GunCon2 driver here!!! (Bacon is tasty)

[notaburger]

well, if anyone is holding out for my walkthrough in building the circuit you prolly should stop
i thought mine was working but i guess that i was mistaken
now all it does is jump around whenever i point it at anything that's not black
oh well
i'll mess around with it as time permits but has anyone else had this problem?

[Scoobie]

I got my GunCon2 and hooked it up through the green cable on my component out connection to my TV.

The driver loaded okay, but I'm having trouble calibrating the gun.  When I point the gun at the screen, it moves very slow and jagged.  It is also approx. 2 inches to the right of where it should be.

Has anyone found a fix for this and/or maybe I'm not calibrating it properly?  Are there specific settings I need to change for the coordinates?  If so, what would I need running at 640x480 res?

Thanks to Smog, IntruderAlert, Billkwando and everyone else for their work on this.  Once the calibration is figured out (maybe it already is for some) there will be no need for the expensive Act Labs guns.   

[Billkwando]

What do you mean by "slow and jagged"? Is it (the pointer) just jumpy? Does it get farther and farther behind where you're pointing the guncon as you move it across the screen, or does it stay a consistent distance behind?

You're probably having the same issue we all have, at least until it's calibrated properly.

[Scoobie]

What do you mean by "slow and jagged"? Is it (the pointer) just jumpy? Does it get farther and farther behind where you're pointing the guncon as you move it across the screen, or does it stay a consistent distance behind?

Yes, jumpy would be a way to describe it.

[Billkwando]

Yes, jumpy would be a way to describe it.

[Scoobie]

Also, you can do the auto calibration first, then write down the edge values produced, turn off auto calibration and adjust them better from there. 

I tried this but didn't see any changes to the gun response...even after unplugging and re-plugging the gun many times to save the changes.  The gun still does not move fluently and does not move accross the entire screen.  Oh, and it is still pointing about 2 inches to the right of where I am pointing.

There's alot of info and some suggested settings at Smog's blog, just look through the comments...

http://lightgun.splinder.com 

I looked around on this site and also on that message board.  It could be me, but I didn't see a description of the calibration (and jumpy response).

I'll try to write a faq or come up with some suggested settings this weekend...

That would be great!  Thanks again for the assist on this.  I can't wait to get this thing working!!

[AndyWarne]

I have been experimenting today with a gun and J-PAC, and also with a regular PC monitor and VGA card.
With J-PAC / ArcadeVGA : Basically works. I am seeing various problems which have been mentioned on this thread, such as inaccuracy and also found occasional lockups of either the gun, the mouse or both. I think the problems I am seeing are inherent and not to do with the use of the J-PAC. I am connecting the composite to the output of the J-PAC.

PC Monitor with regular card: Interesting... I conencted the video and sync from the VGA card direct to the monitor as normal. Then connected the H and V sync to a J-PAC. I connected the sync output from the J-PAC to the gun. It works fine, at least as well as using with ArcadeVGA card. So the J-PAC sync chip, which divides the sync in half when fed with 31Khz is doing the business. I will see if I can refine this a bit more.
I am a bit hesitant to produce a board with the J-PAC chip on it, for connection of the gun, beacuse there do seem to be a few problems with the gun in general. I'll keep an eye on the situation.

[ZeroPoint]

Hi, Andy:

Interesting to see that you have tested the gun on a regular PC-monitor.

I works like a charm on a PC-monitor, right ?

Just wondering how high resolution your gun accepts ?

I guess you divide the sync-signal in a microcontroller to be able to output the right sync-width.

In my circuit I don

[Smog]

The gun works 100% if you connect it in the proper mode. The most problem ppl are talking about are due to wrong connections. If you use an arcade mon, a guncon2, a normal VGA adapting the sync AS I SAID and play games intended to be played with a gun (screen flashes)  the gun acts PERFECT. No driver issue. For all the other configuration .. you can experiment anything you want but don't blame it on the driver. It's not magical it's just software and works like it is supposed to.

I can be very happy if you manage to make it work with 31Khz monitor or with a gps connection shooting at your mobile phone lcd screen or even your microwave .... but it's just your plus.


@Andy

I am a bit hesitant to produce a board with the J-PAC chip on it, for connection of the gun, beacuse there do seem to be a few problems with the gun in general

Please explain me what problems you are experiencing exactly. 

@zeropoint

I know that you mostly care about arcademonitors but have you ever thought of the idea of making a light gun work on a lcd-monitor ? I am currently working on this. It works in theory, but I do not know if it will work in for real without destroying the image on the screen.

could you explain wich is the theory ? I am just curious

[mr. tweedle]

whilst browsing excellentcom I came accross these 2 ps2 lightguns. If you look closely it seems as if they have been hacked to include one extra conector. And the red one seems to be arcade gun modded to work on a

[nobody]

on another note, does anyone now how recoil works? it would be damn cool to be able to get these guns recoiling properly

[vibez]

The driver works fine for me too. The only problem I has was hooking it up via my jpac

[AndyWarne]

I have tested using a J-PAC and ArcadeVGA and it seems OK.
I am running into strange problems using a J-PAC and regular VGA card and monitor though, which I have posted on the lightgun forum: http://www.freeforumzone.com/viewForum.aspx?f=66424
Incidentally that forum has security on the member logins which is tighter than my online bank account! I have never seen such stringent password requirements! This does not invite membership..

[vibez]

I have tested using a J-PAC and ArcadeVGA and it seems OK.
I am running into strange problems using a J-PAC and regular VGA card and monitor though, which I have posted on the lightgun forum: http://www.freeforumzone.com/viewForum.aspx?f=66424
Incidentally that forum has security on the member logins which is tighter than my online bank account! I have never seen such stringent password requirements! This does not invite membership..

lol, yeah the password reqs are pretty crazy, coupled with italian it took me awhile to get in.

So have you not noticed any problems with the gun not being detetcted at ceratin reolutions like I did @ 640x480? Doesnt the arcadevga have problems syncing correctly with some hanterax monitors? Maybe that is why?

[ZeroPoint]

Andy,

I have this jittering as you call it also. The reason may be that the pc-monitor paints two lines the same time the TV paints one. Maybe the photosensor triggers one time on the first line and another time on the other
The jittering doesn

[vibez]

I'm sure the jitter is caused by a bug in the comtrol panel. I think smog said the sensitivity slider wasnt working correctly

[Dariusz]

Hi There,

Can some one help me who has a guncon2(s). I have a question relating to the type of guns available:

After doing some research on the guncon2 guns I found two types, being a Black and Red version.

My questions are:

1. What are the differences between the red and black guncon2 guns?
2. Which would be the prefered guncon2 gun to purchase?
3. Are there any other guncon2 guns types available other then the black and red versions, and finally,
4. Are there any other guns other then the guncon2 brand (red and black versions) that is compatible with this project (guncon2 driver)?

Look forward to any advice.

Kind Regards,

Dariusz

[ZeroPoint]

The difference is probably just the color. Mine is blue.

Any GunCon2 compatible gun should work. There are a lot of GunCon2 compatible guns out there. I have one blue Namco GunCon2 and one Scorpion3 light gun. What you should be aware of is that a gun like the Scorpion3 have to plugs. One USB and one "joypad" plug. The "joypad" plug is used for power, about 7.5 volts. One easy solution for using these dual plug guns is to plug the "joypad" plug in you Playstation2 to get the power it needs (the PS2 has to be on) and then plug the usb into your computer.

I have another gun: the ThrustMaster Beretta replica ! This one is available for both PS2 and X-Box. Mine is for the X-Box so I of course haven

[Smog]

Hi Andy,
About the "jitter" problem you are experiencing: Yes It may be due to the half rate line detecting of the gun and yes it can be solved.
Some weeks are past from the last driver release and I didn't do enything else on the driver 'cause I was waiting

[IntruderAlert]

whilst browsing excellentcom I came accross these 2 ps2 lightguns. If you look closely it seems as if they have been hacked to include one extra conector. And the red one seems to be arcade gun modded to work on a  ps2. Anyone know have any info?

That's set up for the "Super" converting board
http://www.excellentcom.net/super1.asp

[Billkwando]

Wow IntruderAlert!

Where ya been man!?

Thought you'd been eaten by wolves.....

[vibez]

About the subscription on the forum .. did they really ask you for banking data ? Sorry for that It didn't asked me when I subscribed.

I think he was just suggesting the board registration is a little 'strong' like an online banks registartion

[Smog]

Oopss .. sorry man .. I didn't get it  ;D

[Jawadali]

Hey Guys, I'm new to the whole arcade/lightgun scene. Like many people, I was also wishing that it would be possible to use a console lightgun (in this case, the Guncon2) for MAME/MAME32/Emulation in general.

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

here are the connection diagrams

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

Couldn't you use an S-video to composite adapter if your TV only has composite (RCA) input? They usually come with PC video cards, because most PC video cards only have an S-video out.

[Billkwando]

Yes you can.

You can also use cards that have both compsite and S-video out, and plug the gun into the composite and the TV into the S-video, but he hasn't had time to add it I don't think.....

[Jawadali]

Yes you can.

You can also use cards that have both compsite and S-video out, and plug the gun into the composite and the TV into the S-video, but he hasn't had time to add it I don't think.....

I will try this if/when I get a guncon2. I have a video card that has VGA, S-video, and composite out (it's a geforce 4 MX440, 64MB, AGP; I think it was part of an HP computer). I need to get some RCA and S-video cables though, because the only cable I have right now is an S-video male to composite male.

On a side note (this is not really lightgun related): since this video card has 2 TV-outs, would it be possible to display Windows/MAME on 2 TVs simultaneously?  I basically want to have the same thing happening on both TVs at the same time, so for 4 player games, 2 people can share one screen adn one dual-controller, and the other 2 can share the other (If I have the TVs back to back for example).

EDIT: I will probably be using this lightgun (I also have a PS2, so I will use it for that and for MAME), becasue it seems pretty cheap and feature-filled (especially the recoil):

http://www.gameexpress.com/product_detail.cfm?UPC=837742004795

[nickbuol]

I have a somewhat related question.

What if you connected a S-Video Y-cable (I would think that such a cable exists somewhere) with one connection going to the TV, and the other connection going to a S-Video to Composite adaptor and then connect the light gun to that.  Would that work?  Kind of like the composite idea in that you don't have to hack any cables, but I wasn't sure if this had been attempted.

Also, how well do 2 lightguns work?  I am sure that is here somewhere in this 13 page thread, but it was taking too long to read it all.  The reason I ask is that several auctions on eBay are for 2 lightguns.  While I could always keep one as a spare, it would be cool to have 2 working light guns.

Thanks!

[vibez]

I have a somewhat related question.

What if you connected a S-Video Y-cable (I would think that such a cable exists somewhere) with one connection going to the TV, and the other connection going to a S-Video to Composite adaptor and then connect the light gun to that.  Would that work?  Kind of like the composite idea in that you don't have to hack any cables, but I wasn't sure if this had been attempted.

Also, how well do 2 lightguns work?  I am sure that is here somewhere in this 13 page thread, but it was taking too long to read it all.  The reason I ask is that several auctions on eBay are for 2 lightguns.  While I could always keep one as a spare, it would be cool to have 2 working light guns.

Thanks!

For 2 guns, you can daisy chain them together via the t-piece rca connector which is fitted to the guns, also plug each gun into a different usb port

[nickbuol]

For 2 guns, you can daisy chain them together via the t-piece rca connector which is fitted to the guns, also plug each gun into a different usb port

Cool...  Now if I can just find out about the S-Video question, I may be in business.

[Jawadali]

You'd have to put the S-video splitter on the TV:


                                                           S-video>>>Video card
                                                          /
TV >>>S-video splitter (1-male to 2 female)
                                                          \
                                                           S-video>>>S-video/RCA adptr>>>RCA Cable>>>Guncon2


I don't kow how it'd affect things, but that's how I image you'd set it up.

Here's a splitter for $6.17 orders less than $90 are $5 shipping (part # CSV2F): http://www.bestbuycable.com/videoprods.asp

Orders less than $90 are $5 flat rate shipping, so I'd order all my cables at once. They seem to have decent prices for other cables too.

[IntruderAlert]

For the answer to your S-Video question check I have a page with nearly all of the proven connection methods over here: http://intruderalert.myarcade.org/

I say "nearly all" because I have been asked to do some updates and they are in the works but it will be a few more days before we have everything squared away..

[Ldsfunaz]

Hey, Ive been folowing the progress of the driver on the site and this thread but I'm still not sure if the guns are playable or not.  I believe i will be using component connection once i get my cab made and i really want to add 2 guns but i haven't gotten a definitive answer if these work. 
thanks alot.
mike

[Smog]

So, you will use it on your arcade monitor ?

Q: Will 2 guncon2 work on my arcade monitor with vga connection ?
A: Yes they will.

[Ldsfunaz]

So, you will use it on your arcade monitor ?

Q: Will 2 guncon2 work on my arcade monitor with vga connection ?
A: Yes they will.

i think that was directed at me.....

but i meant a standard definition TV that has component inputs, not an arcade monitor

and im trying to figure out how well the driver works in general (with games that it is intended to work with...i.e. flashing games)

thanks again
mike

[Smog]

On standard TV you could experience the phantomatic Rolling-X problem .. still none knows why and when this problem occurs. Some says it depends on the gun you are using, some says on the connection ... but none knows really.

If you don't have that prob. then the driver works ok even with 2 guns.

[aljupy]

>>none knows why and when this problem occurs.>> Yeah, but 80% of us are agree in Something: -"Official Guncon2", is the main Star of this Problem"

I have tested 7 Lightguns, Included the Infrared "Rgt G1" and the only One Doing this problem was: !!Official Guncon 2!! (My favourite, cause is the MOST ACCURATE). I Tried the exactly the same conection with all of these lightguns.

And if you Try Wingun to play Without Rolling-X, Guncon2 stops to read at 5 minutes of play. (DAMMMM IT).

Anyway That

[Smog]

As You probably know guncon2mouse has got is own forum where you can discuss of this problem (http://xoomer.virgilio.it/smogdragon) . I was not aware that compatible guns used to work in quite all the cases .. I thought situation was worse than it is. I mean I am happy you did not have problems with 6 out of 7 guns.

**Could it be because Smog

[Jawadali]

As You probably know guncon2mouse has got is own forum where you can discuss of this problem (http://xoomer.virgilio.it/smogdragon) . I was not aware that compatible gun's used to work in quite all the cases .. I thought situation was worse than it is. I mean I am happy you did not have problems with 6 out of 7 guns.

That forum requires a lot of personal info to join, so I'm kinda suspicious.

@Aljupy: can you list the models you tested, and how well they work (or which one was best)?

[aljupy]

That forum requires a lot of personal info to join, so I'm kinda suspicious.>> registration most times is in Italian, so it could seem suspicious (It was free for me at least).

Yeah, I tested the Next LightGuns ALL WITH SAME CONNECTION ON A LOT OF COMPUTERS. I Tested With Wingun, because I do not have to Plug/Replug A lot of times.

GunCon2 OFFICIAL: The MOST Accurate, requires poor brigtness to Work very well.BUT it has a BIG rolling-X. Wingun Solves this problem but Guncon2 Stops to read at every 5/3 Minutes of play Game.

Scorpion3:NO ROLLING-X, VERY PLAYABLE ON PC. The best one for this driver because it has the same accuracy-precision as an "official Guncon2"(It is not a joke), but requires a little more Brightness than a "official Guncon2". And you Have a Laser Pointing to Burst Ducks in Duck Hunt. The only point of disvantage is that it Requires a 7,2 Volt  to operate, so you have to connect to a PSX/PS2 every time 

UZI from CyberGun  : It is just an Uzi. Very Cool, it has REcoil Action. But That

[Ldsfunaz]

aljupy, so the  official guncon2 is the only accurate gun that is worth playing with that doesn't need to be connected to a ps2 for power?

and for the love of god what is the rolling x problem?  everyone talks about it, i cant find any info on what it actually is..

thanks
mike