IPAC 4 encoder problem

[daggerlee]

So I bought an IPAC 4 encoder from Ultimarc in 2008.  I installed and thought it was defective.  Once I wired everything correctly on a 4 player cabinet the left joystick on player 3 was triggering 3 other buttons.  So I tried to change the key but it would not change.  It was like I had duplicate keys in the encoder.  So I talked to them and they sent me a new one.  Installed it and it does exactly the same thing.  So I had player 1 and 2 configured properly so I figured I’d fix player 3, 4 at a later time.  Fast forward to 2020.  My HD in the computer died so I thought,  let’s upgrade everything.  Brand new computer to the latest hyper spin,  rocket launcher,  mame and sets.  Got rid of all consoles and make a dedicated mame cab.  So I did everything.  Mame and hyper spin hasn’t looked better.  I even re-wired all my controls and got rid of all the soldering and went with quick connectors.  Brand new micro switches.  So I’m done and fired the machine back up only to find that the controls never changed.  Left on player 3 still triggers other buttons.  I press 1 button and 3 others light up.  Can someone please help with this.  Ive changed the ipac4,  the computer,  the front end,  the emulator and roms,  the wiring,  and micro switches.  Help please, I want to be completed already. 

[PL1]

For troubleshooting, let's simplify things as much as possible.
- This process assumes you are using the IPac as a keyboard encoder.

1. Disconnect the wire leading into P3 Left on the IPac.

2. Launch a keyboard test program like this one (recommended) or Notepad.

3. Use a straight piece of wire to momentarily short the P3 Left input to ground.

- If the IPac is working right, the test program or Notepad should show a "J" keypress and nothing else.  Proceed to step 4.

- If you see more than one keypress, disconnect the wires leading to the related input(s) and try again.
i.e. If you get "J" and "A", disconnect the wire leading into P2B1 and try again.
-- If you still get multiple keystrokes, disconnect all wires from the IPac and try again.
-- If you still get multiple keystrokes, the problem is either the IPac or you've mounted it in a way that shorts some inputs to each other or there is some other way that the inputs are shorted to each other. (broken strands of wire dropped on the PCB, etc.)

4. Re-connect the wire leading into P3 Left on the IPac.

5. Use a straight piece of wire to momentarily short the P3 Left input to ground.
- If the wiring is right, the test program or Notepad should show a "J" keypress and nothing else.

6. Press P3 joystick to the left.
- If the wiring is right, the test program or Notepad should show a "J" keypress and nothing else.

7. Go through the rest of the controls and verify that each input is giving the correct output and nothing else.
- List of any input that is sending more than one keystroke and what those keystrokes are.

------------------------
  Probably not the main issue based on your description, but worth asking:

IPac4 default settings use the same keys for P3 joystick and P2B5 - P2B8. (highlighted)

Have you reprogrammed your IPac to eliminate that overlap?




Scott

[daggerlee]

Thanks for the response,  I’ll try this then report outcome. I appreciate your time.  Thank you

[daggerlee]

So I tried your method and yes player 3 is reading J key.  The problem is my exit button that is wired to 2sw7 is also using the j key.  I’ve switched the exit button to 4sw5, 4sw6, 4sw7, 4sw8 and no keys coming up.  Not sure what is going on here.

[PL1]

So I tried your method and yes player 3 is reading J key.  The problem is my exit button that is wired to 2sw7 is also using the j key.

Nothing wierd about that, it's the overlapping IPac defaults that I mentioned earlier. (highlighted in the image above)

You haven't reprogrammed the IPac so both P3 joystick directions and 2sw5 - 2sw8 use the I, J, K, and L keys.

I’ve switched the exit button to 4sw5, 4sw6, 4sw7, 4sw8 and no keys coming up.  Not sure what is going on here.

Default settings have no key assigned to those inputs.

You haven't reprogrammed the IPac so there's no key assigned to those inputs.
--------------
Here is the list of IPac 4 default keys from the Ultimarc site. (Click on the "Installation" tab)

https://www.ultimarc.com/control-interfaces/i-pacs/i-pac4-board/

P3 joystick directions and 2sw5 - 2sw8 use the I, J, K, and L keys.
- Reprogram the board with different keys for P3 joystick or 2sw5 - 2sw8.

3sw5 - 3sw8 have no key assigned.
- Reprogram the board with different keys for any desired inputs.

4sw5 - 4sw8 have no key assigned.
- Reprogram the board with different keys for any desired inputs.
--------------
Bottom line: Sounds like the IPac is working as designed . . . with default settings.

Make a list of the inputs that you need to assign a different output and the keys you want to use.

Change those settings in the WinIPAC configutation utility and reprogram your IPac.

While you're at it, you may want to disable the shifted function for "Menu" so button-mashing kids and/or drunk friends don't accidently make a mess in your configuration menus.   

You may also want to change the "modifier" keys (Ctrl, Alt, Shift) since they can trigger Windows hotkey combinations. (rotate display, etc.)


Scott

[daggerlee]

Ok I now understand that the default key codes have overlapping issues.  I would love to remap my board but I’m sorry but I have no idea how to do this.  I’ve also tried to download the driver which fails every time.  I turned the timing to 10 seconds but it still fails to download.  One more thing is that I have a button to pause the game.  Every time I try to map it it says that this button is not assigned.  I’m am very sorry for being such a noob to this but I’m learning and I do appreciate all your help and patience.  Thank you

[daggerlee]

I’ve tried to reprogram the unassigned 3player switches 5,6,7,8 but they still are not assigned.  Here are a couple of pics where I’m trying to reprogram them.  I don’t know what I am doing wrong here. 

[daggerlee]

I’ve tried reprogramming on this one too but nothing seems to register.  I switch wires on the board then try to reprogram on the winpac UIPD program. 

[daggerlee]

I’ve tried reprogramming on this one too but nothing seems to register.  I switch wires on the board then try to reprogram on the winpac UIPD program. 

The Center purple button I want to use as my pause button.  It was wired to the p1sw8 which is the “v” key which is also player 4 left joystick by default.  So I switched wires from p1sw8 to p3sw5 on the board.   I go into panel designer I-pac connections and assign it 3sw5, save it.  But when I try to assign it with the key assignments in the winpac iPd it still doesn’t work.  If you follow what I did with the pictures maybe someone can tell me what I’m doing wrong.

[PL1]

Are you trying to run the older version of WinIPAC from here on a Win10 system?

Pretty sure you need to run it on an XP(?), Vista, or Win7 computer.
- If that version doesn't run on XP, e-mail Andy and he'll help you find an older version that does.

Vista and Windows 7 Note: The program needs to be run as administrator (ie right-click "run as administrator")

Scott

[daggerlee]

I’m using this winpac version on windows 10

[daggerlee]

I bought this ipac4 in 2008. 

[daggerlee]

I just upgraded to this one.  But it still won’t reprogram the button.  All the other default buttons work as they should.  I was able to click the program button and device installed the driver properly. 

[mimic]

Is your Ipac looking something like this?

If so I have had the same problem for the longest time now. I tried many reprogramming software apps that were posted here, in windows XP and it would not program it no matter what. I just gave up. Rewired what I needed.

I'll be watching your thread and see if you managed to get it working. Good luck!

[daggerlee]

Yes it’s the same board but wires differently,  where are your player 1 buttons wired to.  Also where is your player 4 up button wired to? 

[daggerlee]

I colour coded my wires to match player colours. 

Blue is 1st player
Red is 2nd player
Green is 3rd player
Yellow is 4th player.
White is credits, exit, pause, tab configuration
Black is ground

[daggerlee]

This is to those out there with pre 2015 boards.  Specifically IPAC4 boards.  I figured it out and will post a step by step of what to do to get your boards working how you want.  Hopefully I can help.  It is honestly super easy and I can’t believe how long it too me to figure out.  This is for you MIMIC!

STEP 1:  make sure you have the latest version of winipac for older boards.  Either try to uninstall your current copy of winipac.exe or what I did was delete all the files and download them again at a different location in my computer.  Make sure when you open winipac that you right click and always run as administrator to make sure all features work. 

STEP 2:  make sure you plug your IPAC board into your PC along with a working keyboard and mouse.  When you first start Winipac it will ask you what kind of board you have.  Select your board and press ok.  You will notice that your layout is not like the default layout.  What I did,  and I recommend since it will help you,  is select new layout in the tab top left and create your board layout on the panel designer mode. Make it look as close as your board as possible it will help trust me.  As you are laying out your buttons and joysticks,  make sure you configure each IPac connection as it is wired to your board.  Once your are done that and it looks like your control panel,  double check each button that they are labels correctly. 

STEP 3:   SAVE YOUR BOARD!!  After that, switch to key assignments and click on the table view mode.  This is where you are going to see each connection light up as you press the button on your control panel.  You will see your duplicate buttons light up but this is ok because you are just trying to see what keys are unused.  As you press a button and notice it doesn’t light up on you winipac,  then that key is not being used.  WRITE DOWN all the keys that are not being used so you know what you have left to play with.  Also take note of which controls are duplicate and determine which you want to change.

STEP 4:  now you should have a full list of unused keys and keys you need to change.   Now go back to display mode in key assignments.  After you decided which key you want to change use your mouse and click on that button so it says “press key”.  Go to your list of unused keys that you wrote down,  select which key you want this button to be then press it ON YOUR KEYBOARD.  The key you selected should pop up on that key now.  Do this to each duplicate button you need to replace with your unused key list.  Once this is all done, PRESS PROGRAM on the bottom right.  It should read programming device successful and you have now flashed (programmed) your board slots to be those keys. 

STEP 5:  SAVE YOUR BOARD AGAIN! 

STEP 6:  check to see if you still have duplicate buttons popping up.  If so change more keys, program button,  and save.  Once this is all done and you are happy,  test your emulator.  My cabinet is a dedicated MAME cab so I went into MAME to see how my buttons work.  I found that my 3 player wouldn’t go up or down,  well all you need to do is configure the controls in your emulator at this point.  I did a general input for all games and it now works exactly how I want it to.  I may come across some games that I will want controls to be different but I would do that during gameplay. 

So I hope this helps others sort this issue out.  There are no videos on YouTube about programming the other versions of winipac so if anyone had any questions please feel free to PM me if you are stuck.  Take care out there and stay healthy!   

[PL1]

Glad you got it working and thanks for sharing the detailed writeup.   


Scott

[mimic]

Thank you daggerlee. I'll try your steps.
For player 1 buttons I'm using the U360, that's why it's not wired. The 4 pl up. I think it was one of the ones that would not work. Nothing was assigned and I couldn't program it either. I wired to another output and rebinded the keys.