Newbie questions for the Pros if you have time

[Gatt]

Hi all,

I'm about to make my first effort on building a control panel and have some questions,  if anyone has the time.

First,  what I'm looking at using is the SlikStik blank boxes,  probably the Co2,  though maybe the Classic.

1.  I'm planning on using the Happs 49-way in place of the two main competition joysticks,  would these drop right in or do they have different dimension requirements?

2.  I'm planning on using the GP-Wiz controller for the 49-ways and the I-Pac 4 to handle the buttons,  this wouldn't cause problems would it?

3.  Rather than use put a dedicated 4 way in the hole provided by SlikStik I was going to put a Happs Flightstick in there,  would it drop right in or does it have different dimensions?

4.  Any primers on how to do the LED lighting for buttons?

5.  Is Trackball illumination something built into the ball or is it some form of backlighting?

Thanks in advance for any responses!

[Kremmit]

The Happ 49-ways will fit the Competition cutouts just fine.

You could use GPWiz49s and an IPac4, but you probably don't need to.  Remember, each 49-way you use needs it's own dedicated GP49.  Each GP49 has 23 inputs on it, in addition to the ones used by the 49-way joystick.  You can use those inputs for your buttons and any regular joysticks you put on there.  The only way I can see you needing the IPac is if you need your inputs to apear as keystrokes for some non-MAME applications.  Even then, you can use a program like RBJoy to convert the gamepads inputs to keystrokes.

The Happ flightsitcks have different footprints, they do not fit the standard joystick cutout.

LED button lighting varies depending on the type of buttons used.

Trackball illumination is just a light shining up through a hole in the bottom of the trackball case.  It is not internal to the ball itself.  You can buy a pre-illuminated trackball, or you can add the lighting yourself later. 

[mccoy178]

Whether or not to use an Ipac will depend upon if you will be using other emulators than just Mame.  Emulators like vpinball need key strokes.  The GPWiz49 is viewed as a joystick by the computer, and in mame that is no big deal.  But on a lot of emulators(i.e.Nintendo, Atari2600, etc.), the escape key is hard coded.  The only way I found around that other than an Ipac or Keywiz max to handle that is to use the program joytokey, but it can cause some issues from time to time.  If none of that makes sense, I understand.

[miles2912]

With all the custom planning you are doing you might want to make the CP yourself.  They are not that hard to do and it will save you a lot of money.  One of the users here had a 4-way custom made from slik stik and it was 1100.  If tools are a concern the money you will save will pay for all of them.  I would give it some thought.

Don

[Gatt]

Thank you all!

Miles,

I'm actually just going to have them do the drilling work,  like for the flightstick instead of the 4 way dedicated.  I'm planning on purchasing and installing all of the parts myself.

Though I am still torn and am considering just doing the work myself as you advise.

[Gatt]

Would anyone have a few minutes to give a summary on how to backlight buttons with LED's?  I was planning on using Happ buttons,  but if there's some model of buttons that are both quality and easier to backlight,  I'd use those instead.  Is it a case of wiring LED's to a pre-built "controller",  or is it entirely custom work?

The idea of backlight buttons has piqued my curosity. 

[mccoy178]

No offense noob , but do a search on the lighting.  The very top of the main forum has a thing about whammoed's new lighting technique for leafswitches and that thread is useful.  If you are using microswitches, you should check out www.groovygamegear.com.  You can do a search by the name of the products here to find more details on how to apply them.  You may want to also look into powermame, as it will automatically take care of the 49 ways and control the lighting once you have it set up.  This is a big topic and studying is certainly necessary.

[Havok]

Not to mention that Slikstik will probably take a long time to make your CP - make sure to factor that into your build time...

[DrewKaree]

Why come u gsuys nevr ansered my kweschuns when I axed>?

[clanggedin]

I'd like to help answer you questions, but I don't have the time.