Help a newbie order everything for his control panel

[Xynie]

I am building an UAII, and everything is going great... decided to go the route of custom, instead of the crazy prices of pre-built cabinets.

Anyways, I am ready to purchase everything from HAPP, also the IPAC, but I want to make sure I am not doing anything wrong, or have the wrong items.  These all add up to the holes int he control panel plans, I just want to make sure there isn't anything I should avoid.

Also, any other suggestions on where to get wire and what gauge?

Thanks
Anthony

From Happ, I list:
4 - Competition 8-Way joysticks (Black)
38 - Competition Pushbuttons (2 six button, 2 four button, 18 other)
1 - 3" Golden Tee Trackball

From Slik:
1 - Tornado Spinner

From Ultimarc
1 - IPAC4 (56) USB

[Nyrine@Work]

How are you planning on interfacing the spinner / trackball ?

May need to add an opti-pac to the ultimarc order !

[Xynie]

How are you planning on interfacing the spinner / trackball ?

May need to add an opti-pac to the ultimarc order !

See, that is why I ask!

Will the opti-pac take both the spinner AND trackball?

[bionicbadger]

Anyways, I am ready to purchase everything from HAPP...

From Happ, I list:
4 - Competition 8-Way joysticks (Black)
38 - Competition Pushbuttons (2 six button, 2 four button, 18 other)
1 - 3" Golden Tee Trackball

I would suggest you take a look at http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/parts.html and compare prices.  Bob Roberts sells new Happs stuff cheaper than Happs does, and I've never seen a bad comment from anyone about Bob's service.  I highly recommend ordering stuff from him.

[SS427]

Just used Bob for some parts for the first time.  He only takes check, bank check or money order I think, but the service and price is excellent!  Definitely worth trying IMO.

Also on the spinner and trackball, there is a tutorial on Oscars Site (hope you don't mind me referencing it here) that uses mouse hack and switch, not to mention other mouse hack setups on other sites.  Oscar's is the only one I could think of off hand.

[SS427]

Trackball mounting plate.

If you order from Happs, make sure you get the hardware that is needed for the plate.

ss

[Xynie]

Instead of ordering an Optipac, can I just order a 3" Trackball w/USB interface, and a Oscar Pro Spinner with USB Interface and then connect them into a USB hub with the IPAC?

Also, what mounting plate do I need?  There is Trackball mounting kits/plate for 3" and 3" High Ball... Not sure of the difference.

Thanks
Anthony

[SS427]

Someone else here will need to help verify this, but I thought there was a problem using usb spinner and trackball with certain OS.  I think XP has a problem with seeing two "mice", but I'm not sure about that when using a usb hub.

3" high ball trackball goes with 3" high ball track plate

Don't know since you are using the golden tee trackball?

[Xynie]

Ah ha... I see the 3" High balls, which I am not getting, so I just need a standard.

I need to pay by credit card, so it looks like I will be Happing.  

Any suggestions on Spinner?  Oscar Pro vs Tornado?  Any reviews on one of them with a Optipac?

Are the pushbuttons the right buttons?  What kind of wire should I get, and where from?

Sorry for so many questions, I want to do it right the first time  I have been going through the faq, but not getting exactly the answers I want

Anthony

[jakejake28]

 so it looks like I will be Happing.  

check out betson. they havve refurb 3" for 29.92, includes ball, wiring, case, bearings and optics. heres a link...

http://www.betson.com/MainDept.asp?

search for item  #47-4300-01R

oh, props to BobA for pointing this out in other thread...

[Tiger-Heli]

Instead of ordering an Optipac, can I just order a 3" Trackball w/USB interface, and a Oscar Pro Spinner with USB Interface and then connect them into a USB hub with the IPAC?

Or order the standard 3" Trackball and get the $9 USB interface from OSCAR.  For that matter, you can plug them both into one OSCAR USB interface.

[Tiger-Heli]

Someone else here will need to help verify this, but I thought there was a problem using usb spinner and trackball with certain OS.  I think XP has a problem with seeing two "mice", but I'm not sure about that when using a usb hub.

XP can't see two MICE, dual trackballs are out.  One spinner and one trackball not in the same game are fine.  I think two spinners hooked to different axes of the same mouse are fine, but Urebel could confirm.

[Xynie]

Instead of ordering an Optipac, can I just order a 3" Trackball w/USB interface, and a Oscar Pro Spinner with USB Interface and then connect them into a USB hub with the IPAC?

Or order the standard 3" Trackball and get the $9 USB interface from OSCAR.  For that matter, you can plug them both into one OSCAR USB interface.

Would I need 2 Oscar USB Interfaces?  One for the Oscar Pro Spinner, and one for the Happ Trackball?  I guess I would also need the Happ Trackball Adapter for the Oscar USB Interface.

:EDIT:

DOH!  Shoulda read your message closer about both into one interface...

Or would it be easier for a newbie with 2?

[Tiger-Heli]

Instead of ordering an Optipac, can I just order a 3" Trackball w/USB interface, and a Oscar Pro Spinner with USB Interface and then connect them into a USB hub with the IPAC?

Or order the standard 3" Trackball and get the $9 USB interface from OSCAR.  For that matter, you can plug them both into one OSCAR USB interface.

Would I need 2 Oscar USB Interfaces?  One for the Oscar Pro Spinner, and one for the Happ Trackball?  I guess I would also need the Happ Trackball Adapter for the Oscar USB Interface.

:EDIT:

DOH!  Shoulda read your message closer about both into one interface...

Or would it be easier for a newbie with 2?

You shouldn't need any Happ adapter - that's what the interface does.  The standard trackball comes with a five or six wire Molex plug that connects to OSCAR's interface.  I think OSCAR sells a harness connector - if that's what you mean - you could get one if you don't want to cut the plug off or sort out the wiring.

1 or 2?  Hard to say.  I am doing modular desktop controls, so I will have individual interfaces.  For a cab, I think the wiring is maybe less complicated with 2 interfaces, if you have enough USB ports.

To MAME, I think everything gets lumped into SYSMOUSE either way, so I don't think that matters either.

(With separate interfaces and Analog + and Win98 or WinME, you could use the trackball for one player and the spinner for the other player, if you ever wanted to (driving games, perhaps)

[SpAwN]

So what you guys are saying is:

I can get a Tornado spinner and use it via usb

I can also get a Happ Trackball, but will need to get the Oscar usb interface for $9.00

Once I get both parts I can both usb devices into my computer and they will work with mame? No need for an Optipac?

[Tiger-Heli]

So what you guys are saying is:

I can get a Tornado spinner and use it via usb

I can also get a Happ Trackball, but will need to get the Oscar usb interface for $9.00

Once I get both parts I can both usb devices into my computer and they will work with mame? No need for an Optipac?

As I see it, yes.  Not sure how the tornado connects, but if it's USB, you should be okay.

[madk]

Are you sure you want to get Competition Pushbuttons?  Some people don't like them as they don't have that retro look or feel.