Trackball / Spinner / Windows

[Oldskool]

Multi-question time.  

I installed my CP wiring today, and my test run worked out pretty good.

I did find a few peculiarities though.....

If I use my trackball in Windows, the spinner doesn't work (in Windows). If I reboot and use the spinner in Windows (the cursor moves left and right) the trackball doesn't work.

Is this normal..........? (It really doesn't matter as they both work correctly in Mame)  

The other issue is with the trackball. When I roll it from left to right, the cursor tends to drift "diagonally up" as well.

Thoughts...?

I did try searching in the forums, but didn't find a thing.

Thanks in advance....

NOTE: I'm using XP, an Opti-pac (USB), an Atari  trackball, Oscar Model 3 spinner, and an optical mouse.

[GGKoul]

The way the Opti-pac works is:

When a spinner & trackball is hooked up to one Opti-pac, the first device to move will become the "live device".  Once movement is stopped and @ 5 secs later... the 2nd device can move and that will become the "live device".  They cannot be moved at the same time.

So if the trackball is moved first, then that is the live device.  In order for the Spinner to become live, you have to stop moving the trackball, then move the spinner. Again, they cannot be used at the same time and you have to wait a few secs before using the difference device.

As for the "diagonally up", is the trackball mounted straight?

Hope this helps.
-GGKoul

[Oldskool]

Once movement is stopped and @ 5 secs later... the 2nd device can move and that will become the "live device".  

Hey, that's pretty neat. Thanks.

As for the "diagonally up", is the trackball mounted straight?

Yes, its bang-on.  Is there a break-in time? Clean the optics perhaps?

[Minwah]

The other issue is with the trackball. When I roll it from left to right, the cursor tends to drift "diagonally up" as well.

I expect this is the third roller (the one that holds the ball against the x and y rollers).  Maybe check that the bearing is worn in and lubricated - Bob Roberts has some good info on his site: http://www.therealbobroberts.com/

[Stingray]

There was a recent thread with someone having a similar problem with the trackball moving diagonally. I don't remember if a solution was found or not, but you may try searching for that thread.

-S

[Oldskool]

The first thing I did was try to find that thread.

Oh well, I'll try again....

[pcdoctor]

I had a problem moving my Betson/Imperial trackball left and right.
It took over five strokes to get it from the right side of the screen to th left side using windows.
I shipped the trackball back to Betson and asked them to sent me a replacment and to check the left, right, up and down positions using windows.

[Oldskool]

It took over five strokes to get it from the right side of the screen to th left side using windows.

The sensitivity on my TB is fine.

I can roll it from left to right with no bother, but as the ball is slowing down, the cursor tends to drift down. If I roll it from right to left, the drift is up.

I'm going to take it apart and check it out, but I don't suspect that I'll find anything. I got it from Bob Roberts, and he put his "Inspected by" sticker on the bottom of it.