New person to hobby

[MrFish7]

Hello, I am new to the hobby and am about to set out on my first cabinet. I have a few questions and they concern things from wiring to joystick choice. I have read over many posts and you all seem like very helpful folks and I would like to thank you in advance.

I first need some clarification how and where I would use quick disconnects in my cabinet. My understanding is that I will connect short wires to each input on my encoder chip(keywiz or I-Pac) and then on the end of those I connect a quick disconnect. Then I connect a wire to my buttons also with quick disconnects on the ends to hook up to the disconnects on the wires attached to the encoder. Do I have this correct?

My next question is how to count number of inputs. It is my understanding that a four way and eight way joystick both use four inputs. Is this correct?

In regards to encoder chips, is it possible to use two? I ask because I have not yet decided on whether I will make a four player control pad or simply a two. If I were to make a two player controller using a cheaper encoder such as the KeyWiz Max, would I later be able to add another to increase the number of inputs? How would that work? Also, has anyone made use of the special connectors for the KeyWiz to make a button permentally

[rsoandrew]

I first need some clarification how and where I would use quick disconnects in my cabinet. My understanding is that I will connect short wires to each input on my encoder chip(keywiz or I-Pac) and then on the end of those I connect a quick disconnect. Then I connect a wire to my buttons also with quick disconnects on the ends to hook up to the disconnects on the wires attached to the encoder. Do I have this correct?

Sort of.  You will run a wire from the keyboard encoder directly to the buttons/joystick. The end at the encoder is simply striped and insterted. On the other end you will crimp a quick disconnect and then push that onto the button/joystick switch. Just make sure you have enought wire for a service loop (ie you can open your CP without putting strain on the wiring). You can take a look at my CP wiring . It worked out pretty well.

My next question is how to count number of inputs. It is my understanding that a four way and eight way joystick both use four inputs. Is this correct?

Yes. On the 8ways you are just pushing 2 buttons at the same time.

In regards to encoder chips, is it possible to use two? I ask because I have not yet decided on whether I will make a four player control pad or simply a two. If I were to make a two player controller using a cheaper encoder such as the KeyWiz Max, would I later be able to add another to increase the number of inputs? How would that work? Also, has anyone made use of the special connectors for the KeyWiz to make a button permentally

[etumor]

More to the 4-way/8-way discussion.

Most of the Happ joysticks that claim that they can be made 4-way (Super, Ultimate, and Competition) do so by using a smaller actuator that can't reach two switches at the same time.  This is absolutely no help in a game like Pac-Man.  Just about a month ago, after years of using the Happs joysticks in both 4-way and 8-way mode, I broke down and purchased a couple of Ultimarc's controls that claim to be "true 4-way," meaning that they actually use a restrictor on the bottom of the joystick that makes the joystick "slide" between the four positions (diagonals are physically blocked).

I was shocked how much of a difference it makes.  I will never play a 4-way game with my Happs joysticks again.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy all of my joysticks from Ultimarc now (since they make both bat-handle and ball-top sticks).

I have all of the 8-way/4-way switchable joysticks that you are asking about.  If you want an 8-way joystick that you are also going to use for 4-way games, seriously consider the T-stick Plus from Ultimarc (it switches between the two modes simply by pulling the joystick upward and turning it -- hard to explain, but once you see it in action you'll love it).  I personally prefer the T-stick Plus over the Omnistick by a mile.

If you need a dedicated 8-way or 4-way joystick, consider the J-stick.

If you are going to use the "Perfect 360" joystick from Happs, keep in mind that you have to run a power line to it, in addition to the usual inputs.  I've never used this stick personally, but I would recommend only using it for a dedicated 8-way stick, and not for a stick that will be used for 4-way games.

-Jeff

[NoOne=NBA=]

I first need some clarification how and where I would use quick disconnects in my cabinet. My understanding is that I will connect short wires to each input on my encoder chip(keywiz or I-Pac) and then on the end of those I connect a quick disconnect. Then I connect a wire to my buttons also with quick disconnects on the ends to hook up to the disconnects on the wires attached to the encoder. Do I have this correct?

One wire for each button/direction will go directly to the I-pac input terminal for that switch.
The other wire (common/ground) will go from the I-pac ground terminal to the first button, and then directly from that button to the next, etc...
That way, when you press a button, or move a stick, you complete a path from the input on the I-pac through the switch, back to ground on the I-pac.

In regards to encoder chips, is it possible to use two? I ask because I have not yet decided on whether I will make a four player control pad or simply a two. If I were to make a two player controller using a cheaper encoder such as the KeyWiz Max, would I later be able to add another to increase the number of inputs? How would that work? Also, has anyone made use of the special connectors for the KeyWiz to make a button permentally

[MrFish7]

So is the Jstick good for a dedicated 4? Do I not need to buy a pure 4 way joystick? Does it feel the same?

Also how much does it generally cost to put art on the side of the cabinet? What do you print it on?

Sorry for the simplely worded questions, its getting late and I tired. Thanks.

[etumor]

The J-stick can be used in a true 4-way configuration or an 8-way configuration.  It isn't switchable from above the control panel, it actually requires getting underneath, which is why I would only use it as a dedicated stick.  I think the feel is waaaay better than the Happs joysticks.  The dedicated 4-way in my current machine is a J-stick, and I love it.

As for side art, how you do it depends on how much money you want to spend.  If you're cheap, you can print something up at home, or at Kinkos (for larger sizes) and glue it on.  But if you want to go all out, one (very expensive) solution is printed vinyl.  I haven't actually tried this, so I'd be interested in the opinions of people who have.

Here are a couple of side art resources that I've written down:

http://www.onlinesignshop.com
http://classicarcadegrafix.com/index.html

I'm sure there are other resources.

-Jeff

[Tiger-Heli]

My next question is how to count number of inputs. It is my understanding that a four way and eight way joystick both use four inputs. Is this correct?

I read your question incorrectly - they are both four inputs, but they both need 8 quick disconnects.

In regards to encoder chips, is it possible to use two? I ask because I have not yet decided on whether I will make a four player control pad or simply a two. If I were to make a two player controller using a cheaper encoder such as the KeyWiz Max, would I later be able to add another to increase the number of inputs? How would that work?

With the I-PAC/2, you could "daisy-chain" another I-PAC/2 using the pass-thru port.  With the KeyWiz, you cannot do this, however, you could use the KeyWiz with a USB I-PAC/2 later on (assuming you are not running your cab in DOS).

Also, has anyone made use of the special connectors for the KeyWiz to make a button permentally ?shifted? and if it works well?

I plan to use them and they work well but they are not "Magic", but they do add a lot of functionality to the KeyWiz.  In other words, you can't add 24 special connectors, and have a 56-input encoder.  You can use the special connectors (theoretically) and have 32 game inputs and up to 24 admin inputs, which is pretty cool.

Things to consider:  Pressing one of the special keys shifts all the other keys -

so, say I have P1B6 shifted as a Special Coin 1 key, and P1B7 shifted as a Special Coin 2 key.  If I press Coin 1 and then press P1B7, I will generate a Coin 2 output, instead of the P1B7 output.  Not a bad-tradeoff, though.

My personal opinion would be to only have 4 Start and 4 Coin buttons using Special Shift functions.  I don't plan on having any other admin functions except Pause and Esc, which I would wire to dedicated inputs, so I am down to 30 game inputs, which would support 4-player, 3-button games, but not 4-player 4-button games (with doubled inputs, though, in other words, Player 4 UP and Player 1 button5 might be the same input).

Finally for option 3, which top switch controller represents the true 4 way the best; Omni-Stick Prodigy or The Super Stick(?) or any others?

I assume you mean the Omni-Stik Prodigy or the T-Stik Plus.  I think either one would be good, but the T-Stik probably has a shorter throw and stiffer spring than the Prodigy (And the Prodigy has a short throw to begin with).  The problem with option 3 is that I think you would be unhappy with the difference in feel between player 1 and player 2 with say Happ Competitions on the other 3 sticks and a swappable stick on player 1 - so option 3 reworks to -

One prodigy and 3 Omni-Stik (Basics), or,
One T-Stick Plus and 3 T-Stick (Basics), both of which are pricey, or
4 Happ (Competitions?) and a dedicated 4-way.

BTW, in response to your later question - J-Sticks have a longer throw - bad for Pac-Man games, but lots of people love them.

[MrFish7]

Thanks a buch. I have decided to go with four joysticks (three t-sticks and one t-stick plus). I have a few more questions.

If I am not going to be using any repeat inputs(i.e. having two joysticks share inputs) do I need a wiring block?

If I get the Ipac4 and get all microswitch devices, will I need to soder?

Thank you,
-Eric Ianni

[Tiger-Heli]

>If I am not going to be using any repeat inputs(i.e. having two >joysticks share inputs) do I need a wiring block?

Not really.

>If I get the Ipac4 and get all microswitch devices, will I need to >soder?

No, you will need crimp connectors for the switch ends of the wire, and just bare wire for the I-PAC terminals.

[MrFish7]

Great, I didnt want to worry about sodering! Thanks alot guys for your help.

[MrBond]

>If I am not going to be using any repeat inputs(i.e. having two >joysticks share inputs) do I need a wiring block?

Not really.

I have 2 joysticks wired up to an Ipac4 using the same inputs:
1)happs super for 8-way fighters/everything else
2)ultimarc e-stik for dedicated 4-way and qbert 45 degree changing

They both work great.  Not that I do it often, but I have used both at the same time for hitting the 'left' and 'right' keys at the same time (for a dos game called Liero).  I saw no problems...what's with the wiring block?

[Tiger-Heli]

>If I am not going to be using any repeat inputs(i.e. having two >joysticks share inputs) do I need a wiring block?

Not really.

I saw no problems...what's with the wiring block?

If I understood the question correctly, he's not asking about a wiring block to disconnect one joystick, but about a terminal strip, terminal block, terminal rail, etc.