Help to use original Chase HQ2 controls on an emulator.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Hello, I am a newbie to building arcades, so please have some patience with me. I have read the "Beginners Start Here" thread, but as I am a beginner, even some of that was beyond me.

A few months ago I bought 2 Chase HQ2 cabinets and, with a few exceptions they have worked great.  However, recently one of my Taito X2 motherboards has bit the dust and honestly I don't want to go through developing the skillset to repair it.  I would like to put in a PC multigame unit and use the existing controls.

The cab has steering, brake, gas, 3 buttons (Start, View/Siren, Turbo), coin, service, a high/low shifter, force feedback, and some LED lights at the top that are computer controlled. It uses Taito Universal Jvs I/O (K91X1109A) and a separate board to control the 24v force feedback motor.  All of these are in great working order. I don't have a problem only putting racing games in that are either automatics or only use Hi/Low shifters (as there are plenty that fit the bill).

As I have the original X2s, my first thought was to take the I/O board out and put it in a new computer, but honestly, i can't see how to connect it to more modern motherboards.  Looking at the board it is plugged directly into the mobo on a COM2, Front Panel, and S/PDIF. I can find the front panel connection and the S/PDIF, but can't seem to find a COM2 connection anywhere.  If anyone has input on how to get this to work with a new motherboard, I would appreciate any direction.

As I couldn't find out how to connect the I/O board, I looked for alternatives.  I saw in the beginners thread a mention of the Apac and Uhid. So I went to the Ultimarc site and did some research on those, but am not quite sure if those are what I would use to interpret the inputs for my computer.  If they are, my thought would be to get an edge connector to plug into the wiring harness (as I don't want to butcher it) then wire it up to the APAC or UHID. As long as I can get the controls working to use it now, I can worry about the computer controlled LEDs and FF later.

Are any of my ideas feasible? 

I appreciate any feedback or guidance.  Thank you.

[baritonomarchetto]

The idea is feasible, yes, but would ask for a skillset you probably do not own if this is your first approach to a mamecab (and it is, right?).
If you keep force feedback and lamps out of the equation, it would be a lot easier: it's a matter of interfacing some potentiometers and momentary switches with a compatible interface.
What about the monitor? It should be a CRT, but does it have a VGA connector or what?
Some picture of the internals of the cab could definitely help

[MidLifeCrisis]

This is my 2nd go-round with a multi cab.  However, the first one was a shooter where the mid-res monitor went out as well as the JAMMA board. So i put in a vga crt, Windows 10 PC running Launchbox, and used JayBee's Gun4IR system. The only original components I am using in the shooter cab is the marquee and power supply. Eventually I will put in an encoder to use the coin slot and start buttons, but, my first focus is always to get it playable then worry about the bells and whistles.

On the Chase HQ2 cabs, at production they did have VGA-CRT, but they have both since been replaced with LCD monitors with VGA connections. Also, i agree about it being easier not to worry about FFB and the LEDs for now. That is something I can work on as my skillet expands.

I am not quite sure what pictures you are looking for.  If you were wanting to see something else, let me know. Please don't judge me to harshly for the wood propping things up, it is a work in progress. Thank you for taking a look.

[jayc001]

I did similar with 2 x Daytona cabinets. Initially I used APAC with the original pots on the pedals, wheel and used the digital inputs on the shifters and view buttons. I was plagued by random ghost twitches on the steering and pedals though. I worked with Andy at Ultimarc but in the end I gave up and hacked up some cheap USB controllers and used them with much better results. Eventually when i wanted force feedback I swapped the whole assemblies for G920.

Multio racer games take a lot of config but I'm pleased with mine. I use 1080p screens and newer games such as Daytona 3 and SR3 look awesome. Old titles still work well, don't look as good as a CRT but still fun.

[baritonomarchetto]

These pictures are ok: it's always nice to take a look at the cabs internals 
You have 3 analog axis to handle (wheel, accel and brake) and a bunch of pushbuttons (shifter included).
You can handle all of then with a cheap arduino leonardo/pro micro emulating a joypad. I wrote an instructable on this regard. Here is the link, in case this can help decide which way is the one more adeguate for you (DIY or commercial)

https://www.instructables.com/ArcadeHID-Multi-HID-Arcade-Interface/

[BadMouth]

The controls all look like standard off the shelf Happ parts.
They can be interfaced with an original Immersion PCB if you can find one.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,135310.0.html

I'm pretty sure people have made setups using an arduino as well, but I have not kept up with the changes.
The arduino would be much cheaper.

[MidLifeCrisis]

https://www.instructables.com/ArcadeHID-Multi-HID-Arcade-Interface/

Thank you so much for this information.  I have learned a lot from it and your other posts.  I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.  This have given me a great jumping off point and I have a lot of research to do!

[baritonomarchetto]

You are welcome. In case you need the files to have your PCB manufactured (not needed in such a simple project anyway) feel free to ask (the links I share redirect to the project sponsor page and cannot be downloaded from there, but I can share them here if you need them)

[nipsmg]

Go check the forums over at gamoover.net.  Specifically, if it is happ parts you can use a PWM2HAPP for force feedback.  But if you want to just start with the steering/buttons  you just need an Arduino mega and this software:

https://github.com/njz3/vJoyIOFeederWithFFB

This is the thread at gamoover with a wiring diagram (ignore the wiring to the pwm2happ if you aren’t doing FFB to start) (French, use Google translate)

https://www.gamoover.net/Forums/index.php?topic=42997.0

If you want to buy a pem2happ/pwm2m2 you need to contact aganyte via PM there.