Ultimarc purchase help

[mr_doles]

I am ready to spend some of my Christmas money at Ultimarc and have few quick questions.  I want to have a 2 player, 6 button, plus trackball layout.  I will have a player 1/2 start, player 1/2 coin and want a physical esc button (no shifting), which means an encoder.  My plan was 2 UltraStick 360s with the 6 action buttons on each.  An encoder with the start buttons, credit buttons, esc button and pause button.  And finally the u-trak with bezel (extra special thanks to blind_dado for his great review)

I want to make sure what I buy can do what I need but not buy more then I need.  There are so many options that it makes my head spin (I-pac, Min-Pac, USB, direct connect, etc).  Can someone help me put together what I need so I don't over/under spend?

On a side note I bought 1 UltraStick already and had 2 questions.  First off does anyone else have an issue with the oval top coming unscrewed very easily?  It is always coming undone while I am playing.  Second there was what looks like a washer in the box that I have no idea what it is for.  The stick seems to be working so I don't know if I need it for something.  I have attached a picture, it is small so sorry about the quality.

[wachin]

To answer your side question, I think that washer and your loose oval top handle go hand in hand.  If you unscrew the handle completely, I think that washer fits right down the shaft then then handle screws down over it.  That should help with your oval top issue.

[ivwshane]

If you go with two u360's then you don't need any encoders just get two usb wiring harnesses from him.

U360 (p1) will support up to 8 buttons, so your p1 six buttons and p1 start and coin will be covered.
U360 (p2) will support up to 8 buttons, so your p2 six buttons and p2 start and coin will be covered.
I don't know about about the ultimarc trackball but if you go with an electric ice track ball, it supports three buttons itself which would cover your exit button.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=270

With that setup your wiring would be super easy and super clean.

[Blanka]

Normaly the minipac is perfect for 2 player layouts, a trackball and a spinner. Do you really need the 360-s? Or just one maybe?
I like a double fighter layout+trackball+spinner on the minipac and a separate 360 for analog and 2/way 4/way games.

[mr_doles]

To answer your side question, I think that washer and your loose oval top handle go hand in hand. 

That it does!  .  Thank you so much.

Do you really need the 360-s? Or just one maybe?

If it was not for the fact that I bought 1 u360 I would consider that, but I use a few different emulators and the 360 works flawlessly for them all.  I love this thing.  Now while the second player will not see much action it is worth the extra money for the few times that my buddies try to play a game and it works right off the bat.

So looks like
Option 1: U-Trak ($89) + Bezel ($5) + Mini-PAC Opti ($69) = $163
Option 2: Electric ICE-T Trackball ($116.95) + Trackball Install Kit ($8.95) = $125.90
Option 3: U-Trak ($89) + Bezel ($5) + Opti-PAC Opti ($39) + Trackball Adaptor Harness for Opti-PAC ($3) = $136
Option 4: Trackball 2 1/4in Without Cables ($48) + Trackball Mounting Plate ($16) + Mini-PAC Opti ($69) = $133

With these options do I need to add anything else, or did I add some I don't need?  I was a little confused on the Mini-PAC standard vs Opti and if I can use the Opti-PAC for buttons.  I do like the thought of one store ordering to save on shipping, as I need to get some stuff from Ultimarc anyway.  All this confusion for 1 extra button .

Any opinions?

[Ummon]

If it was not for the fact that I bought 1 u360 I would consider that, but I use a few different emulators and the 360 works flawlessly for them all.  I love this thing.  Now while the second player will not see much action...

Robotron, Smash TV, Black Widow.....

[slasherman]

http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=3

I also recommend those classic arcade buttons

[mr_doles]

OK I am 90% sure of what I am going to get but I have one last question that will help me decide.  I was looking at the  LED-Wiz+GP, now I already have all my buttons and they are not translucent, they are Happ Concave long buttons with cherry switches.  Has anyone lit these up with an LED before.  I was thinking of one White ButtonBlaster LED (or red for the red buttons, etc).  This will only be on in the frontend to show what buttons the games uses.  Would you be able to get the LED inside there easily?

EDIT:
So after finding this link http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=74388.0 I will say nevermind to my previous question.