Is the Ultimarc trackball any good?

[The cranky hermit]

Unlike the Happ trackball, I can actually afford this one.

[2slk]

 I think that is a fairly new addition to the Ultimarc product page. I can't comment from personal exprience with that trackball but if Andy sells it you can be confident that it is a good piece of equipment.

[AlanS17]

Until this post I didn't even know Ultimarc sold trackballs. I may actually think about getting one now.

[MinerAl]

According to Andy on his WebBoard it's a Suzo 57mm (2.5") (edit: 57mm = 2.25"), so there should be plenty of info in old posts around here about those.

[JODY]

Should be identical to the 2.5" ones Wico sells as they are owned by Suzo.

[SirPoonga]

Yep, that's a suzo, figures, he's in the UK.

The other option is to watch ebay for trackballs.  You can usually get a Betson for that (which the earlier golden tees used.   Also can get used tballs that may just need new rollers or bearings.

[HeadRusch]

So whats wrong with the Suza one.....his price is awfully good........

[SirPoonga]

Nothing, if you want a 2.5" tball.

[jakejake28]

i am buying. i am working on a 2 p. trackball pnel. looks like a good deal for me, 2 for 50 bucks. plus, i can add an optipac and save on shiping.

[AndyWarne]

Yes this is the Suzo/Wico trackball, just with the addition of a connecting cable for the Opti-PAC. Getting hold of these at a price which enables us to re-sell them was no mean feat, I had been hassling Suzo for over a year. I think this is an especially good deal for Europe customers as there has never been a trackball available for this price there before.
Compared to the Happ: The ball is heavier than the Happ and so spins further but they are slightly noisier in operation. The body is a more compact size so easier for a crowded panel.

[Zeitgeist]

Looks like a Suzo/Wico 2 & 1/4" trackball.
Haven't heard any bad comments on these.
If Andy is selling them, then they should go work well with his IPac.

[aumameman]

Damn thats GREAT!! I'll be sure to order one when I order my ipac (of course this means ill also now need a optipac, lol!)

[Lilwolf]

WARNING ABOUT EBAY!

I bought one on ebay and the it really doesn't roll smooth... not until I put about 20 bucks on new rollers / pins.

2 1/4" trackballs are centipede size.  Smaller then many others.

The main advantage I can see in getting a 2 1/4" is, well price, AND you can put a true cue ball in as a replacement!  Kind of cool having a 9ball in there

[aumameman]

EBAY is a great place to buy certain things like arcade artwork however I wouldnt buy a track ball or anything else that wears out quickly as that tossa sellin it could be sellin you theyre garbage.

EBAY tip, do your reasearch on how much the item is new and ask the seller questions if your unsure. If a seller doesnt include a pic of the item, be scared, very scared!!

[mccall]

If you're buying on eBay you have to use common sense.
 
I bought a new Betson 3" PS2 trackball for $49 shipped (IIRC). When it arrived it was packaged well and was exactly as described, ie new, unused and sealed. I popped it open to check and everything was pristine.

I also bought my joysticks and buttons from an eBay seller. Two 8 way joys and 20 buttons w/switches, all new, for $19 shipped. My over/under coin door was $25 shipped. It wasn't new but it was in very good condition with two working coin mechs and working lights.

[RedSquirrel]

nice price. BUT 2 things..

does it connect straight to the mouse port? Or do you wire it up via a card?

Secondly, does it have a top plate with it?

[traknfieldSUPAstar]

just a guess... but i'd think you have to use an optipac in order for it work... would make sense if it was from the ultimarc site  

[AlanS17]

What are the mlunting dimensions on those Ultimarc trackballs? I'm pressed for space so that may be a good choice.

[jakejake28]

hey, if i buy a few (which i will), i have 2 questions.

1) can i have 4 hooked up at once, with 2 optipacs using 2 usbs? does mame support this?

2) do i need a mounting plate for this?

i was considering buying a giant atari football trackball, but i could get 4 for that price i love ultimarc

[u_rebelscum]

hey, if i buy a few (which i will), i have 2 questions.

1) can i have 4 hooked up at once, with 2 optipacs using 2 usbs? does mame support this?

2) do i need a mounting plate for this?

i was considering buying a giant atari football trackball, but i could get 4 for that price i love ultimarc

1) Yes (AFAIK).  No, not mame, but if you have win98 or winME, Mame:Analog+ will. (see sig)

2) Yes, unless Andy is already including one.  The happs 2 1/4" plates will work, but if you get the boltless plate kit, you'll need to redrill the top TB mounting holes a little bigger.  At least, I had to with a wico/suzo ball from wico and the black painted one (the bolts were painted too, so maybe the zinc won't require the redrill).

[jakejake28]

thanks u_rebelscum, but i still have 2 questions.

1) i have win xp. is there anything i can do to use even 2 tbs?

2) when you say *redrill the top TB mounting holes a little bigger* does that mean on the actual TB case or the wood it is mounted in?

[u_rebelscum]

thanks u_rebelscum, but i still have 2 questions.

1) i have win xp. is there anything i can do to use even 2 tbs?

2) when you say *redrill the top TB mounting holes a little bigger* does that mean on the actual TB case or the wood it is mounted in?

1) Learn the new winXP API called "rawinput" and "rawmouse" and try to add it to a compile yourself mame.    Or wait until I get a winXP computer plus time and add the code to Mame:Analog+.
Besides not having XP, I'm currently spending most of my free time trying to copy a busted pole position cab .  So you'd have to wait some.

2) I mean enlarge the four holes on the actual TB case by ~1/64" (~0.40 mm) to ~7/32 (~5.56 mm).  
Sanding the paint off happs mounting plate kit "nuts" (the four round tubes with threads inside fused to the underside of the plate) might do it instead, since the difference is so small.
If you use the plain plates that need carriage bolts heads sticking up on top, no need to redrill.

[Tiger-Heli]

For anyone, in the states, the same trackball is available from www.wicothesource.com for $25.  I think Suzo bought Wico a short time ago.  You won't get the harness to connect to the opti-pac, but you could hard-wire it, or you could go to USB with OSCAR's USB interface for $9  www.oscarcontrols.com

[Tiger-Heli]

1) Learn the new winXP API called "rawinput" and "rawmouse" and try to add it to a compile yourself mame.    Or wait until I get a winXP computer plus time and add the code to Mame:Analog+.
Besides not having XP, I'm currently spending most of my free time trying to copy a busted pole position cab .  So you'd have to wait some.

Cool!  So there's finally hope for the WinXP crowd.  Urebel, any idea if the next MameAnalog+ will work with Both XP and 98?  Or will there be a MAMEAnalog+98 file and and MAMEAnalog+XP file?  And, just out of curiousity, any light at the end of the tunnel for NT/2000 folks (no idea why you would run that for MAME?)

[AlanS17]

Anybody know the dimensions on those Wico/Ultimarc trackballs? I'm seriously pressed for space and would like to know if they would do the job.

[The cranky hermit]

He says the trackball has the same hole mounting patterns as the happ ones.

[Smittydc]

He says the trackball has the same hole mounting patterns as the happ ones.

Yes, but I think he wants to know (as do I) the actualy physical dimensions, like width, length, and depth.

[u_rebelscum]

Anybody know the dimensions on those Wico/Ultimarc trackballs? I'm seriously pressed for space and would like to know if they would do the job.

Trackball case approx 4.24"x4.25"x2.3" (not including ball <--edit)
happs mounting plate 6"x6"

1) ... wait until I get a winXP computer plus time and add the code to Mame:Analog+. ... you'd have to wait some.

Cool!  So there's finally hope for the WinXP crowd.  Urebel, any idea if the next MameAnalog+ will work with Both XP and 98?  Or will there be a MAMEAnalog+98 file and and MAMEAnalog+XP file?  And, just out of curiousity, any light at the end of the tunnel for NT/2000 folks (no idea why you would run that for MAME?)

In the next version, no.  By end of summer, maybe.  By end of year, hopefully.  Sorry for getting your hopes up too soon.

I will probably shoot for one version for both XP & 9x "multi-mousing", by checking the OS and using whichever code needed.  If needed, I'll do two versions.

AFAIK, there is no light for NT/2000 users.

[jakejake28]

AFAIK, there is no light for NT/2000 users.

*swigs beer, reaches to coffee table for pistol*

ahh, luckily (well, sort of), i run xp.

[AlanS17]

Screw it. I'm going back to XP... Those Act Labs GS Guns kinda blow anyways. Waste of $35.

[HeadRusch]

I love 2000.....and I dont like XP......but my mame cabs run 98.

They only lock up once every day!