Ultimarc Magstik is strange.

[dougman]

Ok, so I bought a pair of Magstiks from ultimarc.
One problem that no one mentioned is that it can create a magnetic field that interferes with your monitor.

Right after I installed the magsicks the bottom of the monitor turned purple!

Another thing about these sticks is that the there is no adjustable height, and the rotation isn't circular.  When you rotate the sticks it kinda moves in a square instead of a circle, as in the diagonals travel further than the directionals.  This is really annoying as doing rotating motions are not smooth at all.

[TOK]

How close to your monitor are they?

Have you ever used the older T-Stick? Wondering how the stiffness compares. I ended up yanking the T-Sticks and putting in Happ Competitions because they were difficult for people to get used to.
I got used to the short throws, but still like the more traditional longer Happ throws and lighter spring better.

[dougman]

From my estimate, around 7 inches from the monitor.
The movement on the sticks are really small, I would say less than 10 degrees tilt before you reach the max tilt of the stick, it is the strangest feeling joystick I have ever used. You barely move your hand when you use it.  Due to this small tilt angle, you cannot really tell how stiff the throw is, but i would say it is like a medium spring.

[Quarterhorse]

Does it to my cocktail too.  Just hadn't put it together until now why the corner of my cocktail was a purply / orange. 

The problem with my magsticks is it rotates too easily and sometimes misses the throws.  Feels like it should fit tighter in the grommet. 

[Ninten-doh]

Uh oh.  I own MagStik Pluses but haven't installed them yet.  Is there any kind of barrier that can be installed to prevent that?  Kinda like shielded speakers?

[Grasshopper]

Hmm, that's worrying. I hope the Suzo Inductives don't do this as well. I've just bought three of them.

[AndyWarne]

It seems rather far-fetched that the small magnet in the stick, which is effectively shielded by the top plate of the stick, would cause any monitor problem unless maybe it were placed right up against it.
I certainly cannot reproduce this effect in testing.
If the monitor were to become magnetized by any external cause, the de-gaussing circuit should deal with this at power-on. Maybe there is a problem with this circuit?
The springing on the Mag-Stiks is lighter than the earlier T-Stiks.
I'm not sure I fully understand the "circular motion" comment. The only thing I can think of is that someone who is used to console gamepad sticks, which generally do have a circular motion, might find any micro-switch arcade stick strange at first as they do have square motion.
Andy W
 

[leapinlew]

I never had a problem with the magnetic field...

I just didn't like the short throw. I even prefered the x-arcades to them. I sort of got used to them because it took me a little time to get used to the new sticks.

[dougman]

well i mean you can feel the square of the microswitches when you spin the controller, as a comparison, the Happs Super Joystick is smooth all the way around.

Anyways, some monitors are more sensitive to magnetic fields. That monitor that I had, I had it in my basement, and over half the screen was purple/green, I even got a manual degauss coil to try to fix it, but no go.  When I gave up, I moved the monitor, and the purple blotch moved! I moved it around the room, and found a corner that almost the entire monitor was ok.  I bought 2 more arcade machines and placed them in the room, they didnt have any problems with the magnetic fields in that room. (basement where the breaker box was) :O

The magstik is having problems with my original cabinet. :O

[kowal]

Ok, so I bought a pair of Magstiks from ultimarc.
One problem that no one mentioned is that it can create a magnetic field that interferes with your monitor

Mag-stick influences on kinescope bad. Minimum distance 10cm from kinescope. Panel has to be wooden it was it been possible to put lead (Pb) sheet metal. I think that in wooden panels Silk Stick which they are large - nothing bad it will not happen

Another thing about these sticks is that the there is no adjustable height, and the rotation isn't circular.  When you rotate the sticks it kinda moves in a square instead of a circle, as in the diagonals travel further than the directionals.  This is really annoying as doing rotating motions are not smooth at all.

This nor reason is to to estimate him negatively. Almost all Japanese joysticks have rotation square. This helps near diagonals. Good players prefer short throw. How someone plays on Sundays this will be dust problem:P This professional joystik and specialized only for few games (Shumps).

Hmm, that's worrying. I hope the Suzo Inductives don't do this as well. I've just bought three of them.

do not happen anything bad from Suzo Inductive Controler.

[farmecologist]

No monitor problems here. 

Also, I'll have to say that I really like the feel of the Mag Stick plus.   However, I use it primarily as a dedicated 4 way stick.   Remember that there isn't any 'best' joystick...it is a very subjective thing.

[destructor]

No monitor problems here. 

Also, I'll have to say that I really like the feel of the Mag Stick plus.   However, I use it primarily as a dedicated 4 way stick.   Remember that there isn't any 'best' joystick...it is a very subjective thing.

Mag-Stik as dedicated 4-way stick? Hm... search forum for best 4-way joystick. I'm sure that it's not Mag-Stik.

[leapinlew]

No monitor problems here. 

Also, I'll have to say that I really like the feel of the Mag Stick plus.   However, I use it primarily as a dedicated 4 way stick.   Remember that there isn't any 'best' joystick...it is a very subjective thing.

Mag-Stik as dedicated 4-way stick? Hm... search forum for best 4-way joystick. I'm sure that it's not Mag-Stik.

I don't get it. He was saying it's subjective and it's what he chose to be his dedicated 4 way stick. If he thinks it's the best - than it's the best to him.

Maybe you should search dictionary.com for the word "opinion"

[sdj544]

I just tried to install the Magstiks on my 39 in 1 cocktail this weekend, and had the same problem. Hadn't had a chance yet to complain/inform Ultimarc of this yet. (And one of them was damaged, looked like it had been dropped and ended up cracking one of the switches open, so I need to get that taken care of too)

Definitely causing interference with the monitor.  Which really bums me out, cuz I finally was able to play Xevious and move the ship properly.  The feel in 4 way and in 8 way was great, easy to change. I love the short throw, everything about them except the fact the bottom third of the screen is off color.

Mine are mounted in a metal control panel, like the ones Arcadeshop sells. Don't know if that makes a difference.  Unless anyone has a workaround, I guess I'll just save them at this point for when I build a jamma cab.

I need to figure out what to get instead though. Really made me realize how much I hate the sticks that came with this game.
-Steve

[destructor]

Distance between monitor and MagStiks is to small. You can use some anti-magnetic materials between monitor and MagStiks too.

[DigDreams]

From my estimate, around 7 inches from the monitor.

I have the "Mag-Stick Pro", I purchased it because it is 4/8 way switchable from the top.  I have had no problems, but I am using a PC Monitor.  Just to check I brought up a 100% white screen and moved the joystick closer and further back.  The only time it effects it is when it is less then 3 inches from the monitor.  My only guess is that a TV or Arcade monitor may not be very well shielded (or at all for that matter).

I personally like the feel of these joysticks, and I wouldn't really call it a square.  It's more like a circle with a small dimple in each of the 8 directions.  I like it because corners are easy to hit with them (esp. in games like Berzerk or Q-Bert if you don't mount a 45 deg. stick).

Until I see another top-switch 4/8 way that doesn't require a big square bezel, I'll stick with the mag-stick pro.

- DigDreams

[Congui]

I too bought 2 mag-stick plus with red ball tops.  They're installed in a metal cp, and about 7 inches from my 21" triniton pc monitor.   I haven't had any problems with them yet.

They're simply great.  I love the short throw and of course the switchability from 4 to 8 ways.

 
Congui

[Level42]

Hmm, that's worrying. I hope the Suzo Inductives don't do this as well. I've just bought three of them.

No problems with my two Inductives at all.

[dougman]

Distance between monitor and MagStiks is to small. You can use some anti-magnetic materials between monitor and MagStiks too.

What is this "anti magnetic" material you speak of?

[TOK]

This sounds kind of goofy, but will aluminum foil help to shield a magnetic field? It has to be a very weak field, seems like nearly any type of thin non-magnetic material would help.

[Havok]

This sounds kind of goofy, but will aluminum foil help to shield a magnetic field? It has to be a very weak field, seems like nearly any type of thin non-magnetic material would help.

No - that only works to protect you against alien mind control...

[Quarterhorse]

I haven't tried to do any home-made "shielding" as of yet. 

For what it's worth, mine is about 6 inches from the monitor (cocktail cabinet) and it's an IBM PC monitor in a non-disrupted monitor case.  Both corners of the monitor (closest to the sticks) have some color changes.  Fortunately, it doesn't show up on a "black" screen -- and most arcade games you have to "look" for the monitor disruption to see it. 

But he's not crazy.  It does happen to a degree on my setup with these sticks. 

[farmecologist]

No monitor problems here. 

Also, I'll have to say that I really like the feel of the Mag Stick plus.   However, I use it primarily as a dedicated 4 way stick.   Remember that there isn't any 'best' joystick...it is a very subjective thing.

Mag-Stik as dedicated 4-way stick? Hm... search forum for best 4-way joystick. I'm sure that it's not Mag-Stik.

I don't get it. He was saying it's subjective and it's what he chose to be his dedicated 4 way stick. If he thinks it's the best - than it's the best to him.

Maybe you should search dictionary.com for the word "opinion"

Exactly.   If you search the threads, there are MANY, MANY heated discussions about the 'best' joystick for any particular use.   The problem is, everyone has a favorite, so there truly isn't ant 'best' model.   Heck, even the original sticks on many original arcade machines are probably not necessarily the 'best' available.   

The point is, you need to glean as much as you can from the threads, and then TRY a bunch of them yourself.  This is what makes the hobby so fun/expensive, and even frustrating  at times.

[chazbeenhad]

After doing a search on the magstick, I came upon this old thread.
Now it has me worried. I installed 2 Magstick plus controllers in my cp that is really an x-arcade hacked up to fit in my cab.

I don't notice any color distortion on my NEC SVGA monitor in the cab.
However now I worry about the magnetic stick being close to the x-arcade
pcb in the panel. What does everyone think will the magnet damage it over time?

Here is a pic of the inside:

[TOK]

Magnets are harmless to your x-arcade (or any) encoder.