Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Nephasth on December 09, 2010, 08:05:05 pm
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I've been searching for a USB hub that will mount into my cab's panelling. I've found there's not a whole lot of options if I want to keep a clean look. I want access to 4 USB ports on the outside of my cabinet without visible wires. I found the in desk hubs like Belkin makes ( http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=369283 (http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=369283) ) but I don't want a hole in my cab around the hub. I finally stumbled across these couplers ( http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=8159 (http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=8159) ) that I think will work great, just wish they were a 4 port hub. So what are you using?
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Painted this black:
(http://www.skinners.us/skinners/Misc/ArcadeCab/arcadeCab0018.jpg)
And installed lower left, above the CP:
(http://www.skinners.us/skinners/Misc/ArcadeCab/arcadeCab0075.jpg)
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I just bought some cheap extender cables, drilled/chiseled a hole to match the size of the plug, mounted it and epoxied it in place. Looks great, but is pretty inconspicuous.
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Ibought a standard 4 port usb hub, and just double sided taped it under my control panel. You cannot see it, but it is easy to get to when I need it.
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I open the coin door on the rare occasion I need in the machine. I don't want to make it too easy to hookup a mouse and keyboard, but if your wanting to hookup some controllers, I can see needing them.
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You could use something a multi function drive bay device for a computer and just figure out a way to mount it cleanly somewhere. www.Frozencpu.com (http://www.Frozencpu.com) has tons of different ones to choose from
(http://www.lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/BZ-U01-b.jpg)
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Two of these on the front of the control panel:
http://www.markertek.com/Connectors-Adapters/Data-Connectors-Adapters/USB-Adapters/Switchcraft-Corporation/EHUSBABBX.xhtml (http://www.markertek.com/Connectors-Adapters/Data-Connectors-Adapters/USB-Adapters/Switchcraft-Corporation/EHUSBABBX.xhtml)
They are simple to install since you only need to drill a hole. No cutting/routing out square pieces.
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I bought something similar and didn't use it. Instead I just hooked up a keyboard via usb and keep it inside the cabinet, accessible by opening the coin door and pulling it out. I don't use any controllers that would require USB.
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i took the double front usb ports from the case the pooter came in,
then i took a spare happ push button, removed the button bit, and dremeled the usb ports square plastic surround till it was round, and sat inside the button housing,
then i just mounted the button/usb port on the side of the cab, of course for a 4 port jobbie you'd need 2 buttons,
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I just bought some cheap extender cables, drilled/chiseled a hole to match the size of the plug, mounted it and epoxied it in place. Looks great, but is pretty inconspicuous.
That is also what I did. Along with my NES, SNES, N64 and GC ports. I haven't gotten any further on my cab since I took this picture, but you get the idea. I wanted nice clean flush mounted ports. When I epoxy them in, I'll use some filler around the front of the ports before I paint it to give it a nice, seamless look.
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Along with my NES, SNES, N64 and GC ports.
Have you visited retrousb.com? I love using classic controllers, but I like the idea of a univeral port on my cabinet. I'll be converting my classic controllers to have usb connections.
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They are inside the cabinet. No idea why you would want to have access to them.
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Along with my NES, SNES, N64 and GC ports.
Have you visited retrousb.com? I love using classic controllers, but I like the idea of a univeral port on my cabinet. I'll be converting my classic controllers to have usb connections.
Yeah. And actually, I bought pairs of their NES/SNES/N64 adapters. But I didn't want to hack up any of my controllers, and I didn't want to have to have extra converters laying around. Plus this way the USB HID "controllers" are always present, so I have consistent joystick ID's when it comes to assigning controllers in the various emulators. My main interface is a GPWiz 40 and I found windows likes to renumber the joysticks when you plug/unplug new ones in, screwing things up.
I went with Raphnet's interfaces. He sells some premade adapters, but I just ordered the PCB kits and soldered everything up myself. He has a 4 player (S)NES kit, so I was able to connect both my NES and SNES ports up with one USB cable, and the N64/GC kit supports one of each controller, so I only needed 2 kits for those 4 controllers. He also has an Intellivision conversion kit that I would like to do once I get my hands on a spare and/or broken Intv. That one will have to have to remain USB.
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They are inside the cabinet. No idea why you would want to have access to them.
For me personally, I plan to use them for plugging in additional controllers, plugging in a USB thumb drive/USB HDD to install additional software, etc... without having to open up the access door to the PC and plug things in there.
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I use remote access and an occasional Bluetooth keyboard for that. Way more convenience than attaching al kind of stuff to your cabinet.
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I use the same thing as ahofle except the Neutrik brand (seems cheaper). Super easy to use. Just drill a hole and screw it in.... bam you're done. They look pretty slick too.
http://www.markertek.com/Connectors-Adapters/Data-Connectors-Adapters/USB-Adapters/Neutrik-USA-Inc/NAUSB.xhtml (http://www.markertek.com/Connectors-Adapters/Data-Connectors-Adapters/USB-Adapters/Neutrik-USA-Inc/NAUSB.xhtml)
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I mounted one of these below my control panel out of sight.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10307&cs_id=1030701&p_id=226&seq=1&format=2 (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10307&cs_id=1030701&p_id=226&seq=1&format=2)
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I mounted one of these below my control panel out of sight.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10307&cs_id=1030701&p_id=226&seq=1&format=2 (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10307&cs_id=1030701&p_id=226&seq=1&format=2)
I used that exact same hub inside my CP (since it's modular) to plug in the trackball, analog flight stick, and to get +5 for my p360's. On a few occasions it got a little goofy, and didn't recognize anything is plugged into it. i found an easy fix is to pull the cable out of the back that goes to the PC, but for the most part it works fine.
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Hi. i have a question. i too plan on having usb ports at hand. i plan on mounting them too the wood panel that will be above and below the bezel/plexi. they are for the for the USB NES controllers, and thumb drives. I bought a 4 way hub for 2.00 to use for the NES controlers. so i have zero problems hacking it up to put in my wood panel. so here is what im wondering. i will have have 1 cable for each: trackball, ipac2, spinner, keyboard, mouse,and aimtrack guns. so when do we need to have power added to the USB. I ordered a 10 port usb hub that has its own power supply. could i got away with just another cheap 4 way hub if I need more ports?
i think i have enough ports on my computer i wont need the 10 port hub on my current project.. i bought the hub with its own power supply for my next project which will have LED stuff and figure id need power for it.. and if i do need more ports i can use it in my current project..
thank you.
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i generally dont need to have usb ports on the outside. on my showcase cabinet, i do have two usb ports however so that i can plug in my guncon 2 guns into my playstation 2 that is inside the cabinet along with my pc. i cut a piece of plexiglass and drilled/cut a few holes in it and mounted it to the inside of the coin door, so that the ports are accessable through the coin return openings. i need to paint this plexi so you can't see through it, but i was in a hurry the night i made it...
these are connected to some usb extension cables that run back to my playstation 2. i can also plug them into the PC if i wanted to use my guns with mame (pain in the butt to get working reliably) this way they are easy to access, but don't stick out like a sore thumb. (there are also two video ports for the guncons, and on the other side is a 1/4 jack to connect my reload pedal)
(http://www.severdhed.com/images/arcade/showcase/IMG_2458.JPG)