Mouse -> Trackball hack

[Wade]

I looked at BobA's web page several times.  I have a half dozen old mice, but only two are ps/2.  Neither of them are anything like the one he describes.  Does anyone have any links to other trackball/mouse hacks?  I'm trying to use an Imperial trackball.

Thanks,
Wade

[rampy]

I looked at BobA's web page several times.  I have a half dozen old mice, but only two are ps/2.  Neither of them are anything like the one he describes.  Does anyone have any links to other trackball/mouse hacks?  I'm trying to use an Imperial trackball.

Thanks,
Wade

Did you look at this one too?

http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html

You can use a serial mouse or a usb mouse or a mouse in a house.. er...  if you are reallly stuck you can buy a "pre" hacked one from oscar (it's usb though).

I hacked a Imperial Betson to a crappy ps/2 mouse but I don't think I documented it very well / or at all.

*shrug*  All I did was unsolder the transceiver and reciever for each  axis and extended wires out.  I then picked up a molex plug to mate with the one alraedy on my betson trackball... and wired it up =P (sorry to be vague/general... but do you have a specific thing you are having trouble with that we could steer you in the right direction?) or pics of you meeses (mices plural not your misses with an accent =P )?

rampy

[Wade]

No, I hadn't seen that one.  I think with the help of that page I can get one working.

I wanted a PS/2 because I already hacked a serial mouse and hard drive to make a spinner.  I wanted to be able to use the spinner and trackball at same time, I remember reading that dos mame or windows 95/98 mame can handle this setup.

The problem I was having was one mouse had 8 emitters/receivers with 3 wires each and I had no idea which ones to use.  The other mouse I was trying was a compaq (logitech) that only had 2 pairs of emitters/receivers, but it looks like that one might not work either (from the above page).  I do have a couple of MS just like the page above but they are serial.  I will probably try it with one of those since I could follow the web page mentioned above.  I can deal with the serial/ps2 thing later (I think I've seen serial->ps2 adapters for mice before).

I will probably try it again tis weekend.  I'll post back here afterwards.

Thanks,
Wade

Did you look at this one too?

http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html

You can use a serial mouse or a usb mouse or a mouse in a house.. er...  if you are reallly stuck you can buy a "pre" hacked one from oscar (it's usb though).

I hacked a Imperial Betson to a crappy ps/2 mouse but I don't think I documented it very well / or at all.

*shrug*  All I did was unsolder the transceiver and reciever for each  axis and extended wires out.  I then picked up a molex plug to mate with the one alraedy on my betson trackball... and wired it up =P (sorry to be vague/general... but do you have a specific thing you are having trouble with that we could steer you in the right direction?) or pics of you meeses (mices plural not your misses with an accent =P )?

rampy

[Minwah]

BTW the mouse hack I documented (the one mentioned above) shows taking the 5v from a drive connector.  I since figured out how to get power from the ps/2 port but haven't got round to adding it to the page.

Basically, take a look at the ps/2 port pinouts, eg:

http://www.indiacam.net/pinout/pinout_ps2_serial_mouse.htm

Then use a multimeter/continuity tester to trace which pin leads to where on your mouse PCB.  Then just solder a wire from the 5v and GND solder points to the same connections on your trackball.

Doesn't really matter but saves the hassle of having to plug the trackball into a ps/2 port AND drive connector.

Good luck hacking  

[Wade]

Thanks for the extra info!

[innkeeper]

I've done 2 imperial trackball mouse hacks so far, and they work great. here is where I found the best info on it.

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

The site talks specificly about the imperial trackball. I think it is pretty stright foward.  
seems most any mouse will do, but you might need to trace out where +5 and ground are on the mouse. I opted for 3 button mice as i have used the 3 mouse buttons on my control panel as well!...(makes it very convenent when in windows)

Happy Interfacing
  Innkeeper

[Wade]

Well I dug up a ps/2 microsoft mouse and it went pretty smoothly.  Its a lot easier when you have a mouse that matches one of the documented hacks.

I almost cut up my trackball harness last night I was so eager to test the hack, but I resisted.  Where can I buy one of those molex connectors? Do the auto stores carry them?

Thanks,
Wade

[rampy]

Well I dug up a ps/2 microsoft mouse and it went pretty smoothly.  Its a lot easier when you have a mouse that matches one of the documented hacks.

I almost cut up my trackball harness last night I was so eager to test the hack, but I resisted.  Where can I buy one of those molex connectors? Do the auto stores carry them?

Thanks,
Wade

I got mine at radioshack... I dont' think it would matter if you just lopped off the existing molex -> I was just being anal/neat about that one part of my project (where was that attention to detail when I was spaghetti hacking my sidewinder?! but i digress)

Sorry no part number... It was an "assemble yourself" type molex connector where you crimp the wire into the pins and then push the pins through (although I'm pretty sure i used improper technique in constructing my molex - but it holds/works fine)

I belive it was in the "drawers" type part bins (i.e. not on a hook on a wall) FWIW

rampy

EDITed for hooked on phonics error

[Wade]

Cool, I'll check there after work today.

Thanks,
Wade