Anyone up this late? Looking for some trackball advice

[BobA]

Just what was suggested earlier in this thread before it went soldering and hacking.  The optiwiz with solderless connector and trackball cable is the best way to go..

[ropeadope]

Yeah I figured that, but that's going to run me another $40 (after shipping and all) so I might try and solder first. Even if I had the money I'd probably try and solder first. I don't care if I screw up the old roller ball mouse, I just don't want to mess up my trackball, would my trackball be safe when soldering? Since I don't have to solder anything on the trackball it seems like I wouldn't have to worry about it, I just don't understand how I'm supposed to connect the trackball to the old mouse board. From what i've read I'm guessing I get a cat 5 cable with a 6 pin molex connecter and solder the wires to the mouse board? Or do the wires just plug into the mouse board somehow?

[Kaytrim]

mouseboard -> solder -> wires -> crimp -> male molex connector -> female molex connector -> wires -> trackball

[ropeadope]

This is insanely complicated

Thanks a ton for all the help though. I think I'm going to wuss out on this or try and find someone locally who might be able to do it.

[ropeadope]

sorry for another bump, was just wondering if this mouse board will work, it didn't really look like any of the ones shown in any of the 3 guides, but the guides don't have many pictures:

http://www.freewebs.com/fustercluck/IMG%5F2812.JPG

http://www.freewebs.com/fustercluck/IMG%5F2813.JPG

Will it work?

Also is there any way to find people locally who can Solder? Anyone here in Tucson? :p

[ropeadope]

Ahhhh, trackball is collecting much dust. I PMed some of you but I don't think the private messaging system is working.

No one here in Tucson that could do this? I know a couple of people who can solder but they're totally baffled by this project like I am, and they find it as confusing as I do surprisingly. I figured someone who was able to solder would be able to do this easy.

[xmenxmen]

Ahhhh, trackball is collecting much dust. I PMed some of you but I don't think the private messaging system is working.

No one here in Tucson that could do this? I know a couple of people who can solder but they're totally baffled by this project like I am, and they find it as confusing as I do surprisingly. I figured someone who was able to solder would be able to do this easy.

2 option in my mind:

Put the trackball back on ebay and go buy the x-arcade and start playing.  Sound rude, but you might get there faster.

Or if you insist, spend the money on the optiwiz.  You can probably skip the trackball cable.  You might be able to take some old cdrom sound cable and hook it up that way without having to solder.

And if you are still going to try hacking a mouse, try looking around for one of those old microsoft ps2 mouse (u know those white mouse), they are much easier to hack.

[ropeadope]

I guess I just don't understand how to do the wiring part, not sure how to wire the trackball to the mouse board. I don't have a 6pin molex connecter yet, I looked at one at radio shack and I was just like "wtf is this", heh. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it. Not sure where to buy the wires either, or what kind of wires to buy, or how to solder the wires. I just stick the wires in the holes and solder over them? I obviously don't know what I'm talking about which is why I'd be happy if someone from this message board lived in Tucson.