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New Product: 49-Way USB Interface - The GP-Wiz49 with DRS Technology (TM)

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Flinkly:

if it hooks up straight to an outlet.  most usb devices just get their power from the motherboard.  if it goes to an outlet, i'd figure you've got nothing to worry about.

dema:


--- Quote from: RandyT on March 16, 2005, 10:26:46 pm ----
Ok, I just finished...



This is the way I did mine.
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SirPoonga:


--- Quote from: Toonces on April 11, 2005, 03:20:43 pm ---
--- Quote from: RandyT on April 11, 2005, 03:00:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: Toonces on April 11, 2005, 02:36:04 pm ---
Randy, Any chance you could add parallel port support to your app? That way people who have already bought the older versions could be supported without having to use the batch files? Everything you need to add support for direct parallel port support under Win9X/2K/XP is available at http://www.logix4u.net/. The DLL, source code samples and how to's are all there. The cable is easy to make. All that is needed is a db25 connector and 8 wires. the oldest versions can switch 7 modes directly, 8 modes using switching diodes. the second version could switch all 8 and the newest version could accomodate all.

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Looking at it now.
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Flinkly:

i'd have to agree with the parallel port thing.  it might be easy in this case, but overall, is almost dead anyways.

as for the I/O board, it sounds like something that everyone would be interested in.  i'd love to get a knocker going and even get some recoil for lightguns that should be coming in the future.  again, it' costly to develop, but since it costs 5 bucks to manufacture, you sell it for 25, and make back the investment in like 20 people. 

hmmm...is this possibly one of randy's next projects?  you could always start a new thread randy, and drop us hints.  that would be a long thread, kinda like this one.

Toonces:


--- Quote from: SirPoonga on April 12, 2005, 01:21:00 pm ---
--- Quote from: Toonces on April 11, 2005, 03:20:43 pm ---
--- Quote from: RandyT on April 11, 2005, 03:00:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: Toonces on April 11, 2005, 02:36:04 pm ---
Randy, Any chance you could add parallel port support to your app? That way people who have already bought the older versions could be supported without having to use the batch files? Everything you need to add support for direct parallel port support under Win9X/2K/XP is available at http://www.logix4u.net/. The DLL, source code samples and how to's are all there. The cable is easy to make. All that is needed is a db25 connector and 8 wires. the oldest versions can switch 7 modes directly, 8 modes using switching diodes. the second version could switch all 8 and the newest version could accomodate all.

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Looking at it now.  May be something for a future release of the software.

RandyT

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Cool, Thanks! My batch files work but were only meant to be a crutch until a real developer stepped up and wrote something :) It is Waaaay too cool having the controls switch on loading a game. Now all I need is to work on some visual feedback (eye candy) and to lend a hand to the controls.ini project. Oh yeah, I need some balltops for Midway versions too :)

Thanks Again,

Toonces

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Honestly, I wouldn't do it.  parallel port and parallel port support is dying.  My new computer at work only has usb and firewire.

The better solution would be to make a I/O USB board.  But like RandyT said about custom hardware, it is expensive to develop.  Kinda crazy but from scratch it costs like $100-$150 in equipment to develop a USB circuit that once developed costs like $5 to manufacture.  HowardC and I have been looking into this for about the last two years.  We want to create an output system for mame to output to a generic I/O interface.  That way you can add extra LEDs, T2 gun recoil, qbert knocker, etc...

Also with parallel port you have the issue of making something that works in both windows 98 (sicne many people here use that for cabinets) and XP.  That's not an easy task either.

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Actually, making it work is quite easy. Take a look at the link I inluded. The same free DLL handles all versions of windows from 9X through XP using the same calls.

The support is for those units already sold and shipped. Since Randy decided to add support for changing modes via a USB command it isn't needed for new units. Only those of us that have already purchased and installed it.

You might want to look at the parallel port for the I/O board for LEDs/knockers/feedback systems. It's cheap to make the cable ($3-5). The program sources and examples are redily available and most computers do have them. Even PCI printer port cards are cheap if your computer doesn't have one already built in. You also get a variety of inupt and output pins for feedback from your circuit.

The main point is that Randy has versions of his product out that require a chip swap to be able to support mode switching via the computer with his new app. Now unless you bought the MAX version, you're pretty much SOL on getting the version that is controllable via USB. Is the lesson here don't buy the product when announced because you'll get screwed when it's updated or is it don't worry, the developer/manufacturer will support ALL versions of their product? The possibility exists for the developer in this case to support mode switching via the computer on older versions using a parallel port cable. For those that purchased the VE versions, this is the method you have available.

So you're saying the developer should just cut his losses and tell them "sorry, you bought my product before I realized how important it was for me to support that feature."?

I don't think Randy has that kind of attitude.

Toonces

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