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A n00b with some questions :)
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Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: mallclerks on April 09, 2007, 11:07:33 pm ---At first I was thinking about going with the Ipac2 since it would handle all my basic needs, but I would need to have an Opti-pac as well for the track ball.  Is this the best route to go, or is going with the Mini-pack the best route to take?
--- End quote ---

The Opti-Pac controls Two trackballs and four spinners (or other mouse-like devices).  If you are only concerned with a single trackball, the mini-pac is more cost effective.  You should also consider the Opti-Wiz from www.groovygamegear.com for the trackball and the KeyWiz or GPWiz from them for the buttons and joysticks.

--- Quote ---That adds up to 30 inputs, but from how I *think* I understood it is that you can wire joystick 3 to joystick 1, so that you save 4 inputs , hence it truly would only be 26 inputs used up.  Am I correct in this understanding?
--- End quote ---
The KeyWiz has 32 inputs, btw, as does the I-PAC VE.

The drawback to wiring Joystick 3 to Joystick 1 is that if P2 is smart (or Smart---I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--), they can move Joystick 3 to mess up Player 1.  The workarounds for this are:  Route a switch to swap the gnd connections on and off so that only one of the joysticks is active, or Play as Player 2 is 2P games so you can mess up the other player, but they can't mess up you, or Connect the Joystick up independently (30 inputs as you said), but then you have to map your single joystick games to use different inputs than your dual joystick games.

You can also ditch the two buttons for Joystick 3 and wire these to the same input as P1B1 and P1B2, so you are down to 24 inputs.

I recommend dedicated buttons for pause and escape, which puts you back to 26.

Depending on your frontend, you may want left and right mouse buttons for the trackball.  These would connect to the optical interface, but you don't need them for emulation, only for frontend/windows stuff.


--- Quote ---For the Trackball, I would need to buy the following to get it all to work correctly I believe, am I correct in thinking this?:
Opti-PAC Interface
Trackball 2 1/4in With Opti-PAC Cable
Trackball Mounting Plate

--- End quote ---
Depends - You can get Happs or Betson 3" trackballs for around $30 from Menace and others on the B/S/T board here.  The Opti-Wiz or mini-pac is an alternative to the Opti-Pac.  The mounting plate simplifies installation and would be recommended, but is not essential, depending on your access and knowledge of woodworking tools.

--- Quote ---Is the $19 Wiring kit from Ultimarc have all the wiring I would need for the arcade controls?  Would I need more, or does it come with more then enough?
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No real way to answer that.  If "all" you are getting is the kit, it's not a good deal (at least in USA).  $19 plus $17 shipping or $36 for:
Crimping Pliers - typically $7.99 to $10 at auto parts or hardware stores.
Approximately 24 yards of wire - (90 ft (30 yrds) of 22AWG wire for $4.99 at Radio Shack) (but not all the different pretty colors).
100 non-insulated QD's - not sure if these are 0.25 or 0.187 - Generally these will run you about $10 at auto parts stores.  Peale (member) used to be selling these reasonably, don't know if he still is.
Unknown size and amount of cable ties.

How much wire you need depends on where you mount the encoder and how wide your CP is, but I prefer to buy stuff like this locally.


--- Quote ---Thats about it for now.  I am sorry if this is all posted somewhere already, if so please give me a link if ya know it.  I have tried to make my own 'bookmark list' of everything, along with reading as much as possible, and I think I am begining to have an information overload.
--- End quote ---
This will help with the information, but not with the overload:
http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm
http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/
mallclerks:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on April 09, 2007, 11:21:21 pm ---Here it is:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63423.msg632794#msg632794

Where in Illinois are you?

--- End quote ---

Bourbonnais, Illinois - My Final Fight game was actually a converted Pac-Man cabinet.





Okay, I think I am getting a better idea of everything, though if someone could essentially double check my work to be sure I am not being a total screw up.  I am starting to feel like this guy --->  :dizzy:


For the trackball, I could buy:

Optiwiz - Allowing me to use a trackball along with 3 additional buttons
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_85&products_id=260 ($17 /Groovygamegear)

I could then buy a Trackball itself, from someone like Menance http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=65166.0 (~$35/Menance)

With that Trackball I would then also need to buy a Trackball Mounting plate ($16/Ultimarc)

I could then Install the trackball into my control panel, then plug it into the USB port on my computer.  Do I need a power source for this, or does the USB connection provide it?  This is one thing I am unaware of, besides that everything else I *think* makes sense to me.


For the rest of the panel I could:


Use an Ipac:VE ($37/Ultimarc) or Keywiz Max 1.5 ($35/Groovygamegear)

With the Ipac:VE or Keywiz Max 1.5 I could then have the following configuration since I have 32 inputs:

1/2 player start (2 inputs)
1 player b1-b6 (6 inputs total)
2 player b1-b6 (6 inputs total)
pause / escape (2 inputs)
joystick 1 (4 inputs)
joystick 2 (4 inputs)
joystick 3 (4 inputs)
2 buttons joystick 3 (2 inputs)
2 coin (2 inputs)

total = 32 inputs


Would I be correct in this thinking.  Also using the Keywiz would be the better choice if I am thinking of this correctly, since joystick 3 would need to be a custom codeset, which with Ipac:VE it will not save that setting when the unit is turned off, which with the Keywiz it will save all settings in eeprom?


Is my thinking of all of this sound about right, or have I totally got off track?
leapinlew:
If you buy a USB trackball - you won't need an optiwiz.
mallclerks:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on April 10, 2007, 12:50:47 pm ---If you buy a USB trackball - you won't need an optiwiz.

--- End quote ---


Where can I buy a USB trackball for a good price?  I have tried looking and they all appear to be near or over $100 each.  If I bought something like the Optiwiz ($17) and $35 trackball from http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=65166.0 total cost would only be around $50 - Half the cost?

Or am I mistaken in this thinking?  While money is not the greatest concern, I am still trying to do this as cheap as can be :)  If it turns out awesome I figure I will put more money into my next one  :laugh:
AndyWarne:
Of course I am biased but...
Even allowing for this, it seems to me that the Mini-PAC is dificult to beat here.
The trackball price from Menace is great. I thought our prices on the Happ 3in were good but the price you mention can't be beaten. This will plug directly into the Mini-PAC if you order the correct harness.
Get the Happ trackball. This is far superior to the Betson which makes a loud rumbling noise. Betson trackballs all had to be swapped out by the manufacturers of Golden Tee, and replaced with Happ.
The Mini-PAC will give you one USB plug for all and has EEPROM, a self-test LED to check your wiring, macro support, keyboard LED support. 28 switches plus 2 mouse buttons.
You may find the wiring harness supplied with the Mini-PAC works out cheaper than buying all the items separately but be aware that if your panel is unusually large you might need the extension wire pack.
Wiring one dedicated 4-way in parallel with player 1 is quite common and although Tiger-Heli is right, I have not seen the possible "messing up" by player 2 being raised as an issue before.
Or you could go for 4-8 way switchable joysticks.
Apologies if this sounds like a bit of a sales pitch but it seems the best option to me... but I'm biased...and its my birthday today so I feel like indulging a bit..
Andy
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