Recommendations for dual trackball interface...

[shrunkenmaster]

Not really up on the latest batch of interfaces, so I need some advice. Will be scratch building a Marble Madness cab and will need the most cost effective way of interfacing the two trackballs, plus a couple of buttons. Any suggestions?

[HaRuMaN]

Can windows handle two mice?  I know you can get the Happ trackballs in the USB flavor, each one with 3 buttons...

[BadMouth]

Opti-Wiz EZ solder version $15 each x2 http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=260

[tron84]

+1 on the Opti-Wiz, I have it on my Tempest spinner.  It is a nice interface.

[shrunkenmaster]

Liking the look of the Opti-Wiz, thanks guys   

[PL1]

Can windows handle two mice?

It does just fine with a UTrak on a Mini-Pac, a TT2 Spinner, and a wireless keyboard with trackball -- 3 X-axes and 2 Y-axes, all at once.   

I know you can get the Happ trackballs in the USB flavor, each one with 3 buttons...

Rodney's selling reconditioned Happ trackballs and interfaces here.

Solder wires to an AVR (running KADE firmware) or get a KADE for the buttons -- fully customizable.

I think Jon is also working on a firmware that will allow KADE to accept raw optical inputs from a trackball -- haven't heard how that's coming along.


Scott

[shrunkenmaster]

Cheers PL1, will look into this too!

[Afterburner]

I have two trackballs on my cab.

Both are Xarcade 3-inch USB trackballs.  I'm running WinXP and it handles two USB mice just fine.

In fact I think at one point I had one via PS2 connector and one on USB.

Both have three buttons on them as well that work fine as a mouse for maintenance on the PC.

I have two rotary 8way leaf switch joysticks connected to an old iPac2 (PS2 keybd interface) and an old board that converts the 12 position rotary switch in the joystick to a keypress on the iPac.

All of it plays together fine.

I also find dual trackballs are great for two player gun games like T2, Op Wolf, Spacegun, etc. if you don't have lightguns.

[Le Chuck]

Windows can handle 8 analog axes at once IIRC.  Plug'em in!

[shrunkenmaster]

Hmm, spend money or don't spend money, tough call! Will certainly give it a try 

[yotsuya]

Rodney's encoder works really well. In fact, I may be buying another one soon.