ipac - laggy pushbuttons

[sapro]

I'm not sure how else to describe this issue. I wired my CP a couple nights ago and last night installed Winipac to test it all out. Except for wiring the joysticks backwards (duh) all of the buttons work. However, I noticed that some don't respond as well to rapid pressing as others. For example, player 1 start will flash on the screen as fast as I can press it, but player 2 start lights up about every other press.

Bad switches maybe?

[TopJimmyCooks]

I got the exact same thing on one button - fortunately its on the p1 start so not an issue for me.  I exchanged microswitches to check for a problem there, no change in behavior.  I checked continuity on the wire from the switch to the ipac, no prob there, but didn't go as far as replacing it. 

In notepad, it's exactly like you say.  every other button shows up as fast as I can press them, but that one registers one letter for about every 2 presses.  I can't remember what letter it is but it's p1 start on the opti pac 2.  as best I can tell it does send a keypress the first time it is pressed.

Any ideas?  I wouldn't even have posted this but it's interesting the same issue arose with another cp.  I bought the Ipac in march 2011.  Can get serial #'s etc. if needed.

[WindDrake]

On my IPAC4, Player 1 start does exactly this. That's because P1 Start is the SHIFT Modifier key, and holding it down allows use of the shifted keycode set.

Edit: Also make sure if you're using a USB>PS2 adapter, that it's a straight-wired one, not an actual converter, as the converters cause the IPAC to puke.

[TopJimmyCooks]

I'm using a PS-2 cable to a PS-2 port.  The shift thing makes total sense.  I'm not using any shifted keys via winIpac so I hadn't delved into it.  Thanks for the info. 

[sapro]

I'm using the USB cable that came with the IPAC.

I'll check tonight, it might have been P1 and not P2 that was the laggy one, however I know that at least one of my pushbuttons (P1 button #2) is also laggy.

[yotsuya]

Check your ground, as well. I've had one or two issues in the past that were all ultimately related to a loose or incorrectly connected ground connection.

[sapro]

Check your ground, as well. I've had one or two issues in the past that were all ultimately related to a loose or incorrectly connected ground connection.

My grounds are done via daisy chain. It seems (to me at least) that if the other buttons in the chain fire as they should the ground should be ok throughout?

[TopJimmyCooks]

Thats right, usually if you lift a ground a lot of stuff will not work.  A single button problem almost can't be a ground unless its the last one on the serial chain. 

[scofthe7seas]

It's definitely the shift key issue. I did a bunch of work on my CP a little while ago and when testing all the buttons to make sure I didn't screw something up, I found the 1p button being laggy also. I did a search and eventually found out this same information. (though the search was not as easy/apparent as you might think..)
I disagree that the shift / admin buttons is unnecessary though. I have tab / ` (for volume) / unthrottle (for FF during long load times, probably not the correct term) and f3 for reset. All pretty handy to have without having to tip back my barstool and roll out the keyboard drawer

[scofthe7seas]

I didn't know that about MAME having that ability, but I don't know if that kind of setup is very different from the switch/admin function on the ipac. Maybe you just mean admin buttons on the CP? There isn't really any call for pressing the player 1 button quickly, so comboing it with some joystick/button presses isn't any different than mame having that function built in. Or is it? If so, maybe I'm just missing something. 

[DNA Dan]

Assuming the issues is the "shifted" button connection, is it possible to use an older firmware version for the ipac that does not include the shift function?

[AndyWarne]

Start1 is by default the shift button.

The behavior of the shift button is described on this page:

http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac3.html

If you do not want the shift button you can assign the shift button to another control or not have one at all, using WinIPAC. But it is the easiest way of achieving control functions without dedicated buttons for coin, esc, pause etc. Of course if you have dedicated buttons you dont need this feature and can easily configure it out.
Its difficult to replicate this in Mame as you usually get the primary keycode in addition to the shifted keycode. The I-PAC logic avoids the primary code from being sent if the button is being used as a shift.

Andy

[Spacejack]

I had a thing for a while where some of the switches on my Ipac started registering only when released. I changed the ports around, but I recently changed them back and the problem was gone.

[jtslade]

I had a similar issue but it was player one button two that was laggy..

I fixed by making sure that the ALT key (mame default) for player one button two was mapped to a letter. Stay away from all non-letter keys. Numbers of course are good as well.

I know this is not your defined problem but It can prevent further issues.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Let me just say here that after figuring out the cause of the issue (which I could have RTFM and found out) I now believe that this is a good implementation of the shift key functionality.  Sending the P1 start keypress at release of the momentary switch works well.  This is the least likely control to receive repeated pounding/gameplay.  I don't currently shift anything but I'm glad to know that this is an option for the future.