Encoder wheel optics to USB hack

[unclet]

Are there any sites which explain exactly how to connect a steering wheel which has an encoder wheel and optics PCB (like a Pole Position steering wheel assembly) to a USB connection?

I do not really want to remove the working PCB from my steering wheel assembly just to replace it with a USB mouse PCB (ie: another mouse hack).  I would rather keep the PCB which came with the assembly since I know that works perfectly while turning the steering wheel.   So...is there a way to connect the wires of a USB cable directly to the working PCB on my steering wheel assembly?  Pictures showing exact wiring and/or solder points would be ideal of course since I am not to confident when reading a PCB board and trying to figure this stuff out for myself..

unclet

[Minwah]

I don't *think* that is possible.

AFAIK, optic PCB's send the signal to another circuit to actually interpret the signal from the optic receiver - ie the optic PCB alone is not enough to connect straight to a PC.

I have a RoadBlasters wheel (optical) and I use the original Atari PCB & optics, but still have to connect it to a mouse hack in order to connect to the PC.  See http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html - I use exactly the same mouse hack as for the trackball (only 1 axis of course tho).

Alternatively you could use an Opti-Pac instead of a mouse hack I suppose.

I apologise if I am wrong as I am not familiar with the Pole Position PCB - I guess it would be more or less the same as the RB one tho (?)

Can anyone confirm (Oscar?)?

[_Iz-]

This sounds correct to me, the wheel is basically a spinner...

[OSCAR]

AFAIK, optic PCB's send the signal to another circuit to actually interpret the signal from the optic receiver - ie the optic PCB alone is not enough to connect straight to a PC.

I have a RoadBlasters wheel (optical) and I use the original Atari PCB & optics, but still have to connect it to a mouse hack in order to connect to the PC.  See http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html - I use exactly the same mouse hack as for the trackball (only 1 axis of course tho).

Alternatively you could use an Opti-Pac instead of a mouse hack I suppose.

I apologise if I am wrong as I am not familiar with the Pole Position PCB - I guess it would be more or less the same as the RB one tho (?)

Can anyone confirm (Oscar?)?

Bingo!  Simple optic boards like the Happ, Atari, and mine basically only send a high & low alternating voltage that needs to be encoded for it to be interpreted by a PC.  IIRC, the Pole Position board is very basic, similar to this Atari board, but the optics are positioned in an arc.  You should be able to connect that board directly to a mouse hack like in Minwah's example or alternately to an Opti-PAC.

Some optic boards, like Midway ones, seem incredibly complex for what they have to do.  I would assume that they may send an encoded signal, but almost certainly not PC mouse protocol.  More likely in a propeitary format just for the arcade pcb's.  I have never attemped to connect one of these types of optic boards to either a mouse or an Opti-PAC.

Long story short, you need some type of encoder to interface your optic board to your PC, yet you most certainly can still use the original optic board if it is working.

[Minwah]

FWIW mine looks like this:
http://mamewah.mameworld.net/RB_Optics.JPG

(only less blurry)  

(bugger you'll have to copy+paste to your browser)

[jerryjanis]

I just recently connected some Wico trackballs and the 720' arcade joystick with the same mouse hack that Minwah describes.  I purchased 20 Barbie USB mice in bulk from the old Mattel Barbie computers with flowers on them (mice I'm happy to break open) for 99 cents apiece, and just the other day I finally got Minwah's hack to work.  It is really really easy to do, and seems to work perfectly.

I more or less used this page as a reference:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/bakaye/tballhack.htm

Trackball->Trackball Optic Board(s)->Mouse hack->CPU's USB port

720' uses an Atari optic board, but it looks different than the ones Oscar and Minwah are showing (besides the fact that it has 2 sets of optics).

http://www26.brinkster.com/jstookey/joystick/720mame.html

After getting one to work and knowing how to do it, it only takes 5 minutes to desolder the mouse optics and wire up the optic boards.  It's really easy, and really cool (now I'll be able to inexpensively use analogmame with 4 mice!).