Using Ipac4 with a Jpac, Possible?

[the3eyedblindman]

I was reading through about the Jpac (which also had 2 player inputs, like an ipac2) and they said to wire up a 4 player control panel you hook an ipac 2 to the jpac,  then wire those two. I was wondering if it was possible to wire up an ipac 4 to the Jpac, and not worry about wiring directly to the Jpac.

[Goz]

If I understand the question correctly, yes. You can use the JPAC interface without using the controls.  You can also run the IPAC in ALT config and have a buttload of control options if you did use the JPAC controls. (in this scenario IPAC4 is overkill).

If i didn't understand the question correctly, can you possibly refrase the question?

 Thanks,

-Goz

[the3eyedblindman]

Basically what I want to know is can i hook up a 4 player control panel to an ipac4 and an optipac, then hook those two interfaces to the jpac, allowing these controls to be the controls of jamma games.

[Goz]

Basically what I want to know is can i hook up a 4 player control panel to an ipac4 and an optipac, then hook those two interfaces to the jpac, allowing these controls to be the controls of jamma games.

Answer: No

Question: How would you connect the JPAC to a JAMMA game? If the JAMMA harness is connected to the JAMMA PCB then how would you have the JPAC connected? The JPAC connects to the same JAMMA harness for video and controls.

I've wondered for some time if it is possible to use a multi jamma kit to have both PCB and MAME in the same cab without having to switch the JAMMA connector manually. I've asked ultimarc and the makers of the multi-jamma kit as well as posted here in the past and never really heard for sure if it was possiible.

If you want to use a common control panel for JAMMA games and MAME, you can use the controls of the JPAC which allows for the jamma std of 2 joys and 3 action buttons per player but you can also use the additional control headers on the JPAC to get an additional 3 action buttons per player and a couple of admin buttons. But the jamma connector would need to be manually changed between PCB and MAME.

Hope this helps,

-Goz

[microwrx]

Like Gozur said, no.

The entire point of the J-PAC is to allow you to connect your PC to your JAMMA cabinet without having to do any wiring (other than buttons 4-8 for each player and sound).  If you are going to wire everything to an I-PAC4 then you may as well just rewire everything else as well.

So either use an I-PAC 4 and rewire it all or use a J-PAC for players 1&2 and an I-PAC2 for players 3&4 as well as an Opti-PAC for the trackball (or use a Mini-PAC for player 3&4 AND your trackball which is what I have except I don't have a trackball setup as yet).

If you are going to use the arcade monitor as well then remember you need an appropraite video card also.

[SirPoonga]

I've wondered for some time if it is possible to use a multi jamma kit to have both PCB and MAME in the same cab without having to switch the JAMMA connector manually. I've asked ultimarc and the makers of the multi-jamma kit as well as posted here in the past and never really heard for sure if it was possiible.

Yes, the multijamma kit works with jamma games and a jpac.  I asked that question along time ago.  Might still have the email archived somewhere.


Anyway, back to the problem at hand.  WHY??  It would be best, for 4 players, to got with a jpac and ipac.  You'd have to custom program both most likely.

Anyway, your idea of having the ipac4 and optipac to the jpac (which theoptipac can't interface witht eh jpac anyway) would be a huge waste of money.

As suggested it would be best to just get an optipac, ipac2, and jpac.  Or a minipac and jpac.

Now realize, only JAMMA games will hook up to the JPAC.  JAMMA+ games will require some work but can be done with the jpac too.  So what you are going to have is players 1 and 2 will hook up to the jpac, players 3 and 4 to the ipac2, the tball and spinner to the optipac.  (tball, spinner, player 3 and 4 to the minipac if you go that route.  I'd then suggest using the USB connection for this instead o daisy chaining through the ps/2 port.

Also you will need to hook up to an arcade monitor I'd assume if you start getting arcade PCBs.  The best way to do that is the ArcadeVGA.