac 2 does not have a trackball connection.   The minipac can do a trackball.  The optipac is designed for trackballs.  You can buy the Happ trackball with a usb interface so it does not need an extra interface.

[Cananas]

Also you could try the all-in-one U-HID.

[Homer41]

Thanks, looking at the the HAPP 3" USB PS2 Trackball. With the USB interface it will bypass the ipac and I'm good to go! The three mouse buttons will not be wired into the ipac then correct? They will serve as L/R click and scroll for the mouse or act as admin buttons?? Still leaning towards the Ipac 2, the harnesses on the minipac look like it would get a little messy. Thanks!

[BobA]

Mouse buttons are wired to the trackball.  No need to connect to the ipac.

[Homer41]

Allright, I think I fingered it out. The trackball w/the USB p/s2 pigtail is a highball (which I don't want, playing Golden Tee) If I buy a regular trackball like this http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/56010011.htm I just need conversion harness like this http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/56011300k.htm and I'm golden, right?

[BobA]

Looks like the correct choice for golden tee but you might be able to get a better price from divemaster over in buy and sell.

[Homer41]

Thanks for the tip, I didn't want to post any eBay links or anything like that. So this set up will work for me? I looked everywhere and I couldn't find GT trackballs w/a USB pigtail. Thanks for all your help BobA!! 

[Homer41]

Sorry, a few more ?s I was researching a little more and I found this quote from 2007 on this site

"I have heard lots of people say the direct connected usb trackballs don't work that well.  On a big swing in Golden Tee, they will sometimes miss read the strength and maybe even give you backspin when going forward.  It is better to use the optipac or an optiwiz from GGG instead.  Both of those can sample the spin rate much more accurately."

I know it was old, but is this still true? Also, the 3 mouse buttons, can they be seriesed into the ipac to serve as dual functions?? If I opt to not go the USB trackball route, how many buttons can the minipac or optipac hold? I'd be using two joysticks, 6 buttons per player and the normal 1,2 player and pause/escape buttons (admin buttons) Couldn't find much info on the mini or optipac. Thanks!

[BobA]

See the wiring info on the ultimarc site for the Optipac and Minipac.  Both interfaces have inputs for 2 mouse buttons.  The minipac one is not included in the harness but is on the connectors so pins have to be placed in the proper position if you have a prepurchased harness. Don't know anything about how the usb/ps2 interface debate ended up but the minipac is USB only for the trackball and the optipac is ps/2 or usb as is the optiwiz. You cannot compare the optipac to the minipac as the optipac is not designed for standard button inputs.  The minipac and the ipac are both 32 buttons afaik.