Interface

[penjuin]

ok, i bought the book "project arcade", and to be honest, i was slightly disappointed. The book in itself was great, its just that getting all the parts i need is a huge and expensive hassle .

I'm gonna use the same config as in the book, except just the control panel, not the full works yet... Anyway, is it possible to buy one of those usb->everything adapters? I've seen them in various shops and it would be great to have just one plug to make the whole thing work. According to the packaging u just plug in the stuff (ie keyboard,mouse,usb stuff) and the power connector.

Any help would be appreciated

PS - For those of you who don't know, I'm gonna use an ipac4(ultimarc) and ME4(hag) for the encoders

[crashwg]

What exactly is a

usb->everything adapter

?

[penjuin]

Its this box you buy that has a keyboard port, mouse port, game port, 4 usb ports and a couple of others i cant remember. All you need to connect it to the computer is a spare usb port and a wall socket for the power.

[stevejt]

I don't see how that would help.  You would STILL need to get a keyboard encoder and/or trackball, OR also hack a joystick.  You would just end up buying that extra part, and have the same amount of connections.

Steve

[the3eyedblindman]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but if you want a control panel like the books I suggest and Ipac2 and an optipac for the trackball and spinner. Then you just need 2 ports to plug those in. You could plug those in through usb and then hook up a keyboard and mouse through the keyboard and mouse ports.

[penjuin]

http://www.superwarehouse.com/PORT_AUTHORITY_USB_DOCK_STATION/28650/p/319157

This is a similar thing

[stevejt]

It still doesn't reall help anything.  You have a usb cable and power cable, instead of 2 ps2 cables.  Just spending extra money, and having MORE cables/plugs then you need.

I am not saying that new ways aren't found all the time to do different things.  This board is hundreds of members that all have experience doing this.  Almost everybody agrees that the IPAC and optipac/ps2 trackball are the easiest.

This usb hub you are talking about is just more money and wiring.  Doesn't seem like it would save any money or time.

Steve

[Beeeph]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but if you want a control panel like the books I suggest and Ipac2 and an optipac for the trackball and spinner.

I hate to change the subject, but while we're disucssing this, can someone answer what I'm sure is a stupid question (I'm relatively new to some of this) for me?

[stevejt]

The trackballs and spinners that have the usb connection are obviously designed for pc use.  Their are alot out there for arcade use, and home made that don't have any computer interface.  There are also ALOT of used arcade parts.  Personally to save money I have done a mouse hac instead of buying an optipac, to use with a happs arcade trackball.  Mice can be found for $3, 5 minutes of soldering...  However, using a mouse hack with a ps2 connection like mine, requires a DPDT switch if I were going to use a trackball AND a spinner.  Perhaps with a usb mouse hack 2 would work fine together.

Steve

[NoOne=NBA=]

What you are after is a USB Hub.

If you are looking to plug in all your mice, encoders, etc... into something via USB, and then only have two cords coming out of the CP (USB cable, and power cord), then a USB hub is what you want.

I'm not even sure that it has to be a POWERED hub.
I'm using a cheap non-powered one in my cab, and haven't run into the need for a powered one.

Just use the foam tape to hold it down inside your CP, and plug everything into it, leaving the USB cable (and power cable, if you go that route) coming out of it somewhere.

The advantage to using a USB hub over the PS/2 cables is that you can hotswap it.
This would let him have a keyboard plugged in, and then plug the CP to the front USB port when he needs it, and unplug it when he doesn't.
They do not recommend hotswapping PS/2 cables.

[Doc-]

I run all of my "analog" devices off a single USB hub under the modular control panel.  It allows me to hot swap the analog joystick, trackball, driving wheel,  and spinners on the fly.  I also have my IPAC-2 plugged into it.  (see the link in my signature).

All of my devices are wired with "mouse hacks" where you just take an old USB ball mouse (it must have a ball on the bottom of it - optical mice won't work), remove a few small parts and wire the trackball or spinner up to it.  It requires some minor soldering but very little time/money.  My trackball, spinner and new 360 degree "pole position" arcade wheel are all wired this way.

Do a search for "mouse hack" - there are plenty of links here and also on google.

Cheers!
Doc-