Options for a small analog trigger stick.

[Stub]

OK I need to make a decision and I need some input. I have sat on this long enough.

I have my 4 U360s but I need 2 analog sticks so I can print my CP design and get to work.

I have not found much I like. I want an analog stick with a topfire and trigger minimum. A few extra buttons would be fine too. But I dont want a large tron style stick that will overwhelm the CP and make getting to spinners behind it an issue. Four to five inches tall above the surface would be perfect.

Now I dont mind spending money but I cant wrap my mind around the HAPP B-8 http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95025100.htm $300 for what? For that I could get an entire Thrustmaster cougar set http://www.thrustmaster.com/product.aspx?ProductID=11&PlatformID=5 and it already is USB encoded. Aside from finding a way to mount it, which might be difficult, the only reason i haven't used those is they are monsters, if I did it would be the only thing the cp was for. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I have been a Thrustmaster owner for over a decade and love their products. I own a cougar and it is the BEST flightstick made my man ( not installed in a military aircraft ). Also on the B-8 I cant find a schematic with sizes. I think it is on the tall side but I dont know how much.

This happ Atari would be fine http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95017200x.htm but again so much money for so little. And again does anyone know how tall this one is?

HAPP - Tron style http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50997000.htm is just to big, this is what I am trying to avoid.

This I am leaning toward http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95006500.htm again it looks to be 6 inches tall but could be deceiving. Opinions on this model? Anyone own one?

I will throw out the guard trigger stick http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95092300r.htm I assume this is no smaller than the others.

Also each has 3 flavors from HAPP which should I be getting to interface to a third party usb interface board?

Now on th Swana. They have 3 sticks that might fit the bill
http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/JLK-GF2-AT.htm
http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/JLJ-PL2-8NV.htm
http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/JLJ-PL2-8V.htm
Does anyone own on of these? How do they feel? Height? Anyone know a site where I can get more details on these products?

And lastly can anyone suggest any better products?

[Hoopz]

Just pointing out what your thread looks like from the main board with your thread title...

 

[Stub]

Oh good god.....

[ahofle]

    

[boogieman]

BWAAAA HAA HA HA 

[ahofle]

To address your actual question, I have been looking for a good relatively inexpensive analog trigger stick solution too and haven't found anything.  A guy around here named genesim successfully hacked a happ trigger stick handle to a U360, but you said you don't want a flight stick. 

EDIT: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76052.0

[Stub]

I would not mind a small flight stick.

But I cant use u360 hardware because I already have 4 u360 devices and you can't address more. Sure I could program it then disconnect it and attach the raw pot leads to a decoder board, but that gains really nothing. You would be better off taking a small topfire and fitting it on a flightstick base.

[Stub]

For example:

I am going to use a Ultramarc A-pac http://www.ultimarc.com/a-pac.html
Now of Happs 3 configurations

Analog Joystick { No indication of pots }
Analog Joystick with 5k Potentiometers
Analog Joystick, PC Version, w/15-Pin Cable 100K S Taper Potentiometers

Which one will interface properly?

[Fozzy The Bear]

I would not mind a small flight stick.

You certainly want a small flight stick if it's going up there......    Bwwwwaaahhhhaaa!!! 

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Minwah]

Analog Joystick { No indication of pots }
Analog Joystick with 5k Potentiometers
Analog Joystick, PC Version, w/15-Pin Cable 100K S Taper Potentiometers

Which one will interface properly?

They probably all will, but I would go for the arcade-standard 5k pots.

I have yet to see a small analog trigger stick...they are usually massive.

[Fozzy The Bear]

I have yet to see a small analog trigger stick...they are usually massive.

  OUCH!

Only if it's a bloke describing it.... If it's a woman describing it it'd be "just average". 

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Stub]

I saw on the a-pac it will support both types of pots.

So can anyone tell me what the difference is between

Analog Joystick, B-8 Grip
Analog Joystick, B-8 Grip with 5k Potentiometers, directly connects to UGCI 95-0800-20K

Other than $60???

[solderguy1]

Just pointing out what your thread looks like from the main board with your thread title...

Reminded me of this old usenet thread by one of the byaoc pioneers.  See post #4. 
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.classic/browse_frm/thread/e9c8bdd07310fe28

[Stub]

Arrrrggggggg!!!!!!! Id give my left nut for a real answer people!

[SavannahLion]

Arrrrggggggg!!!!!!! Id give my left nut for a real answer people!

Alright, I'll try.

Rather than building a Franken Panel, why not go with a swappable panel design? Start with two, your original franken panel and another with nothing but the two flight sticks. That solves your;

But I dont want a large tron style stick that will overwhelm the CP and make getting to spinners behind it an issue.

issue.

[Stub]

I considered that, but that would be 3 panels a four player, a smash tv and a topfire analog.

[u_rebelscum]

Id give my left nut for a real answer people!

Maybe I won't answer then.     j/k


First, let me say I don't have any of those arcade analog sticks, so I don't know the exact size.  Second, I think there are just two happs analog bottoms (or maybe just one bottom with two different spring mechanisms), matched with different handles to get the seven different analog models (if look at the exploded views, most of the base parts match).  Third, the tron stick is digital (I think you know that). 

Fourth, I do have the metal pivot ball of one of the bottoms, and it's huge, bigger than one inch IIRC.  Add that it looks like the metal plate is 5.5 inches, I'm guessing the trigger handles are about 4.5" to 5.5" tall, depending on the exact model (except the model you aren't interested in with the ultimate handle which looks about 3").


It is interesting the B-8 with POTs is $60 more than without, while other models that use the same POTs differ by $15 to $30 between arcade POT and no POT versions.  I'll bet it's a case of supply and demand or volume discounts, as happs is known to sometimes have higher versions at cheaper prices (TBs, for instance) than lesser versions.  Also, you might want to check with divemaster or other resellers, as they usually can get you the happs items for less than happs, and declared shipping costs.  Or wait for a happs sale (although analog joysticks aren't on sale often).

Not much help, I know.

[Stub]

Add that it looks like the metal plate is 5.5 inches, I'm guessing the trigger handles are about 4.5" to 5.5" tall, depending on the exact model (except the model you aren't interested in with the ultimate handle which looks about 3").

That is really helpful! is the 5.5 plate a happ standerd?

It is interesting the B-8 with POTs is $60 more than without, while other models that use the same POTs differ by $15 to $30 between arcade POT and no POT versions.  I'll bet it's a case of supply and demand or volume discounts, as happs is known to sometimes have higher versions at cheaper prices (TBs, for instance) than lesser versions.  Also, you might want to check with divemaster or other resellers, as they usually can get you the happs items for less than happs, and declared shipping costs.  Or wait for a happs sale (although analog joysticks aren't on sale often).

Not much help, I know.

Ahh so it wont have pots you think? In the description it reads "5k potentiometers fitted as standard" I assumed that meant all versions had 5k pots minimum.

Hmm maybe to get what i want I should take the analog Ult, and mod it to a top fire.... thanks for the idea.

Any other thoughts would be helpful.

[Bender]

I don't know what your time frame is put I'm working on a U360 mod for top fire
I think it will be about a month or so till I sort it all out
I'm trying to do it with readily available parts so it won't be too hard to make (no promises though)
you could either use it as one of the 4 you already have, so you wouldn't even need another stick or you could, like you said program it then connect it via apac

[Stub]

Ohh yes i could wait. I already plan to try your rotation mod on sticks one and two. Actually perfect would be if I could connect 6 u360.

Although if you want to make a couple bucks some of the parts, like the slotted metal guide for the rotation mod I would gladly part with the money before attempting to mill my own. In fact I would attempt it with polycarb.

Readily available parts? I an thinking you will need a specially made 1/8inch plug head {steel would be perfect } to pull it off.

[TheShanMan]

Actually perfect would be if I could connect 6 u360.

I could be WAY off base here (or it could have been some other hardware I'm thinking of), but I seem to recall hearing that on special request, Andy could produce sticks that would work as a 5th or greater stick. It's at least worth asking him about if you really want it.

[Stub]

I asked him about that a while ago:

You cant address more than 4 unfortunately. We have no plans for more than 4. I think there would be very little demand for this.
 
You can actually use more than 4 but you would not be able to program 3 of them on the fly, because one devivce ID would have more than one stick allocated to it.
 
Andy

[Bender]

I asked him about that a while ago:

You cant address more than 4 unfortunately. We have no plans for more than 4. I think there would be very little demand for this.
 
You can actually use more than 4 but you would not be able to program 3 of them on the fly, because one devivce ID would have more than one stick allocated to it.
 
Andy

I don't think this is a problem anymore because the newer versions of mame now have a built in mapping feature very similar to Andy's so if you just program it as an analog stick mame will load the proper map for it, without the ultimarc software. I understand that you can even customize the maps, but I haven't tried this yet

[u_rebelscum]

That is really helpful! is the 5.5 plate a happ standerd?

Probably was an Atari standard, that happs licensed and is still following.  I'm just guessing 5.5" from the mounting and exploded views; all seven have the same mounting info.  It could be 6" plate instead of 5.5", but from the pictures and the bolt hole spacing, I'm sticking to 5.5" until I hear otherwise even though 6" seems more normal.

It is interesting the B-8 with POTs is $60 more than without, while other models that use the same POTs differ by $15 to $30 between arcade POT and no POT versions.  I'll bet it's a case of supply and demand or volume discounts, as happs is known to sometimes have higher versions at cheaper prices (TBs, for instance) than lesser versions....

Ahh so it wont have pots you think? In the description it reads "5k potentiometers fitted as standard" I assumed that meant all versions had 5k pots minimum.

Hmm, I checked again and you might be right.  This joystick offers a stick with 5k pots, and a stick with 5k POTs + "directly connects to UGCI" at different prices.  Which still leaves your question of "what's the difference?" open.
  Different harness, so you don't need the UGCI w/ harnesses kit, maybe?  BTW, for wacky pricing (may 12, 2008) check the UGCI prices:

	with harness	without	cost of harness
fighting	$185.20	$109.95	$75.25
driving	$155.00	$167.85	-$12.85
flying	$145.00	$167.85	-$22.85

The fighting harnesses + USB cable costs ~$75, but it's cheaper to buy the kit and throw away the harnesses for the flying and driving models!