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Dreamcast questions
Grasshopper:
Hi,
I'm toying with the idea of buying a second hand Dreamcast, mainly because I've heard good things about them here.
Can someone tell me how much I should expect to pay? I've looked on Ebay but that is not always a good guide. I live in the UK.
I've built a control panel for running MAME on a PC and I'd also like to be able to use it with the Dreamcast if possible. This factor could affect whether or not I actually buy a Dreamcast as I'm not really keen on the standard Dreamcast controllers.
I hacked a ps/2 keyboard to make my panel. My second yet to be built panel will use an Ipac that I've already bought.
So I'm wondering whether there is a converter available to enable a ps/2 keyboard (or Ipac, Keywiz etc) to be used with the Dreamcast.
Thanks in advance.
Dave_K.:
I see used Dreamcasts at GameStop stores (in the US) for $29.99 without a game...and $39.99 (online) with one game. Maybe they will ship to the UK?
http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&keyword=&platform=5&lookin=title&range=all&genre=31&searchtype=adv&sortby=title&strAscDesc=1000&OrderAscDesc=Asc&imageFlag=show
You will not be able to use a dreamcast keyboard with an Ipac...sorry. You will either have to go the molex connector route (or any other style connector to hookup to your control panel), or try the diode method to hook both up at the same time (this has been discussed at length many times please do a search for more info). FYI, going the connector route is easier.
Personally I think its worth the $40 and added work to hookup a dreamcast to your cab (in contrast to the amount of time you probably took trying to hookup a computer/mame/ipac). But hey, to each his own.
TalkingOctopus:
--- Quote ---try the diode method to hook both up at the same time (this has been discussed at length many times please do a search for more info)
--- End quote ---
I have searched for more information about the diode method and have never found anything on it. Could someone please show me where this has been discussed? (I am sure it has been but I just cannot find it).
Thanks!
Grasshopper:
--- Quote from: Dave_K. on November 29, 2003, 02:05:31 pm ---I see used Dreamcasts at GameStop stores (in the US) for $29.99 without a game...and $39.99 (online) with one game. Maybe they will ship to the UK?
http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&keyword=&platform=5&lookin=title&range=all&genre=31&searchtype=adv&sortby=title&strAscDesc=1000&OrderAscDesc=Asc&imageFlag=show
You will not be able to use a dreamcast keyboard with an Ipac...sorry. You will either have to go the molex connector route (or any other style connector to hookup to your control panel), or try the diode method to hook both up at the same time (this has been discussed at length many times please do a search for more info). FYI, going the connector route is easier.
Personally I think its worth the $40 and added work to hookup a dreamcast to your cab (in contrast to the amount of time you probably took trying to hookup a computer/mame/ipac). But hey, to each his own.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the link. $30 is pretty cheap. However, by the time I've factored in the cost of having it shipped across the Atlantic it will probably be cheaper for me to buy one locally.
With regards to using a PC keyboard/Ipac/Keywiz with the Dreamcast, I've seen a number of convertors on Lik-Sang's site. Here's a link to one of them:
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=29&products_id=517&
Could one of these do the trick, or will it only work with games specifically designed to be used with the Dreamcast keyboard.
Thanks
Dave_K.:
--- Quote from: TalkingOctopus on November 30, 2003, 12:18:32 am ---
--- Quote ---try the diode method to hook both up at the same time (this has been discussed at length many times please do a search for more info)
--- End quote ---
I have searched for more information about the diode method and have never found anything on it. Could someone please show me where this has been discussed? (I am sure it has been but I just cannot find it).
Thanks!
--- End quote ---
Hmmm...it looks like search may be broken. I can't seem to pull up posts past this month searching with "diodes dreamcast" or "diodes ipac". Even with max date range set to 9999 days ago. I tried some searches across all forums, and get nothing, and then try against just "consoles" and got one hit. So something definately not working right with search.
Anyway, this is all I could find so far:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=10451;start=msg82741#msg82741
Basically for every button on your hacked psx/dc pad you will need a diode before connecting to the arcade button (or ipac strip).
Now there is one other major sticking point in my mind a lot of people miss. And that is that you should not mix your grounds between two different circuits. All grounds are not the same. The Dreamcast uses a 2 prong AC cord, so its ground is only relative to the Dreamcast circuit. A PC typically uses a 3 prong chord and depending upon if you plug that into a 3 prong wall outlet or not, you could have a voltage potential between the two grounds.
There are just to many things that could go wrong in this setup in my mind. Sure you could say I will absolutely make sure I don't power my DC when my PC is powered up...but it could happen. Sure you could check ground on both systems against a common earth ground to make sure there is no difference, but what if you change your power strip, and forget to use a 3 prong chord.
This is why everyone says its not worth all the hassel of soldering up all those diodes. Its just easier to use a molex connector or something to isolate each circuit from the other. Sure it may be a pain to open the cab coin door and flip a switch or unplug/plugin a connector...but you are garunteed the two systems won't interfere with each other. Just my opinion.
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