My First Arcade Cabinet!

[codefenix]

What's "power return" and "channel memory"?

Googling "tv channel memory" yields this Wikipedia article as the first result: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_memory

See this thread for an explanation on power return.

[ShaggyNerd]

Oh! I knew what power return was, but I didn't know what it was called (I hate it when that happens). But can you explain to me, in simpler terms, what channel memory is, because the article was a little too confusing.

EDIT: Let me get this straight. Is channel memory basically when a TV remembers what channels are available?

[ShaggyNerd]

I feel the urge to buy a CRT PC monitor or TV. However, I need to know something first. What are the dimensions of a 19" screen?

[ShaggyNerd]

I GOT THE PARTS! Though I did not order all of the parts I said I would, I got the parts I wanted. I ordered one joystick, two white buttons, two red buttons, two player-start buttons, and one USB gamepad. Even for parts that are supposed to be okay, to me, they're amazing! And I have decided to use my 17" LCD monitor. It will be vertical, but I'm very, I think the word is, adaptable. Construction begins immediately!

[wizkid32]

Very cool.  Let us know when you make more progress.

[ShaggyNerd]

I have already decided on my control panel layout. Now, I would wire the joystick and buttons to my new gamepad, but I don't have a soldering gun or a hot glue gun (to support the solder). So, I'm waiting for my friend to let me borrow his. I might go wood shopping sometime soon. I might add some pics too soon once I learn how to.

But, for the Pac-Man cabinet plans, I must make some major changes to them. Since I will use my 17" LCD monitor, I will have to shrink it. I will change it from about 24" wide to 18" wide. And as for the sides, I don't like how far they reach back. It seems like such a waste of wood considering my monitor is small and with a narrower cabinet and all that. I will bring that to 2'. As for height, even though I am somewhat tall for my age, I will not change the height. All in all, it's going just awesome.

Don't you just love progress?

[wizkid32]

I have already decided on my control panel layout. Now, I would wire the joystick and buttons to my new gamepad, but I don't have a soldering gun or a hot glue gun (to support the solder). So, I'm waiting for my friend to let me borrow his. I might go wood shopping sometime soon. I might add some pics too soon once I learn how to.

Using a gamepad as your interface?     Why use that?  Probably a better idea to use a dedicated keyboard interface.  Try the Key Wiz.  It only costs $40 w/ shipping and will work WAY better.  It has loads of software perks and is no solder.   

Link:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=303&zenid=s2ni5nkad8tt517su5oaghan56

[ShaggyNerd]

I have already decided on my control panel layout. Now, I would wire the joystick and buttons to my new gamepad, but I don't have a soldering gun or a hot glue gun (to support the solder). So, I'm waiting for my friend to let me borrow his. I might go wood shopping sometime soon. I might add some pics too soon once I learn how to.

Using a gamepad as your interface?     Why use that?  Probably a better idea to use a dedicated keyboard interface.  Try the Key Wiz.  It only costs $40 w/ shipping and will work WAY better.  It has loads of software perks and is no solder.   

Link:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=303&zenid=s2ni5nkad8tt517su5oaghan56

My original idea was to have a dedicated keyboard interface, until I looked at the price tags. I just don't have that kind of extra money. I still have wood to buy, after all. Plus, I only have one joystick and six buttons total, so I will have WAY too many unused inputs. Also, since it is a KEYBOARD interface, it might mess up my other keyboard. But, with a gamepad, it registers as a gamepad and won't mess up my keyboard. I already ran a test run on my new soon-to-be-modded gamepad, and it works amazingly. To me, being a do-it-yourselfer, it seems like a good place to start. And for $5, why not?

[wizkid32]

I see.  Can't argue with 30 unused buttons! 

[drventure]

About a rotated LCD. There are LCD's that are intended to be rotated (the dell 2405 WFP for instance).

Pretty much any LCD that comes with a base that allows it to rotate should be fine for rotated use (that's the intention anyway).

However, I've noticed A LOT of the newer (cheaper) lcds now have bases that only move up and down (or worse, only tilt slightly). Often, those panels +will+ look like crap if rotated.

Also, mind the direction of rotation. The Dells for instance only rotate clockwise. As far as I can tell, they look good either way, but there may be a reason (more than cost) that the base was designed to only rotate one way.

[ShaggyNerd]

About a rotated LCD. There are LCD's that are intended to be rotated (the dell 2405 WFP for instance).

Pretty much any LCD that comes with a base that allows it to rotate should be fine for rotated use (that's the intention anyway).

However, I've noticed A LOT of the newer (cheaper) lcds now have bases that only move up and down (or worse, only tilt slightly). Often, those panels +will+ look like crap if rotated.

Also, mind the direction of rotation. The Dells for instance only rotate clockwise. As far as I can tell, they look good either way, but there may be a reason (more than cost) that the base was designed to only rotate one way.

I know. I want to get a CRT monitor, but I don't have that much extra money.

BUT... you seem to have forgotten one teensy tiny detail. The screen on a Pac-Man cabinet is at a rather low angle. Since I am tall, I will be looking at it straight down, so I won't have any problems like contrast-discoloration, brightness issues, etc.

[ShaggyNerd]

I finally got a soldering iron and a hot glue gun. Tomorrow, I will test them out to see if they work properly (they look like they do, but you never know). And sometime soon, possibly even this weekend, I will solder the buttons and joysticks to my gamepad.

Does RadioShack have those 0.187" female connectors?

[bkenobi]

Does RadioShack have those 0.187" female connectors?

No.  But, most of the suppliers here have them available.  I simply went on ebay and bought a bunch for cheap with free shipping, though.

[Donkbaca]

check home depot or lowes, or an auto parts store.  They all should have them

[bkenobi]

In my area, they do not carry 0.187" QD connectors.  They do carry them in a small package with 0.25" ones, but for the price it wasn't worth it.  Like I said, these are available for super cheap on ebay even after shipping.  Of course, the cheapest ones are out of Hong Kong, so you will have to either wait or pay a little extra to get them more local.

I just did a quick search and found a couple people selling 50 and 100 packs.  Looks like a 100 pack of red 187 QDC will set you back $8 (to the US) from California.  I think I paid $5 for 100 locally once upon a time, but that was not retail (the place was shutting down).

[wizkid32]

I got mine from GroovyGameGear.com.  It's a decent price, but I already had an order so I did not pay shipping directly.

[bkenobi]

Yup, GGG has them for not much more than ebay.  The only difference is the shipping really.  The ones RandyT sells are actually better because they are shielded, so if you are debating which way to go, you should keep that in mind.

[ShaggyNerd]

Hey. I am using the plans for the Pac-Man cabinet from Jakobud. I heard that Jakobud is not always accurate to the actual measurements. Plus, there isn't much detail as to the inside of the cabinet. Are there any plans that are accurate, AND have details about the inside too?

[ShaggyNerd]

Hi, guys. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Santa gave me a fever for Christmas, among other things. Anyway, I am still going to make the MAME cabinet. I have all of the designs and now I'm waiting for a friend of mine to help me make it (he got sick, too). I got some extra money over the holidays, and I am VERY tempted to go to my local thrift shop and buy a 19" CRT PC Monitor/TV. On the subject, what other kinds of specs should I look for? By specs, I mean resolution, input/output, refresh rate, etc.

I hope you enjoyed the Holidays!

[wizkid32]

Preferably S-video, if you're looking for a television.  You should also think about your monitor connection, and how it will work with your setup.

[ghettodish]

Here is a cab I build with a ghetto-rotating lcd panel. I don't have any viewing issues with it. It looks the same horizontal or vertical.

[ShaggyNerd]

Here is a cab I build with a ghetto-rotating lcd panel. I don't have any viewing issues with it. It looks the same horizontal or vertical.

I like this idea, but if I get a CRT Monitor/TV, would such a system be practical? Either way, exactly, how do you actually rotate the thing?

[ghettodish]

Here is a cab I build with a ghetto-rotating lcd panel. I don't have any viewing issues with it. It looks the same horizontal or vertical.

I like this idea, but if I get a CRT Monitor/TV, would such a system be practical? Either way, exactly, how do you actually rotate the thing?

The panel that the lcd is mounted to has two handles on it (above and below the screen in the pic). It simply pulls out for rotating
I wouldn't want to do that to a mounted CRT monitor. I tested a CRT for rotating, but found out that it would have to degaussed every time it changed orientation.

[ShaggyNerd]

I'M BACK!

I have much to tell you. Over the past several weeks, I went to my friend's house almost every Monday to work on the cabinet. I stuck with the basic Pac-Man cabinet plans, and will probably decorate it accordingly. It is almost complete! Pictures coming soon...