Main > Main Forum
How to get working Player 2 Controller in this Homemade Arcade?
Selxion:
This is a Homemade Arcade that my brother bought a time ago, they gave it to my sister recently. The coins Slot Machine doesn't work but I don't care that we can use a keyboard and that fixes the problem.
But we need the Player 2 Buttons and Joystick, they donīt do anything and this is the information I have:
-They worked before by pressing the top button at the back of the machine (Photo) but I took the cables out cause it was sometimes that it worked, so they connected the right way to the USB Interface cause I tested it when they were working.
-The entire machine power on when connected to the electricity without doing any extra steps.
-Is a Homemade machine with a Windows-based computer as a core, bad quality and slow but works perfectly with the arcade games.
-I cannot go to settings cause the startup is blocked, even with a keyboard and mouse I cannot do anything, a format method would be appreciated.
This button was to activate it or connect it to the power source?
What can I do or connect to make it work permanently without pressing the back button?
What core hardware can I buy to connect those buttons and joysticks that are small, faster, and cheap for N64 and PS1 games?
PL1:
It can be very difficult to do remote troubleshooting on an unknown setup built by a 3rd party.
One thing that makes it easier is if there is a common baseline of terms and concepts, so you may want to read through the FAQ.
https://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---we need the Player 2 Buttons and Joystick, they donīt do anything
--- End quote ---
Looks like the last photo is of a 2 player Xin-Mo gamepad encoder.
That board translates the joystick and button presses into USB gamepad commands.
- The 18-pin connector on the left is for Player 1 controls.
- The 18-pin connector on the right is for Player 2 controls.
The Xin-Mo board is seen by the computer as two gamepads.
If P2's controls only work when the button on the back is pressed, there is probably a problem with the wiring path between P2's daisy-chain ground wire and ground. (details below)
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ----They worked before by pressing the top button at the back of the machine (Photo) but I took the cables out cause it was sometimes that it worked, so they connected the right way to the USB Interface cause I tested it when they were working.
--- End quote ---
You lost me on this part. :dizzy: :dunno
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ----Is a Homemade machine with a Windows-based computer as a core, bad quality and slow but works perfectly with the arcade games.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---What core hardware can I buy to connect those buttons and joysticks that are small, faster, and cheap for N64 and PS1 games?
--- End quote ---
As long as you're happy with the current selection of arcade games and gameplay, there's no need to upgrade to a new computer and emulation software.
If you want to add N64 and PS1 games, you will probably want to upgrade to a new computer and emulation software.
- There has been a lot of progress in emulating these systems lately and the newer emulation software requires a lot more computing power.
- Also check the controls for the games you want to add. Do they require analog thumbstick or analog trigger button inputs? IIRC the Xin-Mo doesn't have any analog inputs.
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ----I cannot go to settings cause the startup is blocked, even with a keyboard and mouse I cannot do anything, a format method would be appreciated.
--- End quote ---
You should be able to get into the MAME menu system using the TAB key while you're running an arcade game.
Not sure what Front End program you're running so no idea how to exit the game selection menu to access Windows.
You can run a USB cable from the Xin-Mo to a laptop or other PC's USB if you want to troubleshoot the controls separate from the rest of the system.
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---This button was to activate it or connect it to the power source?
--- End quote ---
Given the location of that button at the top/back of the machine, it was probably either connected to the power switch pins on the motherboard (press the button to safely shut down the system without corrupting Windows) or maybe it was connected to one of the Xin-Mo encoder inputs and there was a shutdown script triggered by the output of that Xin-Mo input.
If that button is causing P2's controls to work or not work, there is some sort of wiring error. It probably involves the daisy-chain ground for Player 2's controls being supplied through that switch. :dizzy:
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---What can I do or connect to make it work permanently without pressing the back button?
--- End quote ---
If that button doesn't trigger a shutdown, P2 controls work when that button pressed, and P2 controls don't work when it isn't, then here's a workaround:
On that button, leave one wire on the COM (Common) tab of the microswitch and swap the other wire from NO (Normally Open) to NC (Normally Closed) or from NC to NO.
When the red microswitch nub isn't pressed, COM connects to NC.
When the red microswitch nub is pressed, COM connects to NO.
Scott
Selxion:
--- Quote from: PL1 on June 01, 2024, 07:05:32 pm ---It can be very difficult to do remote troubleshooting on an unknown setup built by a 3rd party.
One thing that makes it easier is if there is a common baseline of terms and concepts, so you may want to read through the FAQ.
https://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---we need the Player 2 Buttons and Joystick, they donīt do anything
--- End quote ---
Looks like the last photo is of a 2 player Xin-Mo gamepad encoder.
That board translates the joystick and button presses into USB gamepad commands.
- The 18-pin connector on the left is for Player 1 controls.
- The 18-pin connector on the right is for Player 2 controls.
The Xin-Mo board is seen by the computer as two gamepads.
If P2's controls only work when the button on the back is pressed, there is probably a problem with the wiring path between P2's daisy-chain ground wire and ground. (details below)
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ----They worked before by pressing the top button at the back of the machine (Photo) but I took the cables out cause it was sometimes that it worked, so they connected the right way to the USB Interface cause I tested it when they were working.
--- End quote ---
You lost me on this part. :dizzy: :dunno
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ----Is a Homemade machine with a Windows-based computer as a core, bad quality and slow but works perfectly with the arcade games.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---What core hardware can I buy to connect those buttons and joysticks that are small, faster, and cheap for N64 and PS1 games?
--- End quote ---
As long as you're happy with the current selection of arcade games and gameplay, there's no need to upgrade to a new computer and emulation software.
If you want to add N64 and PS1 games, you will probably want to upgrade to a new computer and emulation software.
- There has been a lot of progress in emulating these systems lately and the newer emulation software requires a lot more computing power.
- Also check the controls for the games you want to add. Do they require analog thumbstick or analog trigger button inputs? IIRC the Xin-Mo doesn't have any analog inputs.
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ----I cannot go to settings cause the startup is blocked, even with a keyboard and mouse I cannot do anything, a format method would be appreciated.
--- End quote ---
You should be able to get into the MAME menu system using the TAB key while you're running an arcade game.
Not sure what Front End program you're running so no idea how to exit the game selection menu to access Windows.
You can run a USB cable from the Xin-Mo to a laptop or other PC's USB if you want to troubleshoot the controls separate from the rest of the system.
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---This button was to activate it or connect it to the power source?
--- End quote ---
Given the location of that button at the top/back of the machine, it was probably either connected to the power switch pins on the motherboard (press the button to safely shut down the system without corrupting Windows) or maybe it was connected to one of the Xin-Mo encoder inputs and there was a shutdown script triggered by the output of that Xin-Mo input.
If that button is causing P2's controls to work or not work, there is some sort of wiring error. It probably involves the daisy-chain ground for Player 2's controls being supplied through that switch. :dizzy:
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 03:09:12 pm ---What can I do or connect to make it work permanently without pressing the back button?
--- End quote ---
If that button doesn't trigger a shutdown, P2 controls work when that button pressed, and P2 controls don't work when it isn't, then here's a workaround:
On that button, leave one wire on the COM (Common) tab of the microswitch and swap the other wire from NO (Normally Open) to NC (Normally Closed) or from NC to NO.
When the red microswitch nub isn't pressed, COM connects to NC.
When the red microswitch nub is pressed, COM connects to NO.
Scott
--- End quote ---
I will try that, if you need any specific photos or information I will provide it to you. Sorry for my bad English. I am keeping this same hardware.
What can I install on this computer that can use the same inputs?
I can use normal emulators without any front end?
What Front end can I install to avoid all the configuration and configure the buttons?
Supposing all the cables are correctly connected to the USB Interface; knowing that the Arcade does work entirely without any other issue, what needs that USB Interface to register Player 2 inputs?
Thinking outside the USB interface pins, just considering the cables that connect to Ground and the CPU through this Blue box I don't know what it is. (Image Below)
One of these cables goes to Player 1 Start Button COM (Based on the image you sent me) and the other to the Player 1 USB Interface.
The other two cables that are connected to the back buttons; one is divided in two; one goes to Player 2 Joystick Left COM and the other one goes to Player 2 Button A COM, and the other cable that does not divide goes to Player 2 USB Interface.
If I connect both that go to the USB interface and both that go to COM, will work? (I think no cause the USB already has power for both of the players and they worked without doing that)
PL1:
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 08:07:12 pm ---this Blue box I don't know what it is. (Image Below)
--- End quote ---
The "blue box" appears to be a solid-state relay like the ones used in this DIY "smart power strip" thread.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,128892.0.html
-------------------------------------
The daisy-chain ground (#3) for Player 2's controls should only be connected to one Quick Disconnect (QD) tab on each button/joystick microswitch and the ground pin on the Xin-Mo board, not to anything connected to or going through the relay.
A daisy-chain ground looks like this.
The QDs in this daisy-chain ground should be connected to one tab (usually COM) of each microswitch in P2's controls.
The single wire on the right should be connected to a ground pin in the 18-pin connector on the right side of your Xin-Mo in this pic.
The "blue box" relay shouldn't be connected to ground on the Xin-Mo.
Am I right that you have just one of these boards -- the wire bundle on the left goes to P1's controls and the wire bundle on the right goes to P2's controls? I ask because Xin-Mo also makes an encoder that has control input pins on one side and output pins for button LEDs on the other side.
To troubleshoot the whole system, you'll need to test parts of the system separately.
Can you connect a USB cable from the Xin-Mo USB B connector to a laptop or other PC to see if the P1 and P2 controls are working properly?
(Windows Control Panel -- Devices and Printers -- [Xin-Mo device] -- Game controller settings -- Properties)
Scott
Selxion:
--- Quote from: PL1 on June 01, 2024, 10:50:21 pm ---
--- Quote from: Selxion on June 01, 2024, 08:07:12 pm ---this Blue box I don't know what it is. (Image Below)
--- End quote ---
The "blue box" appears to be a solid-state relay like the ones used in this DIY "smart power strip" thread.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,128892.0.html
-------------------------------------
The daisy-chain ground (#3) for Player 2's controls should only be connected to one Quick Disconnect (QD) tab on each button/joystick microswitch and the ground pin on the Xin-Mo board, not to anything connected to or going through the relay.
A daisy-chain ground looks like this.
The QDs in this daisy-chain ground should be connected to one tab (usually COM) of each microswitch in P2's controls.
The single wire on the right should be connected to a ground pin in the 18-pin connector on the right side of your Xin-Mo in this pic.
The "blue box" relay shouldn't be connected to ground on the Xin-Mo.
Am I right that you have just one of these boards -- the wire bundle on the left goes to P1's controls and the wire bundle on the right goes to P2's controls? I ask because Xin-Mo also makes an encoder that has control input pins on one side and output pins for button LEDs on the other side.
To troubleshoot the whole system, you'll need to test parts of the system separately.
Can you connect a USB cable from the Xin-Mo USB B connector to a laptop or other PC to see if the P1 and P2 controls are working properly?
(Windows Control Panel -- Devices and Printers -- [Xin-Mo device] -- Game controller settings -- Properties)
Scott
--- End quote ---
I connected it to a windows 10 based Laptop, it worked perfectly for both controllers, what does this means?
The name appearing is THT Arcade Console 2 USB Player, using a standard USB controller driver from Microsoft.