GunCon2 driver here!!! (Bacon is tasty)

[Smog]

Always played at 640x480 that is enough and good for most game. Feel free to test

[AlanS17]

Always played at 640x480 that is enough and good for most game. Feel free to test

Even though Windows doesn't allow it by default, you can probably drop the resolution all the way down to 320x240 or 320x200 with somethingh like Powerstrip. I would think that the lower the resolution, the better the accuracy. Of course, this is all in theory, and I haven't tested mine out yet. I'd use Powerstrip to set a profile for MAME, though.

Getting around in Windows at such a low resolution is a royal pain in the rear, and you can forget about dialog boxes that don't scroll. In other words, don't drop down to that resolution unless you know how to undo with your eyes closed in case something goes wrong (or have a preset Powerstrip profile to undo it).

[IntruderAlert]

if you're running a standard arcade monitor you'd better be running 640x480 or less anyway

[Acorn]

Greetings all! I would like to request your help in helping smog to track down this "Rolling X" bug. There is a thread on my website for the purpose, with what information we are trying to collect. Visit the thread at http://guncon.acornscity.com/forum.php?viewarticle=2 . Or, if you wish, post your specs here and I will try to consolidate them.

I've been working on a hack to get people with the Rolling X problem working, and succeeded, however, fixing the issue would be preferable! Help us get it done.

Check out this video of myself playing Area51 on a CRT TV: , post your thoughts in the forum if you wish to see more.

[vibez]

I just though I would update those of you not following the devopment @ Smog's or Acorn's site.

Yesterday I hooked up my second guncon2 gun. I made 2 great discoveries.

1st.

The guncon2 driver works in the exact same way as the actlabs guns. Which means we can use the 'troubleshooter' application with the gun to play 2 player VirtuaCop & HOTD 1,2&3!

You can read more about it here http://thetroubleshooter.home.mindspring.com/index.htm

2nd.

Since mame 0.96, the dual gun support has been fixed. Which means we do not need to use mame analog + or anything else to play 2 player lightgun games in XP. All you need is the standard version of mame 0.96.

I can confirm that mame now supports either 2 actlabs TV guns, or 2 Guncon2 guns. I'm not so certain that it will support 2 USB PC actlab guns though.

[stellarola]

Ok, I'm trying to follow this, and this thread has gotten so huge its hard to find what I'm looking for. So, if I wanted to hookup the Guncon2 to an Arcade monitor...how would I do this and is it easy?

[vibez]

look here.

http://guncon.acornscity.com/

[stellarola]

I didnt find any real information on that site about hooking it up to an Arcade monitor... except that it says it can...any help?

[vibez]

Sorry it looks like the site has been changed around a bit.

here are the connection diagrams

http://intruderalert.myarcade.org/GUNCON2.htm

[stellarola]

Wow..I have no idea how to build a circuit... Im out 

[IntruderAlert]

Smog has released driver version 0.0.7 !!!
http://xoomer.virgilio.it/smogdragon/files/GunCon2MouseV0.0.7.zip

V 0.07 OUT

   . Driver now saves Autocalibration results on unplugging (Obiouvsly if Autocalibration is enabled)

The most awaited feature is now here. No need to recalibrate at each driver start and the ability to see in the contorl panel the edges calculated by the autocalibration routine.

If Autocalibration is enabled, each time you unplug the gun the driver will save the new calculated edges. After that you can disable autocalibration and tweak the edge if needed.

A new control panel version is ready too, that includes some minor correction and a calibration wizard. Unfortunately I was not able to test it, so you must wait a few day still to put your hands on it.

Greetings

http://lightgun.splinder.com/

[fjser]

Hey Guys, just read through this whole thread and am amazed at how great this is becoming.  I was wondering if someone could confirm for me how to get this all working with my under construction mame cab.  I am using a JPAC with Arcade VGA.

If I understand correctly, I can strip off the male RCA end of the guncon, and will have an inner cable and an outer cable. The inner one goes to P (composite synch) on the JAMMA, and the outer to 14 (ground). Is this correct?  Also, where is the best place to do this? should I wire them to the J-PAC, or splice them into the JPAC connector?  Also, will two guns work if I simply connect the second one to the included adapter on the single guncon?

[sofakng]

It seems like this driver is at the point where it might be worthwhile to pickup two Guncon2 guns...

Two quick questions:

1) With component (not composite/svideo) cables, can I hookup two guns to the green cable and use them that way?

2) If using component cables and a resolution of 640x432 in MAME, will the guns still work?

[IntruderAlert]

Hey Guys, just read through this whole thread and am amazed at how great this is becoming.  I was wondering if someone could confirm for me how to get this all working with my under construction mame cab.  I am using a JPAC with Arcade VGA.

If I understand correctly, I can strip off the male RCA end of the guncon, and will have an inner cable and an outer cable. The inner one goes to P (composite synch) on the JAMMA, and the outer to 14 (ground). Is this correct?  Also, where is the best place to do this? should I wire them to the J-PAC, or splice them into the JPAC connector?  Also, will two guns work if I simply connect the second one to the included adapter on the single guncon?

Don't strip the connector on the Guncon2
Check out the GunCon2 page on my web site
It should answer most of your questions.

It seems like this driver is at the point where it might be worthwhile to pickup two Guncon2 guns...

Two quick questions:

1) With component (not composite/svideo) cables, can I hookup two guns to the green cable and use them that way?

2) If using component cables and a resolution of 640x432 in MAME, will the guns still work?

So far I don't know of anyone that has tried to use the Guncon2 on component
What kind of card do you have that outputs component anyway?
Is this connected to an HDTV?

[fjser]

Hey Guys, just read through this whole thread and am amazed at how great this is becoming. I was wondering if someone could confirm for me how to get this all working with my under construction mame cab. I am using a JPAC with Arcade VGA.

If I understand correctly, I can strip off the male RCA end of the guncon, and will have an inner cable and an outer cable. The inner one goes to P (composite synch) on the JAMMA, and the outer to 14 (ground). Is this correct? Also, where is the best place to do this? should I wire them to the J-PAC, or splice them into the JPAC connector? Also, will two guns work if I simply connect the second one to the included adapter on the single guncon?

Don't strip the connector on the Guncon2
Check out the GunCon2 page on my web site
It should answer most of your questions.

Unfortunately, I don't have the "skills" to build that adapter.  Now, if you can enlighten me on someone who has them pre-made, then I'd be set  Otherwise, I have no problem with stripping the end of the guncon, the ones I have are collecting dust anyway.

[IntruderAlert]

you shouldn't strip the guncon2 connector
use a female rca connector instead and plug your guncon2 connector into that
it will make it much easier to connect/disconnect your gun and also easily enable you to plug in two guns with a "Y" connector if you want.


since you are using the J-PAC you may not need to build the circuit
vibez is experimenting with connecting directly to the J-PAC
I am waiting for him to iron out a couple of problems before I add his method to my page.
But perhaps he can comment and help you get started

[sofakng]

It seems like this driver is at the point where it might be worthwhile to pickup two Guncon2 guns...

Two quick questions:

1) With component (not composite/svideo) cables, can I hookup two guns to the green cable and use them that way?

2) If using component cables and a resolution of 640x432 in MAME, will the guns still work?

So far I don't know of anyone that has tried to use the Guncon2 on component
What kind of card do you have that outputs component anyway?
Is this connected to an HDTV?

I'm using an ATI Radeon 9700 PRO with the ATI HDTV adapter... (outputting at 480i only though)

[IntruderAlert]

So you're using an HDTV?
the reason I ask is I'm not sure that the GunCon2 can sync with an HDTV
However, I've seen some knock-off brands that claim to.

[vibez]

Regarding connecting the guns to an JPac/ArcadeVGA....

The testing I have done so far has been semi-sucessful. But that does not mean it won't work perfect for others. The more people who test this, the more we are likely to solve the problem.

The 1st problem I discovered, was that the gun worked perfect on all but a few select resolutions. 640x480 was one of them. I also noticed a new problem. If I plugged the jpac & gun into different usb ports, it wouldnt work at all. Is the Gun drawing power from the USB port at all???

So yesterday, I plugged in my old actlabs gun inbetween the jpac & monitor. To my great supprise, the gun now works at every resolution. I mentioned this to Andy & he thinks the actlabs gun passthrough box is pulling down the volatage to the sync signal.

So in conclusion, The jpac may be putting out too much V for the gun to work correctly. This is all speculation of course. I think i'm the only person who has tried this setup, so it would be nice if some else tested.

[Smog]

Yes vibez.
I already said that more than once!!! Gun needs 1Vpp sync the VGA output levels are TTL (0 - 5v) ... the gun could sync (it you are lucky) but it is not supposed to work that way .. so generally it will not work.

You need to build the rightmost part of the circuit (the one with transistors) .. If you need more indication I can help on that.

[vibez]

Smog I agree with you. I just wanted to test the jpac to see if it already did what your circuit can do. If you want to describe I how I can build the right hand side of your circuit to fit in with the jpac, I will try to build it & give it a go

[Smog]

Can you take out from the jpac, +5v and composite sync ? If it is so, I can send you another pic erasing all that you don't need from the schematic.

[vibez]

You can certainly take +5v & Csync from the jamma connector, which sits between the jpac & monitor. The full Pinouts are described here http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac2.html

[Smog]

@vibez

Try this, is much simpler 'cause you don't need the leftmost part.



I didn't change resistors name so you can take the values from the old list.
The reference for the connection are taken from the diagram in the ultimarc site you posted me.
For the point 3, please check from the list of pins I wrote wich one is REALLY connected to the GND (don't know the jpac, but in my jamma boards they are not always ALL connected)

[vibez]

Cheers Smog. I'll try this out in a couple of days....

[vibez]

Reading the page at ultimarc. Pins C,3,D,4 (5v) are not actually used by the jpac. Will that matter with the circuit? 

[vibez]

Ok I hooked it up & it doesnt work. I can see the buttons being pressed in the control panel. But the cursor never moves.

I'm blaming my wiring skills. This is the 1st circuit I have ever built. Maybe someone else could try it?

[Smog]

It's a pity I don't have a JPAC .... I am sure it could work If I could test one with my hands.

Reading the page at ultimarc. Pins C,3,D,4 (5v) are not actually used by the jpac. Will that matter with the circuit?

this sould not matter, even if jpac doesn't use it the pin should hoever be connected to trasnformer in your arcade cab. I suggest to test the voltage with a voltmeter.

[fjser]

@vibez

Try this, is much simpler 'cause you don't need the leftmost part.



I didn't change resistors name so you can take the values from the old list.
The reference for the connection are taken from the diagram in the ultimarc site you posted me.
For the point 3, please check from the list of pins I wrote wich one is REALLY connected to the GND (don't know the jpac, but in my jamma boards they are not always ALL connected)

Thanks for the diagram. Any suggestions for someone who has never built a circuit before? Can this stuff all be purchased at a radio shack?  Also, i see two leads going to what would be the female rca connector.  Which one would connect to the inside and which one to the outside part of that connector?

Id like to build this, but not sure where to start.

[vibez]

@vibez

Try this, is much simpler 'cause you don't need the leftmost part.



I didn't change resistors name so you can take the values from the old list.
The reference for the connection are taken from the diagram in the ultimarc site you posted me.
For the point 3, please check from the list of pins I wrote wich one is REALLY connected to the GND (don't know the jpac, but in my jamma boards they are not always ALL connected)

Thanks for the diagram. Any suggestions for someone who has never built a circuit before? Can this stuff all be purchased at a radio shack?  Also, i see two leads going to what would be the female rca connector.  Which one would connect to the inside and which one to the outside part of that connector?

Id like to build this, but not sure where to start.

I live in the Uk so can't tell you if radio shack carries the parts. But our local supplier 'maplins' certainly carried them.

If you zoom in on the rca connector on that diagram, you can see which wire connects to which part

[Billkwando]

I figured out that all official Guncon2s are Progressive Scan compatible (on PS2)...all you have to do is go to the initial calibration screen, hold the trigger (offscreen) and hit the select button. A message will pop up in the lower right-hand corner. Doing it again turns it off. I tried this on Time Crisis 3.

This means that if Smog can figure out how it works, he could possibly build this ability into the driver (theoretically).

[Smog]

Did someone who have the "rolling-X" problem try to initialize the gun has billkwando said ?

Aiming offscreen, hold the trigger 1 and press the "Select" button
(am I right bill?)

I was thinking about what could happen if the gun thinks that the resolution is progressive when, in reality, it is interlaced ... and I think that this could poosibly be the problem that causes that "rolling-x" strange behaviour.

Another test that could be done is trying to output to tv a progressive resolution (such as 480x288) and see if the "rolling-X" thing disappears or not.

Anyone who is experiencing this problem is invited to test so I can try to help you. Thanks a lot ppl.

[Billkwando]

Aiming offscreen, hold the trigger 1 and press the "Select" button
(am I right bill?)

Righto!

[Silver]

Very impressive progress on this going on - sadly I think it will be useless for those of us 31Khz+ monitors....

I was slightly confused by some people mentioning 640x480 and 800x600, but it looks they are using tv-out anyway.

Has anyone any info on the innards of the guncon circuitry?

[IntruderAlert]

@vibez

Try this, is much simpler 'cause you don't need the leftmost part.



I didn't change resistors name so you can take the values from the old list.
The reference for the connection are taken from the diagram in the ultimarc site you posted me.
For the point 3, please check from the list of pins I wrote wich one is REALLY connected to the GND (don't know the jpac, but in my jamma boards they are not always ALL connected)

well then, if you are using the ultimarc ArcadeVGA card shouldn't you be able to get by with only this portion of the circuit as well?
ArcadeVGA provides a 1v signal and allows combining H sync and V sync for composite output
http://www.ultimarc.com/avgafaq.html

[Smog]

You are probably talking of RGB signals not of composite. From what I read on ultimarc's site I suggest to use the whole circuit with AVGA

[IntruderAlert]

I'm talking about composite sync.
The ArcadeVGA allows you to combine H sync and V sync for composite sync which the exact same thing as pin P on the J-Pac

[Smog]

So you are basically saying that all you need to do to make guncon2 work,having an arcadevga, is twisting HSYNC and VSYNC toghether right ?

[DaemonCollector]

I have an ArcadeVGA and just twisted them together, works like a charm...beyond the fact your driver won't calibrate for me :/

[Smog]

beyond the fact your driver won't calibrate for me

How can you say that it works like a charm then ?