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Choice of Trackball

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Frobozz:
Ok, the time has come for me to place a major order to Happs or Bob Roberts...

I want to get a trackball (among other things) with a good Missile Command feel to it.  I was eyeing the Happs 3" Transluscent Blue trackball from Happs.  I'll be mounting this to a peice of 1/2" MDF, layered with some kinda venier as a CP surface.  I also want it to act as a mouse in Windows.  

I have some questions (simple ones I hope).
First, anyone have experience with using the standard 3" trackball vs. the "high-ball" model?  Which one would be more like the Missile Command "height".  

Second, from Happ's parts list, do I need the Trackball mounting kit to mount it to 1/2 MDF?  I don't plan on having a face-plate for the ball, I'd like it to just "emerge" from the panel.

Last, I plan on getting an Opti-PAC for an Oscar spinner and other things.  If I get the generic 3" Happ's Trackball, and hook it up to the Opti-PAC, will it connect right up?  Will the trackball act as a mouse in Windows 2K/XP?

Thanks for your time.  Everything tells me this will work in theory, but I want some confirmation before I shell out close to $100 for an arcade trackball.  

SirPoonga:
Well, I first went with wico.  I couldn't get it working, I just can't get a mouse hack to work.

If you look in the for sale section I have trackball parts for sale.

I'm just going to get a new happ with the usb harness, then I know for sure it will work, but expensive...

Frobozz:
Yea, I was considering the same thing, but if I can save myself $30 with the Opti-Pac I'm already planning on getting, why not?  

pyrobrit:
Ho Frobozz,

I can see no reason against going the way you are thinking with an Optipac and a Happs trackball.  It's the same route that I am goin to take.  I already have the Oscar spinner and will buy the optipac when Andy is back from his holiday.

Andy does show both a Happ and and a Suzo connected at the same time to an Optipac.  He mentions that your normal mouse can be left connected to the computer as the optipac will be seen as a serial mouse controller.

I too, am also in two minds on picking the normal Happ trackball or the Hi-Ball.  I figure that the H-Ball has more surface area showing which should in my opinion be better.

Again according to the Ultimarc website, all you need to do is strip back the wires on the Happ Trackball control cable and attach them to the optipac.

It wil be easier to setup your trackball with a mounting plate as you will not have to work out what size hole to route out from your control panel.  I guess that without the mounting kit, you will have to screw form the underside into your control panel once you have the correct sized hole for the ball to fit into.

I'll be interested to know how you got on.

Regards

Nick.W

Warlocke:
I just recently purchased a Happ 3" Hi Trackball w/Blue translucent ball. Personally I like the feel. It has a good surface area and nice action.

As for the mounting. You will need the plate for a wood panel unless you want to lose 1/2" of trackball surface around the base.

I also got the opti-pac and by all accounts it should work fine as a serial mouse in Windows. I am running mine under dos with the MS mouse driver.

Hope this helps some.

8)

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