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User review: Blackhawk Push/Pull Spinner from Apache Controls
erictrumpet:
Right. The "Primary" configuration of the Apache Blackhawk not only connects the spinner itself to your PC via USB (without drivers), but it also offers inputs on the PCB for two other axes' worth of rotary devices... a second spinner, 360-degree steering wheel, trackball (tb obviously would take up both available extra axes), or whatever combination, plus two pushbuttons (not counting the push/pull "buttons" of the spinner itself).
From the Apache Controls info page on the Blackhawk:
http://www.apachecontrols.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1
- Capable of running 2 Blackhawk spinners at once on the same machine
- Capable of running 1 Blackhawk and 1 trackball on the same machine
- 5 switch buttons built into the board design (Mouse 0 thru Mouse 4)
Since I don't need an Optipac with this spinner, it saves me some money on my overall project build cost, even though the initial cost of the spinner was higher.
Eric.
Edit: typo
RandyT:
--- Quote from: erictrumpet on September 04, 2006, 07:39:51 pm ---
Right. The "Primary" configuration of the Apache Blackhawk not only connects the spinner itself to your PC via USB (without drivers), but it also offers inputs on the PCB for two other axes' worth of rotary devices... a second spinner, 360-degree steering wheel, trackball (tb obviously would take up both available extra axes), or whatever combination, plus two pushbuttons (not counting the push/pull "buttons" of the spinner itself).
From the Apache Controls info page on the Blackhawk:
http://www.apachecontrols.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1
- Capable of running 2 Blackhawk spinners at once on the same machine
- Capable of running 1 Blackhawk and 1 trackball on the same machine
- 5 switch buttons built into the board design (Mouse 0 thru Mouse 4)
Since I don't need an Optipac with this spinner, it saves me some money on my overall project build cost, even though the initial cost of the spinner was higher.
--- End quote ---
Here are some more technical comments and something people should at least ask Apache Controls to comment on before making the purchase if they intend to do this;
From the photos, this spinner appears to be using the HT82M980A 5-Button USB / PS/2 Mouse controller chip. It is a fairly standard 3-axis controller but, according to the datasheet, it treats the Z-axis very differently than the other two axes. From what I can tell, not only is the timing of the Z-axis much slower, but it also registers only 2 "counts" for each tooth on the encoder, as opposed to the 4 "counts" per tooth generated by the X and Y axes.
This would effectively cut the resolution of the spinner in half and may inflict some backspin type issues due to the slower sampling if it is attached to the Z axis. If one were planning to attach a trackball, it would need to be attached to the X and Y axes, which looks as though it would leave the spinner crippled on the Z.
Of course one could avoid this by sharing axes with a physical switch, but you can't, to my knowledge, just hook more than one device to the same axis without conflict.
Again, this is a question for them to answer. I'm just a little confused by the apparent contradiction between what is being claimed and what is stated in the datasheet for the mouse controller being used.
RandyT
Texasmame:
--- Quote from: NightGod on September 04, 2006, 06:49:19 pm ---
--- Quote from: Texasmame on September 04, 2006, 04:33:34 pm ---What do you mean "you could hang a trackball off this thing?"
--- End quote ---
You can connect a trackball to this in place of using an Optipac.
--- End quote ---
Thanx, that's what I thought but wanted to be sure. . .
Snakebyte:
--- Quote from: RandyT on September 04, 2006, 10:40:46 pm ---
--- Quote from: erictrumpet on September 04, 2006, 07:39:51 pm ---
Right. The "Primary" configuration of the Apache Blackhawk not only connects the spinner itself to your PC via USB (without drivers), but it also offers inputs on the PCB for two other axes' worth of rotary devices... a second spinner, 360-degree steering wheel, trackball (tb obviously would take up both available extra axes), or whatever combination, plus two pushbuttons (not counting the push/pull "buttons" of the spinner itself).
From the Apache Controls info page on the Blackhawk:
http://www.apachecontrols.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1
- Capable of running 2 Blackhawk spinners at once on the same machine
- Capable of running 1 Blackhawk and 1 trackball on the same machine
- 5 switch buttons built into the board design (Mouse 0 thru Mouse 4)
Since I don't need an Optipac with this spinner, it saves me some money on my overall project build cost, even though the initial cost of the spinner was higher.
--- End quote ---
Here are some more technical comments and something people should at least ask Apache Controls to comment on before making the purchase if they intend to do this;
From the photos, this spinner appears to be using the HT82M980A 5-Button USB / PS/2 Mouse controller chip. It is a fairly standard 3-axis controller but, according to the datasheet, it treats the Z-axis very differently than the other two axes. From what I can tell, not only is the timing of the Z-axis much slower, but it also registers only 2 "counts" for each tooth on the encoder, as opposed to the 4 "counts" per tooth generated by the X and Y axes.
This would effectively cut the resolution of the spinner in half and may inflict some backspin type issues due to the slower sampling if it is attached to the Z axis. If one were planning to attach a trackball, it would need to be attached to the X and Y axes, which looks as though it would leave the spinner crippled on the Z.
Of course one could avoid this by sharing axes with a physical switch, but you can't, to my knowledge, just hook more than one device to the same axis without conflict.
Again, this is a question for them to answer. I'm just a little confused by the apparent contradiction between what is being claimed and what is stated in the datasheet for the mouse controller being used.
RandyT
--- End quote ---
Did anyone ever get an answer to this question or has anyone tried attaching a trackball to the Y and Z axis to see if there are any issues?
If not, I'll get in touch with Blackhawk and find out.
apachecontrols:
Hi all,
All three axis (X, Y and Z) can be used to support several combinations of spinner and trackball configurations. Check the user manual for the blackhawk for more details.
http://www.apachecontrols.com/manuals/ApacheControlsBlackhawk.pdf
Yes - Y and Z axis driving an external trackball will work just fine. We have many customers running in this configuration (X for Blackhawk spinner and Y/Z for external trackball).
At Apache Controls, we take pride in delivering the highest quality products to our customers and we stand by all of our products with a full 90-day Satisfaction Guarantee.
Reputation is everything in this gaming community.
You will not be disappointed by the Blackhawk and we guarantee it.
:)
David
Apache Controls, LLC
Honeoye Falls, NY (USA)
ONLINE: www.apachecontrols.com
EMAIL: support@apachecontrols.com
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