Newbie Jamma Cab Question

[ThaGobbla]

Hello everyone. I know this is a serious newbie question but I need help so I am going to ask it anyway. I have already build a PC cab with MAME and all of that but it still didn't really as much like I was really creating an arcade, it is more like a dressed up computer program.

Thats why I wanted to get into a new JAMMA project. (Mostly b/c it is more microchips and boards than computers) They seem more origianal. The thing is its not that I am not technologicaly challenged, I just need a little guidence. I just need someone to point me too a website, book (like saints but for Jamma), or a person that can help.

Soldering needed?

  THANKS

[PCtech]

So what are you looking for / Wanting to do?

Here are some basics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAMMA

http://www.jammaboards.com/jcenter_jammaFAQ.html

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/

Are you looking to incorporate JAMMA into your current setup, building a dedicated JAMMA cabinet, buying a JAMMA cabinet and start collecting boards?

I worked with JAMMA some, owned 1 Jamma Game (Mortal Kombat), and have a partial list of what games are Jamma, Jamma+, etc....I'll see if I can dig it up.

[AlexC]

Also let's not forget Bob, great read on how to hook it all up...

http://homearcade.org/BBBB/jh.html

[ThaGobbla]

OK thanks those kinda help but still....

Does anyone have any pics of a wired jamma board or anything like that?

So from what I understand its kinda like this:

----------------/////////
                    /har-//------b1 wire to button-------------
gameboard  /ness/                                         BUTTON
                    ////////------GND wire to button-----------
....................////////

Hope you follow my pic. 

Soldering needed?

Also questions about powering everything

Planning on making cocktail cab w/ jamma harness and buy basic classic boards
Thanks

[Rocky]

For hooking up the Jamma harness to the rest of the cabinet, no soldering is needed, it's mainly crimping (which is a skill of it's own)

Basically the Jamma harness connects to 6 things:

1. Power (+5vcd, +12vdc, -5vdc) from a switching power supplys
2. Coin door  (power for lights, ground, switch controls, coin cointer)
3. Speaker (2 wires for mono speaker)
4. Monitor (Red, Green, Blue, Ground, Composite Negative sync)
5. P1 controls (joystick plus up to 3 or 4 buttons -- 3 officially)
6. P2 controls (same as P1 controls)

Usually the harness terminates in a molex connector before the control panel and coin door so that they can be removed easily.

[ThaGobbla]

I can translate most of what you just said... I think. Thanks 

Any more tips, I'm open for help and ideas

[ThaGobbla]

Basically the Jamma harness connects to 6 things:

1. Power (+5vcd, +12vdc, -5vdc) from a switching power supplys

Ya about that power stuff. Where to find/ what is/ how to hook up

Thanks

[PCtech]

Basically the Jamma harness connects to 6 things:

1. Power (+5vcd, +12vdc, -5vdc) from a switching power supplys

Ya about that power stuff. Where to find/ what is/ how to hook up

Thanks

Don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure you want to be building one of these from scratch? 

For example, although I like classic cars, and would love to own a 65 Corvette (yeah right, keep dreaming)....I would not try to build one from scratch.  I might try to buy a old one, and restore/fix it, but not build from scratch.

Depending on your electronics skillz, you may not want to mess with an arcade monitor (voltage can kill you)...or the pinout/soldering part of the process. 

I'm not trying to be offensive, but it sounds like you are new to JAMMA / Electronics.

If so, you may want to look into purchasing an old, working Jamma Cabinet (I picked up my working, MK1 cab for $50).  This is what I did, and how I learned about Jamma....this way is much easier.  Check out auctions, newspapers, etc...to see any old games for sale. (I recommend auctions)

You could either "restore" the old jamma machine, or eventually scrap it out for parts, or sell it to finance future projects.

I could be wrong, but starting from scratch, might be a bit more than you are ready for.   

Either way good luck, and let us know which route you go.   

BTW...the links I gave you earlier, should answer most of your questions, including power issues.

[ThaGobbla]

Thanks for telling me the already stated obvious. (sorry for being harsh) I know its tough, thats why I want to do it. Thanks for the help though.

[RayB]

I think what PCTech is suggesting is taking baby-steps along your way to learning all this. If you bought a cheap JAMMA cab, you'd see with your own eyes how everything is wired and hooked up and you'd learn 100 times more, 100 times faster than starting out blind.

You could then build one based on what you learned.

[ThaGobbla]

It was jsut the heat of the moment. All of you are right. Thanks for the reality check