Newbie question on CP and IPAC card

[Wyluli]

Ok, I've decided what I am going to build for my control panel.
2 - 8 way joysticks w/ 6 buttons each
1 - 4 way joystick w/ 1 button   (putting this in the center of the CP)
IPAC card (used to connect it all)

Questions:
1.  Does the IPAC card come with good instructions on wiring? 
Is the wire included with the card? 
Will I need to do any sodering? 
Will the IPAC2 card be good enough for my setup?
Do I need to order anything else? (E.g. cables, wires, connectors, etc)

2.  If I use MDF for my CP, what kind of paint should I use on it?  Spray paint? 

3. Should I get the pushbuttons from Happs or order them from the Ipac site and save on shipping? 
Are they exactly the same (quality) on both sites? 
Should I get the horizontal or vertical microswitch buttons?
Are the joysticks on IPAC's site any good, or would you go with Happs?

4. Anything else you can think of before I start ordering my parts?

Thanks!

[Shape D.]

1.  Does the IPAC card come with good instructions on wiring?
> you just screw them in.
Is the wire included with the card?
> no
Will I need to do any sodering?
> no
Will the IPAC2 card be good enough for my setup?
> yes
Do I need to order anything else? (E.g. cables, wires, connectors, etc)
> you'l need wires and connectors for the microswitches.
2.  If I use MDF for my CP, what kind of paint should I use on it?  Spray paint?
> use a letex based paint, apply with rollers.
3. Should I get the pushbuttons from Happs or order them from the Ipac site and save on shipping?
> they will both work equally well.
Are they exactly the same (quality) on both sites?
> yes
Should I get the horizontal or vertical microswitch buttons?
> vertical, the horizontal ones can get bad connection points with use
Are the joysticks on IPAC's site any good, or would you go with Happs?
> yes the t-stick rocks

4. Anything else you can think of before I start ordering my parts?
>instead of gum, try chewing bacon!

[Wyluli]

Anything else you can think of before I start ordering my parts?
>instead of gum, try chewing bacon!

Um, I don't chew gum anyway, but thanks!

Thanks for the info!  Just need a little verification on a couple things:
(pardon my ignorance)

1.  "connectors for the microswitches" - Um, what connectors?  I thought you just put these in the cp and ran a wire from the button to the IPAC card.

2. What kind of wire and approximately how much would you get?

3. And on the IPAC card, I know you just screw the card into your CP box, I was wondering if the card comes with any instructions on how to wire the joysticks and buttons to the card itself (sorry, should be more clear w/ my questions).  Do I need to buy a cord to connect the IPAC card to the computer? 

Thanks again.

[Shape D.]

1.  "connectors for the microswitches" - Um, what connectors?  I thought you just put these in the cp and ran a wire from the button to the IPAC card.

> I cant remember what there called, some blade connector thing, i'll check and get back to you on these

2. What kind of wire and approximately how much would you get?

> 18 or 20 gauge wire will both work,  its cheap so you can just get a 100' roll, you may need extra.

3. And on the IPAC card, I know you just screw the card into your CP box, I was wondering if the card comes with any instructions on how to wire the joysticks and buttons to the card itself (sorry, should be more clear w/ my questions).  Do I need to buy a cord to connect the IPAC card to the computer?

> the card is labeled, and you will need to buy a chord to connect it with.

[Shape D.]

its a .187 inch female blade connector, with a wire recepticle sized for the wire your using.  and i didn't mention it before but use braided wire, it's easier to work with and solid wire has a tendency to break.

[Wyluli]

Can you get the wire and female blade connector from Radio Shack (or someplace like that?)

Thanks for the info, if you think of anything else I am missing, let me know!

Now.... if everyone would just decide and agree on what the best joysticks are I would have it made. 

[Shape D.]

you should be able to find those at any electronics or hardware store.

good luck w/ the joysticks.

[subzero23]

actually you want horizontal microswitch/buttons, not vertical

[Shape D.]

actually you want horizontal microswitch/buttons, not vertical

he's right i wrote it back@$$wards
I M WE TOD DID

[Wyluli]

Ah, thanks!  Would have been disappointed if I had ordered the wrong ones!!!

I'm thinking about ordering the Wico 4-way leaf style joystick for my dedicated 4 way stick.  Sounds like most folks like this stick (although it is pricier since harder to find).  Anyone NOT like this stick for 4 way games?

So many sticks...so little time.....   

[subzero23]

I've heard (from paigeoliver) the Ms. Pac-Man reunion stick is actually better

[Wyluli]

Doesn't the Ms. Pac-man stick have to be mounted to metal?
Also, I do not see this stick for sale from Happs...am I blind, or do they not carry it anymore?

Thanks again.

[subzero23]

Lol you're just like me
I thought it was some rare product until i realize the page I had seen 1000 times before had it on there the whole time
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/5060841125r.htm
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/506084112.htm

from this page
(click on amusement->joysticks to get to this page \/)
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/joysticks_amusement.htm

Yeah you basically need to mount it to metal or thin wood like wood routed down to 1/8" but I'm just gonna go with the mounting plate they sell with it, also at therealbobroberts and other websites

[Wyluli]

Hey, where did all those extra sticks come from?!?!?! 
Wonder why they don't post those under arcade joysticks....

What is with that pricing though?  Only 23 for the joystick but like 60 something with the plate??  Isn't there a cheaper mounting plate you could buy?

[subzero23]

ya I don't know what's up with that "original replacement" version but just get the regular one and buy the mounting plate for $10 at somewhere like therealbobroberts.com or any other websites (I personally don't want to go to bobroberts cuz it seems like an archaic buy-off-the-wall store, I wanna use credit card too)

[Wyluli]

(I personally don't want to go to bobroberts cuz it seems like an archaic buy-off-the-wall store, I wanna use credit card too) ...

Lol, that is what I was thinking.  I wanna pay with my credit card and have it shipped!

Well, after all that I am definately going with the Ms. Pac-man/Galaga stick.

So, here is my shopping list to put this together:

(2) 8 way joysticks (undecided on these, T-sticks maybe)
(1) Ms. Pac-man/Galaga dedicated 4-way stick
(13) pushbuttons with horizontal switches
(1) Ipac2 Keyboard Encoder
(1) PCB Mounting Feet (for the Ipac2)
.187 inch female blade connectors (for the microswitch buttons)
18 or 20 gauge braided wire (to wire it all up!)

Any place I can get a cheap PS/2 to USB connector?  I'm assuming you plug a PS/2 adapter into the Ipac card and then into the computer......

Whew!  Am I missin anything???

Thanks again.

P.S. Subzero...you gotta take that chick pic off, everytime I see it I think it's a pic of you at first lol.

[Nefesis]

Will I need to do any sodering?
> no

so if i order all my controls from ultimarc (or happs) and get the ipac i won't need to do any soldering?

[Wyluli]

Will I need to do any sodering?
> no

so if i order all my controls from ultimarc (or happs) and get the ipac i won't need to do any soldering?

Nah, after looking things over all you will need for the wiring is some wire cutters and wire strippers, wire crimper.

[Tiger-Heli]

Any place I can get a cheap PS/2 to USB connector?  I'm assuming you plug a PS/2 adapter into the Ipac card and then into the computer......

You don't want to do this.  If you want the I-PAC to be USB pay the extra $5 from Ultimarc for the cable that it comes with.

I got a PS/2 to USB adapter from MicroCenter for $5 or $7 for my PC keyboard, but it stops working if a key is held down too long and another key is pressed (fine for typing, bad for gaming).

[Wyluli]

You don't want to do this. If you want the I-PAC to be USB pay the extra $5 from Ultimarc for the cable that it comes with.

I got a PS/2 to USB adapter from MicroCenter for $5 or $7 for my PC keyboard, but it stops working if a key is held down too long and another key is pressed (fine for typing, bad for gaming).

Ok, thanks.  I'll definately do that.  I didn't notice you could order the cord off of their website.  SWEET!

[subzero23]

Just to confirm, I can use a PS/2 Keyboard AND PS/2 Ipac56 right?

anyway I think I might actually go with bobroberts...seems like he has a good rep and all the parts I need just no credit card

[Tiger-Heli]

Just to confirm, I can use a PS/2 Keyboard AND PS/2 Ipac56 right?

I-PAC/4    If so, yes you can use the encoder in PS/2 mode and a keyboard on the pass-thru port.  Only problem is the LED's on the pass-thru keyboard used to get "out-of-sync", but that may have been fixed as well.

anyway I think I might actually go with bobroberts...seems like he has a good rep and all the parts I need just no credit card

Bob's a great guy from everything I've read or E-mailed him about.

[Wyluli]

Ok, after much surfing I have decided to order the following from Bob Roberts as he has the best prices and sounds like a stand up guy.

Happ Ms Pac-Man/Galaga Replacement Joysticks 4-way
With adaptor plate & hardware for Ms Pac-Man cab               $30.00 

2 Happ Competition Joysticks (BLUE)                                         $9 each
 
White Player 1 & 2 pushbutton Set                                             $3.50
 
Happ Microswitch Pushbuttons complete w/ Nylon Nut and Cherry Switch   $1.50 each
I will need 4 blue, 4 red, 4 black and 1 yellow.