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Ipac2 VS. Ipac4

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kill9cowboy:

First off, I just discovered this community this week, and I've been really impressed.  I didn't even know people built their own cabinets.  I read Saint's book last week, and decided it would be totally worth building my first cabinet.  I have a pretty big backround in computers, mostly in Linux, but as far as cabinet building goes, this is totally new to me.

I have a question about the Ipac2 and Ipac4.

Based on the Ultimarc website, the Ipac2 has 28 inputs on it.  Do most of you find this enough for a 2 player CP?

I was thinking about building something close to the SlikStik Classic, and when I look at it, it looks like they are using plenty more than 28 inputs, although they say it is using a 26 input Ipac.



Am I right in a joystick takes 4 inputs on an Ipac?

For something similar to the SlikStik setup, will I need an Ipac4?

Thanks for dealing with my totally newbie question  :)

Farmboy90:

An IPAC 2 should be plenty for a 2 player panel.

A typical 8 way, 4 way joystick will use 4 inputs each.  Each button is another input.

That slikstik panel uses a 28 input IPAC.  This is because they reuse inputs.  All the admin buttons are not required since you can get that functionality via the shift keys on the IPAC.  The middle/top joystick is probably wired to the same inputs as the P1 joystick.  The trackball and spinner buttons resuse existing inputs as well - probably the p1 buttons.

I have a P2 panel with IPAC connections consisting of 3 joysticks and 23 buttons.  I use an IPAC2 with no problems.  Again this is becasue a lot of the inputs get reused.



Zakk:

A lot of the controls can be doubled-up.  My suggestion is a minipac, which can also control the trackball and the spinner.  I-pac 4's are really for 4 player cp's.  Oh, and don't limit yourself to the slickstik design, that seems to have a lot of extra 'unneeded' buttons.  Stick around here and you'll learn a lot, and look at the examples page.  There are a LOT of good designs out there.  

Tiger-Heli:

There is also the KeyWiz or KeyWiz Eco from www.groovygamegear.com, which is 32 inputs.

See http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm for the (almost) full story.

kill9cowboy:

Great!

Thanks for clearing that up.

I'm definitly going to stick around, this looks like it could be one addictive hobby.

I am going to try to get a MAME front end up on one of my Linux machines this week, and start building a cab in the weeks to come.

Thanks again.

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