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more trackball problems
rampy:
--- Quote from: Wade on May 28, 2003, 09:55:57 am ---Yeah, I was worried about performance. It seemed to work well scrolling around the screen (Missile Command) but I haven't tried it for fast spins for horseshoes, bowling, golf, etc. I guess we'll see (fingers crossed).
I can't use USB because I use DOS. If I could use USB I definitely would have bought a hack from Oscar, well worth the $10 IMO.
I think I need a new soldering iron too with a smaller tip! I'd probably have been more successful with the hacks all along if my iron wasn't such junk.
Wade
--- End quote ---
Hey Wade,
Sorry to see you are still having fits with this (trackball issues in general, that is) I can empathise.
What I think the previous poster was alluding to is that even if you are in DOS and can't really use an USB mouse, you can hack up a USB cable to "borrow" the 5v to power your optics (i'm pretty sure they are still powered when in DOS mode, anyways)
The other alternative would be to use power from a 5volt adapter or from your PC's powersupply hardrive power molex thingies (that's what I do for my PS/2 hack to imperial betson, FWIW)
Or you can use a wallwart AC adapter that supplies 5 volts (but measure it under load to make sure it's really putting out 5volts)
*shrug* WADE: upon re-reading the responses, sounds like i'm late to the party... did you find a clean way to power your Tball optics while using the serial mouse hack? or is that still an open question.
rampy
Wade:
Rampy,
I just posted this serial stuff today (did the hack last night) and powered it with a PC power supply for testing. Chris's suggestion to use USB was good but I'm using DOS. Yeah, you (and Chris) are right, I suppose I could get power from the USB ports but I don't have anything to hack for it. I do have some extra PC power supply connectors though, so I'll just wire in 5V from that and run it out of one of the slots in the back of the case, no biggie.
The only question really at this point is if the performance will be good enough. I'm hoping to drop this stuff in the cab tonight to see how it goes (routed the hole and fitted everything many weeks ago). Plus, after having my cab for 3 or 4 months, I'm dying to play some trackball games!!
Wade