Attention Trackballers... Need Advice.

[Superdude]

I want to mount a trackball on my control panel but I don't know what route to take.  Let me explain my situtation:
I want to go cheap but usable.  I was thinking of buying the 3" trackball from wico and getting the opti-pac from ultimarc.com.   Is this a good way to go?  I hate happs because I think they are way to expensive. Does anyone have a cheaper solution?  (PS I dont want to use a kidsball)
Is it possible to hack a ps2 mouse/trackball to save money on the opti-pac?  Thanks alot guys.

[madk]

Go with one of the Crayola Kids trackballs.  That'll run you about $20-30.  Has a really nice feel to it.  Not arcade perfect by anymeans...but really really good for the price.  Do a search on the forums for more info.

-madk

[Tiger-Heli]

I want to mount a trackball on my control panel but I don't know what route to take.  Let me explain my situtation:
I want to go cheap but usable.  I was thinking of buying the 3" trackball from wico and getting the opti-pac from ultimarc.com.   Is this a good way to go?  I hate happs because I think they are way to expensive. Does anyone have a cheaper solution?  (PS I dont want to use a kidsball)
Is it possible to hack a ps2 mouse/trackball to save money on the opti-pac?  Thanks alot guys.

If you are comfortable with USB, you can hack buy OSCAR's trackball interface ($9 or $17 with the harness), www.oscarcontrols.com.

If you need PS/2, minwah and BobA both have guides on how to do it, but I lost the links to them.  Hopefully they will reply or you could PM them.

[1UP]

I have a Crayola trackball (by the way, it's EXACTLY the same thing as a Kidsball, just a different color) and I like it a lot!  The ball that comes with it is nice and heavy with a good roll, but I replaced mine with a translucent ball.  Feels exactly like an arcade TB to me!  I think you can get these for about $19 right now, I've seen them at Fry's.  The best thing is it plugs right in and gets recognized as a standard MS mouse, so no interface.

On the other hand, someone has used mouse guts to interface an Imperial before, but I couldn't really tell you how they did it.  Try a search of these boards, it was posted within the last 30 days or so...

Actually, come to think of is, doesn't the Imperial already have a PS2 interface?  

[mcleanjoel]

If you want  a true arcade quality trackball that will connect directly to your pc I do have an Imperial 3" trackball with a ps/2 cable. It will plug in and be recognised as a mouse - no hacking.
The only thing you might need with this is a mounting plate. I have read that the Happ mounting plate will work.
If interested let me know - I have 2 and have posted them on the for sale page. I would sell them for $45  + $5 shipping each.
I would also accept trades - I-pac, spinner, etc.

This also has wiring for 3 buttons (works as 3-button mouse)

I want to mount a trackball on my control panel but I don't know what route to take.  Let me explain my situtation:
I want to go cheap but usable.  I was thinking of buying the 3" trackball from wico and getting the opti-pac from ultimarc.com.   Is this a good way to go?  I hate happs because I think they are way to expensive. Does anyone have a cheaper solution?  (PS I dont want to use a kidsball)
Is it possible to hack a ps2 mouse/trackball to save money on the opti-pac?  Thanks alot guys.

[Lilwolf]

if you want to go cheap, consider going with a 2 1/4" (centipede size).  Why?  Much cheaper.  They also have a coolness to them in thta you can replace the ball with a standard pool ball.

btw, does Oscars USB interface work if you don't have access to the guts?  If its a mouse hack I think you have to go happs or ataris... the wicos are close (aren't they?  never opened one)

[rampy]

I just did a ps/2 mouse to a imperial trackball hack...

Also note that imperial/betson sells a ps/2 enabled trackball ... i belive if you check the buy/sell /trade board here animeka has some for sale at 50 beans... otherwise i believe they are around 90 beans direct from betson.

re: the hack... All I did was (Based upon other peoples hacks) was remove the reciever from the mouse PCB for each axis.  I bought a 6 pin molex plug to match/interface with the existing plug on my arcade trackball... you could just hack off the ends, but I kinda like the quick release aspect of using the molex plug (which I got at radioshack)

Then I just matched up the wires to where the optic reciever was on the mouse and getting the 5v from the mouse to the trackball optics.... *ShruG*

OF course there's nothing wrong with the optipac...and it's not too costly... and it gives you some easier options for when you decide to add a spinner or a 2nd trackball or whatnot...

*Shrug*... just a note... on a wooden control panel I found the mounting plate a vital pickup for installing a trackball...

good luck,

rampy

[u_rebelscum]

if you want to go cheap, consider going with a 2 1/4" (centipede size).  Why?  Much cheaper.  They also have a coolness to them in that you can replace the ball with a standard pool ball.

btw, does Oscars USB interface work if you don't have access to the guts?  If its a mouse hack I think you have to go happs or ataris... the wicos are close (aren't they?  never opened one)

Oscars usb interface works on the 3" wico, 3" betson, 3" happs, and the 2 1/4" wico/suzo "active low" trackballs.  Should work on the active high too, but haven't tested it.

The wico and betson 3" are almost as easy as happs to mouse hack, you just have to open up the case (four screws).  The wico 2 1/4" has the optical sensors "outside" (only soft plastic snap on/off light covers) and are much smaller.  If you want pictures, I can post them.  Any requests?

[Tiger-Heli]

If you want pictures, I can post them.  Any requests?

I was planning on using the Wico 2-1/4 T-ball with Oscar's interface.  I'd like to see the pics of these, at least.

Thanks!!!

[Superdude]

mcleanjoel you have mail.

Thanks everyone for your input.  This has helped me decide.  I think I am going the imperial 3" ps2 route.  Thanks again!!!!