Is This a good idea

[wooowman93]

I don't want to buy a ipac4 but was thinking i could get 4 of these


http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=LO0335


going to one
usb hub

http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=LO3197

it would only cost 36.95$
and a total of 56 inputs

almost half price of ipac

can you tell me the pros and cons of this idea

[pinballwizard79]

Get one of these: http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=233

Heck I think I have a few laying around here if you are interested, it wont be free but it will be less than your controller idea & more stable/clean.

Or just buy one from Randy, I am sure to use the KeyWhiz's I have eventually anyway.

But regardless I wouldn't hack a controller, too much time &  mess to save $0.40

[wooowman93]

But i need a to make a 4 player CP with 3 admin buttons each and 7 button layouts for p1 and p2 and 4 button layout for p3 p4

i need 56 inputs

[CheffoJeffo]

Can you solder ?

[wooowman93]

i would say im OK not good at it but i can do it and don't care too much about time

[ghettodish]

I've hacked some used Sidewinders. They cost a buck or two used and are easy to work with:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_staticx.shtml

[protokatie]

can you tell me the pros and cons of this idea

Pro's : You may save a few bucks.

Con's : It won't usually be worth it. An IPAC4 or similar GGG device would be much better for MAME as well as other games/emulators. For one, you can reprogram (even dynamically) the IPAC and G-wiz type devices. Two, you can daisy chain them to get as many inputs as you need. Also, there is a tonne of support here (not just from the R/andy's) for these devices as they are well known and are the primary controller chips used here. Also, no soldering required, and if you get one that has a wire harness, no crimping is required either: Just plug and play...

[vidmouse]

I'm actually going to do a USB gamepad hack for my driving cab
(need it for the button inputs, not the wheel).

I don't think I would ever do it for a 4p cab though, just too much
work.

I never regretted buying an IPAC 4, as I have reprogrammed mine
over again as I've added new emulators to my system and
reconfigured how I wanted stuff to work... the software made
it soooo easy.

[CheffoJeffo]

My advice, based on you wanting to save money, is to make your way to an auction (I know you can't go tomorrow, but there will be another one in 6 weeks or so) and pick up a cheap cabinet with working monitor. That is, to my mind, more efficient than trying to save $$$ on the encoder. You can reuse the controls immediately (if you want to replace them, then you can do that at your leisure) and are most of the way there.

My current MAME-based project is a cabinet that I picked up at the SB auction for $50 or $75 (can't remember which). A Xenophobe converted (rather well, I must say) to Golden Tee 99. So, for $75 (or $50), I got a nice trackball, cabinet, coin door, monitor, JAMMA harness, PCB and power supply. I can sell the PCB and PS (and trackball adapter harness) to offset some costs (except that I have already installed the PS in another cabinet). I also didn't have to buy new controls since this MAME project is based around the trackball. If you find yourself a 4-player cab, then you instantly save some $$$ on joysticks and buttons (which you can replace at your leisure).

To my mind, the core cabinet workings, including monitor, are the easiest place to save money and you have the advantage of being close to the most frequently recurring arcade auction that I am aware of.

[johnnybleu]

I've used those very same controllers for my cab, and I have to say I regret not going with the ipac.

Like you, I wanted to save money.... However, I had to buy two controllers, wire, connectors, basic soldering materials and tools, etc etc etc. Also, those controllers are insanely hard to hack. In fact, I ended up going through 5 controllers by the time my control panel was done (2 of those I already had at home and didn't really work well to begin with). I had little to no experience soldering before taking on this project, which really didn't help matters.

The bottom line is that at the end of the day, I spent more money on the "cheap" controller hack than I would have spent on an ipac or similar encoder. Not to mention the 2+ weeks of frustration, anger, and confusion that came with actually doing the hack. Oh, and the finished product is "okay" at best. One of my controllers is acting up strangely, and you only need to look at the thing wrong for buttons to stop working.

Just my opinion based on experience.

[Dazz]

Spend the extra and go for the I-Pac4.

[drventure]

I'd second and say go with the IPAC. It's very easy to hook up and work with, and their support has been great (the one and only time I actually had to email them).

Save the headaches for something else (there'll be plenty of opportunities!)