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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: chris2fett on August 27, 2016, 10:45:49 am

Title: X-Arcade TANKSTICK serial port splitter question
Post by: chris2fett on August 27, 2016, 10:45:49 am

Just found this site, and it's great!  I just finished my Rec-Room-Masters arcade cabinet assembly and inserted my X-arcade Tankstick. I'm hooking the Tankstick up to both my PC and my X-Box 360. This requires a separate cable for each, which plugs into a 9 pin serial port on the Tankstick. My issue is: I would like to find a way to have the Tankstick hooked up to both machines without having to unplug the serial connector each time and switching back and forth between my PC and XBOX-360 adapter cables.

Would an RS-232  9 pin serial Y-splitter cable (connected to the short serial cable on the Tankstick) enable me to do this? Of course I would not have both machines running at simultaneously. I just want an easy way to have the Tankstick connected to both, so I'm not behind the cabinet trying to swap controller cables every time that I switch machines.

Thanks for your help!

Title: Re: X-Arcade TANKSTICK serial port splitter question
Post by: 05SRT4 on August 27, 2016, 05:16:20 pm

I am not sure if the Y- Split would work. I dont see why not.

I actually have the same setup, Tank-stick, mame PC, and Xbox 360.

I ended up using A Switch Box (https://www.amazon.com/CableWholesale-Female-Switch-Cable-40D1-10602/dp/B000I9B2JG) Although they are bulky and ugly it got the job done. I just used a remote to switch the TV inputs for the Xbox but the switch box worked great for the Control panel to Xbox360/PC.

Title: Re: X-Arcade TANKSTICK serial port splitter question
Post by: chris2fett on August 28, 2016, 12:08:29 am

Thanks for the input! I hadn't thought about a switcher. Looked online, they're fairly cheap.