Having problems connecting both my Xbox 360 and ipac to arcade controls

[Doom bucket]

So I already had my controls hooked up to my ipac, but since Soul Caliber 4 has just come out, I decided that it would be neat to have my Xbox 360 hooked up as well.

If I take off the ipac from a button and put Xbox 360 wires onto the button, it registers. But if try to connect both at the same time(with the ipac unplugged of course) the button stops showing up in Windows.

What am I doing wrong? Is what I am trying to do possible?

[Doom bucket]

Oh, and I've got Perfect 360 arcade sticks as well

NO idea how that's going to work out

[Doom bucket]

Alright, well now the ipac doesn't seem to be working with any of the inputs that shared a connection to my 360

Edit: I was mistaken, but it gave me such a scare I am definitely waiting for some responses before continuing

[EwJ]

There are too many '360's'  these days.
Unless you specify , people might not be certain whether you are
referencing an xbox 360, Happ Perfect 360, or an Ultimarc 360.

heh, there's another post in main right now recommending upgrading a 'happ super to an ultimate 360 from happ'.

[EwJ]

The U360 I/O port is seeing it as Output mode instead of input (button) mode?

From Ultimarc website: 'This 10-pin header can be used in two modes. The post auto-detects which mode you are using.'
'Note that when using in Output Mode, if you go into Control Panel, Gamepad Devices, the 8 buttons will still be shown there, but they are inoperative.'

Is that how it's showing up in windows control panel?

[Doom bucket]

 

The U360 I/O port is seeing it as Output mode instead of input (button) mode?

From Ultimarc website: 'This 10-pin header can be used in two modes. The post auto-detects which mode you are using.'
'Note that when using in Output Mode, if you go into Control Panel, Gamepad Devices, the 8 buttons will still be shown there, but they are inoperative.'

Is that how it's showing up in windows control panel?

Hmm, I think that might be it. Because I had been looking at the Gamepad Devices screen to test the buttons, and instead of blinking when I press a button, they just stay red. And if I disconnect the iPac wiring and leave only the 360 wiring the buttons are green and operate perfectly. I suppose the answer to this might be on the website, then.

I have a few questions about 360 controller hacks. The 360 controller I am using has already been hacked, not by me, so I don't totally understand the wiring on it... Is there a diagram somewhere that shows which points are ground and which aren't? And I have two wires going from each direction on the joystick points on the Xbox 360 PCB. Which ones should I use, seeing how my perfect 360 only needs one for each direction?

[Doom bucket]

oh I just read your  message again and no I don't have U360 sticks but it's a similar problem

damn this topic must have been so confusing, so I went and edited all my references to 360 to clarify

[Ginsu Victim]

Thanks for the edits, because I thought you meant a U360 this whole time.

[Doom bucket]

so yeah the solution proposed wouldn't work in my case then

[AndyWarne]

Console controllers generally use all kinds of matrix or scanning methods for the controls. They are not usually simply tied to ground on one side and an input port similar to an I-PAC on the other. So this could be loaded with problems which might be difficult or impossible to resolve without reverse-engineering the XBox controller.
Andy

[Doom bucket]

Could I use some kind of "switch" that would have both ipac and  xbox 360 hooked up to it, so that only one of them would actually be connected to arcade controls at one time? The problem isn't getting my xbox 360 hooked up to my arcade, the problem is getting both the ipac and xbox 360 connected.

[Doom bucket]

I do remember a guide for someone trying to do something similar to what I was doing(although I think it was dreamcast instead) where he used DRB connectors(again no idea if thats what they were called). I just tried searching through the archives with no luck. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I'm pretty sure that would solve my current problem.

[HaRuMaN]

Printer switch...

like this one:  eBay auction (not mine)

[HaRuMaN]

you probably mean DB-25 connectors

[Doom bucket]

HarumaN, could I get such a thing from say, radioshack? And if anyone has done this before, I'd like to see what steps you took, so that I could try and get this done without screwing everything up >_>

[Doom bucket]

bump

[Doom bucket]

Help?

[HaRuMaN]

What do you need help with exactly?  You may be able to get those parts from Radio Shack, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  You might have to go with an actual electronic supply company to get the parts you need (like mouser.com).

[Doom bucket]

I don't really understand what to do with the printer switch once I've got it. I don't know which points on the controller are ground and which ones are not, and I only mentioned the DB-25 connectors because I had heard about them, not because I know what I would do with them once I got them.

I searched the archives for db-25 and printer switch but only got the results of a project that was not trying to do what I'm trying to do.

[HaRuMaN]

Well, with the printer switch, you would have your controls connected to the output side, and your Ipac connected to input A, and your Xbox 360 to input B.  Then, with a simple flip of the switch, you would change which system would be active.  (As long as you are consistent in wiring sides A & B, for example, pin 1 for both would need to be the same button or direction, and so on...)  That's one solution to your problem.

The other solution you mentioned, the DB-25 connectors, would require you reaching in and plugging in the desired system (while unplugging the inactive system).

Hope this helps.  I could come up with some quick diagrams to help you visualize, if you want.

-Lee

[HaRuMaN]

Another thought.  Xbox 360 controllers are compatible with Windoze.  Why not ditch the I-PAC altogther and just use 360 pads as your interface to both systems?  Set up Joy-2-Key on your PC, and that should do it. 

[Doom bucket]

Because I Love my Dreamcast and have iPac connectors for my Dreamcast, Wii(and gamecube), and PS2. It would probably be more effort to sell the ipac + connectors, hack two controllers for each console and interface all 8 controllers to my arcade controls than to just get this sorted out.

I'm going to go to Fry's Electronic's to pick up a printer switch and try to get the first controller hooked up tommorow... I think I can work with what you told me but a diagram would be really helpful

[Doom bucket]

I bought the printer switch, but I've made no other progress on this project.

Simply put, I am way over my head. I'm tempted to just sell my ipac and connectors and try out nullDC. Not too much on PS2 that isn't outdated or available on another system that I NEED to play, and everyone knows the gamecube has no good fighting games(and the Wii is a tad useless too)

Even if I go that route, I'd probably still get a hacked controller from you, HarumaN,

[HaRuMaN]

Hmm... where do you live?

[Doom bucket]

Northwest Suburbs

I had my Wisdom teeth taken out(all four of them) which gave me a fresh look at the amount of time it would take to do all this >_>

[HaRuMaN]

Northwest Suburbs

NW suburbs of what city? 

[Doom bucket]

Haha, wow. Sorry. Combination of valium and vicodin, I tell you. Northwest suburbs of Chicago.