Question about bridging trackball microswitches for Dreamcast player 3 and 4

[genesim]

Ok, this is difficult to explain, but I will try my best.

I might have an extra Xarcade DIY board, and I want to make a 3rd and 4th player available.

Player 4 is no problem because I can give it its own buttons, but player 3 is a problem because I will need the Mouse(trackball microswitches on my control panel.

So is it bad to bridge the two keeping the trackball buttons as they are, and then also connecting the grounds also to the DIY board?

Or is there a better way to do it, while maintaining the functionality.   I would rather keep the trackball buttons acting as they are if possible rather then disconnecting them all together, though it may be unavoidable.

Thx in advance.

[genesim]

bump

[scotthh]

player 3 is a problem because I will need the Mouse(trackball microswitches on my control panel.

So is it bad to bridge the two keeping the trackball buttons as they are, and then also connecting the grounds also to the DIY board?

Or is there a better way to do it, while maintaining the functionality.   I would rather keep the trackball buttons acting as they are if possible rather then disconnecting them all together, though it may be unavoidable.

Thx in advance.

I read this question as: You want to have three more buttons than you have inputs on your control panel. Is that correct?

There's no reason not to have two buttons wired to the same input (the three player 3 buttons wired to the same mouse 1, mouse 2 and mouse 3 inputs that you have your three trackball buttons wired to--both NO and ground). What ground are you using for the trackball buttons? I would use that ground for the player 3 buttons, not the DIY board's ground.

In MAME, you'd map mouse 1, mouse 2 and mouse 3 to player3 buttons 1, 2 and 3. And when you're not in the emulator, you'd have two sets of mouse buttons to play with. 

[genesim]

I don't think I said it correct.

The Trackball interface is wired to the 3 buttons(Right click, middle, left Click).

I want the SEPERATE DIY board to go to those buttons as well, but they will of course have different commands.

So can they be wired at the same time?    In that the mouse functions would stay the same wired to the trackball, but the Xarcae DIY board would read the buttons as normal 1,2, and 3(as in I will wire them that way).

Will the grounds interfere with each other??   Will this potentially bridge the Dreamcast or any other cosole to the PC???

[severdhed]

i could be wrong, but i believe wiring 1 button to two different encoders at the same time is a bad idea. That is just asking for trouble.

[genesim]

Damn..so how would you do it if you wanted to?   Any suggestion?

Incidently, it is one to the encoder...the other to the trackball.    No second encoder, just the trackball functions...the probably same risk.

[xmenxmen]

By using some kind of toggle switch that lets you pick a or b. 

[genesim]

Thats pretty much it...which unfortunately would be more pain then it is worth.    For player 3 and 4, they can live with the gamepad.   Thanks for all the help guys.

[xmenxmen]

Or you can just grab one another keywiz/gpwiz eco to use for the 3rd and 4th player.  They are quite cheap. 

[genesim]

The problem isn't the encoder....it is the shortage of buttons!   I need the 3 buttons in the middle for my mouse/trackball.

I got more then enough inputs on two encoders.

That and this is for a CONSOLE 3rd and 4th player.   

[xmenxmen]

Then why not go mouse button less?  I have a trackball in mine, but I opt out of putting mouse button on mine.  Whenever I need to use the mouse for 'windows' or frontend stuff, I use grab my wireless mouse seating inside the cab.  And lately I found a new compromise, I use the trackball to navigate and click on the button on the wireless mouse.  This really doesn't bother me as I don't use the button or mouse very often.

[genesim]

The mouse buttons are good for computer games, but I have thought about it alot.

The facts are that I use the computer alot for other things, and I just can't seem to find a reason to get rid of the mouse functions...just for a few RARE occasions for 3 and 4 player.