Happ Trackball from Slikstik - Horiz only?

[massive88]

So after about 6 months I finally got my Slikstik C02 a few months ago.  However from Day 1 the trackball only works left to right, no vertical at all.

I talked to Paul at slikstik about it over emails and he said I needed a new PCB to fix the problem, and that they would send one to me.

Great!

Well months later, still no PCB and my trackball still doesnt work.

It seemed like this was a common problem when talking to slikstik

Does anyone know if the "Red Board" I see on Happ for $12 is the part that I need to fix my trackball?

I opened it up and checked all the connections and everything looked good, but Im somewhat of an electronics noob (hence ordering the controls and not building mine own).

Slikstik has since stopped returning my emails, and I fear with the other news I read on here, they will never get back to me, but I need a working trackball!

Any help would be much appreciated.

[CheffoJeffo]

If the trackball in question is a HAPP with USB connector, then I believe that you CAN'T use the red boards (last Happ USB kit I got had me swap the red boards out for the USB interface).

Things may have changed, but better safe ... although it seems like you're already sorry.

FWIW, maybe Divemaster or Ponyboy can help you wrt the interface boards.

[divemaster127]

hello, if you need the green or red boards please send me a pm i have the red boards in stock & will have the green boards by this weekend
thanks
dm

[massive88]

If the trackball in question is a HAPP with USB connector, then I believe that you CAN'T use the red boards (last Happ USB kit I got had me swap the red boards out for the USB interface).

Things may have changed, but better safe ... although it seems like you're already sorry.

FWIW, maybe Divemaster or Ponyboy can help you wrt the interface boards.

It is USB.  Does that mean I have to replace the interface (Turn it to serial) completely?  Or is there a usable USB solution to get it working?  How would I go about checking?

Divemaster, If I knew what I needed to fix my problem I would be more than happy to go through you for my purchase.

[CheffoJeffo]

I can't really say, so was only presuming that SlikStik's assessment was correct (and it may be completely wrong, but since they seemed to have an issue with optic boards, perhaps they are correct).

DM will know better than I, but I believe that you would need to replace the "Y axis" optic board with a matching part. I do not believe that the red boards are the matching part, but am certain that DM knows and undoubtedly can get it for you.

[massive88]

Thanks for your help Cheffo, Ill PM Divemaster to probe for more help!

[DeLuSioNal29]

You may want to give Scott Glazer at MameRooms.com a call at (440)725-0315.  He recently took over Slikstik's control panel business.  He may be able to give you a replacement or at the very least, tell you what board replacement you need.

~ D

[massive88]

Update:  I got the new PCBs from Divemaster, and my trackball works beautifully for the first time ever.

Thanks again DM, Ill be sure to come to you first anytime I need new parts.

[CheffoJeffo]

 

EDIT: Forgot to ask before I hit submit ... for the sake of posterity and completing the loop on this thread, which boards did you end up needing ?

[massive88]

Righto good call.

Divemaster correctly pointed me to new green boards USB interface boards (NOT the red one on Happs site) for my trackball.  Many of Happs boards issued in the past 6 months have this problem apparently, so they made a second revision.  I got those plus finally got my translucent trackball from Divemaster (Slikstik failed to ship me a translucent ball as well).

Now I just need to finish building a cabinet.


http://eminent.omgbbq.com/misc/3.JPG
http://eminent.omgbbq.com/misc/4.JPG
http://eminent.omgbbq.com/misc/5.JPG

[CheffoJeffo]

Thanks ... good info, including stuff that I wasn't aware of that may be relevant in another thread.

Glad it all worked out for you.

[pcb]

For others that may have a problem like this.  To determine if an optic board is bad, you can swap them.  If the problem moves with the optic board, then yes, it is the optic board.  If the problem remains the same, it is probably the trackball interface or the harness. 

Best,

 - Mike -

[AtomSmasher]

Woohoo.  I finally got the new optic boards from Divemaster (the green boards have been on backorder from Happ for months) and I immediately hooked them up and played my first game of missile command in probably 6 months 

Kudos to Divemaster for shipping them out the same day he received them.

The new boards look a little different then the old ones, so hopefully they were able to fix whatever caused so many of them to break.