Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: hulkster on May 26, 2004, 06:15:16 pm
-
oh geez. i was showing my bro my new cab today, and i took off the cp top to show him the wires....well apparently the keyboard wire was snagged somewhere so, it dislodged the keyboard input port on my ipac4!!! its hanging off a little, but its basically desoldered at 3 points. now the keyboard doesnt work. can this be fixed?? or do i need to order another one? suck, suck suck suck suck.....and to think i was getting my cab ready for this day...and now its ruined!!! help!
-
oh geez good luck
-
Just go buy a USB keyboard, I have a zippy mini backlit USB keyboard and it works great!
-
oh geez. i was showing my bro my new cab today, and i took off the cp top to show him the wires....well apparently the keyboard wire was snagged somewhere so, it dislodged the keyboard input port on my ipac4!!! its hanging off a little, but its basically desoldered at 3 points. now the keyboard doesnt work. can this be fixed?? or do i need to order another one? suck, suck suck suck suck.....and to think i was getting my cab ready for this day...and now its ruined!!! help!
IT's a very easy fix for anyone with any soldering skills. Find someone that is good with installing mod chips in XBOX/PS2 (in a flea market?) give him 10$ and he'll fix it for you in 2 minutes flat.
-
If your cab supports it I'd pick up a USB keyboard quick as said already. I KNOW how it feels to have that one day to show off your cab and then BAM! the unthinkable happens. Now you only have 3 hours till Best Buy closes! Run Run Run!
-
fyi for all ... i have a zippy also and works great
-
Has anyone read the post!!!? ???
I read it 3 times, and every time I see the same thing. The USB port on the IPAC is broken. How would buying another keyboard fix this!? There's nothing wrong with the keyboard! The USB post has broken pins on the IPAC!
:-\
-
Has anyone read the post!!!? ???
I read it 3 times, and every time I see the same thing. The USB port on the IPAC is broken. How would buying another keyboard fix this!? There's nothing wrong with the keyboard! The USB post has broken pins on the IPAC!
:-\
yeah thanks man.....the keyboard is fine. the ps2 port, or where you plug the keyboard into, the little silver plug thingy on the end is hanging off...or dislodged anyway. im guessing it just needs some soldering.
-
Hulkster, don't bother fixing it! Just get a USB keyboard and plug it directly into an available USB port on your PC! Problem solved, case closed, disaster averted!
-
heres some pics of the problem....
-
closer
-
one more
-
For everyone who says "why the heck do I need to neaten up the wiring, no one's gonna see it anyway", this is your case study as to why.
I can't help you with fixing this, but after you get it solved, get all those wires fixed down to something so they don't cross and pull on stuff again!
If it's your ps/2 port, then you can use a USB keyboard.
-
but there isnt a ps2 port connector on the ipac anywhere! are you saying i plug it into the usb port on the computer? im not understanding what you saying about just plugging it into the usb port. on the ipac or the back of the computer (mobo)??
-
Isn't that picture you're showing us the ps/2 port? Isn't that the thingy that's effed up?
But yeah, I mean a USB keyboard plugged straight into your PC.
-
Is that on the side that connects the IPAC to the computer or the keyboard to the IPAC? If it connects the keyboard to the IPAC, don't panic, just use a USB keyboard (like others have suggested above) to do your keyboard maintenance (hooked up to the mobo). Then as time permits, get the inport fixed.
If it is the side that connects the IPAC to the computer via the PS2 port, then PANIC. OK, don't panic, just carefully reposition the piece, touch the 3 loose connections with a hot soldering iron and you should be back in business
-
What is damaged is the keyboard INPUT port.
Many people use their cabs without a keyboard plugged into that port at all. It's not necessary for playing games unless you need the keyboard for some reason.
So what people here are suggesting is that you plug a USB keyboard directly into the back of your computer (into a USB port) if you need a keyboard.
If you MUST use a ps/2 keyboard for some reason, you can buy the IPAC USB cable and run the IPAC into a USB port on the back of your computer. Then your computer's PS/2 port will be free to plug in a keyboard. Though I haven't done this myself, I believe it will work. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Finally, you could just do the "right" thing and find someone with soldering skills to resolder the keyboard port for you.
-
oh okay, i gotcha. well right now im just unplugging the controls/ipac ps2 wire and then plugging in the keyboard if i need it. i understand now :-) okay, so my weekend isnt shot after all! whew! i have a usb keyboard at work i can use, so no sweat. i emailed andy at ultimarc to see if he can help me, but i may just leave it broken. we'll see.
-
No problem, I'll be in touch via email. We can repair this free of charge.
Andy
-
Andy your customer service always amazes me
-
It's things like this that make me wonder why people still purchase and use an IPAC over a JPAC + Jamma harness. It's going to be a major pain to label all those wires, and remove them from the IPAC in order to get the IPAC out and ship it.
As far as it occuring.. I had an even worst thing occur to me.
I had a keyboard plugged into the JPAC, and it slipped. It was one of those big solid IBM circa 80's PS/2 keyboards.. it slid right into the external video control box for my WG 7000 monitor and ripped one of the pots right off!
These things are impossible to find in stores! And the monitor doesn't work with the pot missing (it was the vertical hold one!) I waited 2 weeks for a replacement to show up from Bob Roberts..
luckly a soldering iron is like my 3rd arm, and I had it up and running in no time.. but still.. >:(
Live and learn..
-
luckly a soldering iron is like my 3rd arm
:o
I can't solder with mine, you must have some sort of special attachment, huh?;D
rampy ;)
-
Has anyone read the post!!!? ???
I read it 3 times, and every time I see the same thing. The USB port on the IPAC is broken. How would buying another keyboard fix this!? There's nothing wrong with the keyboard! The USB post has broken pins on the IPAC!
:-\
That sure dosen't look like a USB plug in to me, maybe you should read the post 3 MORE times. ;)
Edit by moderator: better?
-
Has anyone read the post!!!?
Yes, we've read it. Why don't you read the whole thread?
-
Krick, I was quoting JoeB with the "Has anyone read the post!!!? ". Take a look up earlier in the thread when I mentioned that he should get a USB keyboard. Should of used one of those quote boxes to keep things clear.
-
I don't understand all this talk about buying keyboards. Two minutes with a soldering iron would fix this problem.
Oh and i agree that you really need to clean up that spaghetti Hulkster. ;)
-S
-
I don't understand all this talk about buying keyboards. Two minutes with a soldering iron would fix this problem.
Oh and i agree that you really need to clean up that spaghetti Hulkster. ;)
-S
yeah i know its spaghetti ;D but i was trying to get it done so that my bro could play as well while hes here. and yes two min. with a soldering iron probably would fix it, but unfortunately, i have no clue how to use one. i have somebody though from this board that lives in nashville thats offered to help! ah yes, good ol byoac, never fails!
-
Man; you must have yanked that sucker good!
-
I'm sure you have to get a lot of acceleration to open something the size of a car door straight up. ;D I'm exaggerating of course.
-
Ok, here is how you use one.
Go to radio shack and get a soldering iron, the cheapest one will be fine.
Plug it in, leave it plugged in for 20 minutes to give it some time to heat up.
Then simply heat up the points where the connections ripped free and push them back in.
Done.
-
hmmm....well actually a pc tool kit that i bought a while back has a soldering iron in it! um....so i just heat up the little points where it came off and what happens, does it turn to goop and drip all over the place? the little metal solder points are connected still to the actual ps2 port, not the ipac itself. so i guess i just solder the points on the port, and will it stay in a somewhat solid state and not drip onto the ipac?
-
you can buy the IPAC USB cable and run the IPAC into a USB port on the back of your computer. Then your computer's PS/2 port will be free to plug in a keyboard. Though I haven't done this myself, I believe it will work. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm running this setup and it works fine
-
I would highly suggest that you spend at least a few min. reading up on how to solder. Its easy, but not something you want to 'learn as you go' especially on your ipac
-
By the looks of that connector it's not just the legs that were pulled out of the circuit board, the connector was buggered internally. If it was me, I'd desolder it and open it up to see if it was an easy fix. If it wasn't, you spend 5 bucks at the local electronics shop and solder a new connector on.
Soldering really is easy as pie. With 15 minutes of practise you'll be able to do the basics with no trouble. All you need is a soldering iron, solder for ELECTRONICS (NO subsitutes) and for repairs or hacks a solder sucker or desoldering braid.
My work tossed a computer because it had the plastic lockbroken on a ram slot. I desoldered it and replaced it with a ram slot from an old computer. Have you seen the size of the solder points on a ram slot? If I can do that by hand, you can replace a ps/2 port... with your eyes closed. ;)
-
Man; you must have yanked that sucker good!
I hope you're referring to his Ipac! :o
-
um....so i just heat up the little points where it came off and what happens, does it turn to goop and drip all over the place? the little metal solder points are connected still to the actual ps2 port, not the ipac itself. so i guess i just solder the points on the port, and will it stay in a somewhat solid state and not drip onto the ipac?
maybe you SHOULD get your friend to help until you have some practice... It's not too hard, but it IS an aquired skill