Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: charliepr on January 28, 2013, 08:46:00 am
-
Hello I have a PC with mame fully working, now I will be starting with my cab I'm thinking about a 2 player 8 way joysticks 6 buttons, trackball, spinner, and a 4 way joystick for my control panel. I have the 8way joysticks and the buttons, But I'm kind of lost when it comes to the I-pac2 and the Mini-pac encoders. Do I need both or will the mini-pac work for all my controllers? Thanks for any advice I can get. I'm new when it comes to the cab CP setup.
-
bump, did I post this in the wrong area??
-
Still trying to figure this out, any help?? :dunno
-
TBH, I've never used a mini Pac, but taking a quick look at the wiring diagram, you'll probably need more inputs than the one board provides. Based on what you've stated, it sounds like you'll need 12 switches/player (4 per joystick, 6 buttons + start button + coin button), so at least 24 buttons. Not counting admin buttons, either.
Sounds like you could use two of them, though.
-
You can double up the 4-way's input with one of the 8-ways to save inputs, it isn't like you are going to be using them at the same time.
-
Hello I have a PC with mame fully working, now I will be starting with my cab I'm thinking about a 2 player 8 way joysticks 6 buttons, trackball, spinner, and a 4 way joystick for my control panel. I have the 8way joysticks and the buttons, But I'm kind of lost when it comes to the I-pac2 and the Mini-pac encoders. Do I need both or will the mini-pac work for all my controllers? Thanks for any advice I can get. I'm new when it comes to the cab CP setup.
8 inputs - 4 inputs x 2 8-way-joysticks -- 4-way in parallel with P1 stick
12 inputs - 6 buttons x 2 players
4 inputs - Start and Coin for P1 and P2
3? inputs - Exit, Pause, Menu?
2-4? inputs - Plunger, pinball flippers, upper flippers? (If you want to play Pinball.) ;D
The Mini-Pac will connect all that, plus the trackball and spinner.
The optional harness makes it very easy to wire.
To wire the 4-way and 8-way in parallel, connect them like this.
When lines cross, a dot = connected and no dot = not connected.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=129056.0;attach=273345;image)
Scott
-
Hello I have a PC with mame fully working, now I will be starting with my cab I'm thinking about a 2 player 8 way joysticks 6 buttons, trackball, spinner, and a 4 way joystick for my control panel. I have the 8way joysticks and the buttons, But I'm kind of lost when it comes to the I-pac2 and the Mini-pac encoders. Do I need both or will the mini-pac work for all my controllers? Thanks for any advice I can get. I'm new when it comes to the cab CP setup.
8 inputs - 4 inputs x 2 8-way-joysticks -- 4-way in parallel with P1 stick
12 inputs - 6 buttons x 2 players
4 inputs - Start and Coin for P1 and P2
3? inputs - Exit, Pause, Menu?
2-4? inputs - Plunger, pinball flippers, upper flippers? (If you want to play Pinball.) ;D
The Mini-Pac will connect all that, plus the trackball and spinner.
The optional harness makes it very easy to wire.
To wire the 4-way and 8-way in parallel, connect them like this.
When lines cross, a dot = connected and no dot = not connected.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=129056.0;attach=273345;image)
Scott
Thanks Scott, So all I need for my idea is the Mini-Pac for this to work and follow your steps posted here, right?
-
So all I need for my idea is the Mini-Pac for this to work and follow your steps posted here, right?
Just to be clear, make sure you get the "Mini-PAC Opti. With Harness and USB cable" -- No "Opti.", no built-in spinner/trackball encoder capability header.
Which spinner and trackall are you planning on using?
UTrak and SpinTrak are plug and play with the Mini-Pac.
Scott
Clarification: GeoMan posted here (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132839.msg1366049.html#msg1366049) that Andy told him that the basic mini-pac has the optical circuitry but no header pins -- you can solder on wires to connect a trackball/spinner.
-
I have a xin-mo a cheaper version of the controller interfaces available but it does the trick itself.
-
In order to reduce the Frankenpanel factor, I would ignore the 4-way joystick, and have joysticks that can switch from 4 to 8-way.
There are such joysticks that even do it automatically for you (http://www.ultimarc.com/servostik.html (http://www.ultimarc.com/servostik.html)), depending on the game being played...