The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Rocky on April 22, 2002, 09:24:39 pm
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I've been reading this forum for a few months while slowly working on a mame cabinet.
I'm ready to place an order for controls.
I'd like to do a mouse hack on a trackball, but have heard that the Wico trackballs can be hard to use for this. Has anyone successfully done this with a Wico trackball for PS/2 or Serial mouse hack?
The price on the Wico is so much cheaper than Happs.
Also, does anyone know what the difference is between the "active high" and "active low" is? It seems like it has to do with the power it receives or sends.
Thanks for all the great stuff you do and post here.
Rocky
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Not really the answer to your question, but...
You may want to consider a PS/2 Imperial (Betson) trackball since you are leaning towards a PS/2 mouse hack. Appearance-wise, the Imperial looks almost identical to the Wico as it is totally enclosed, unlike the Happ. The 3" Imperial PS/2 sells for $79 and is every bit as good as the Happ 3". I've had a few of these trackballs, and I prefer their roll/action to a Happ. BTW, the Happ 3" mounting plate fits the Imperial trackball, too.
See J_K_M_A_N's page at http://jkman999.tripod.com/Links.html for a list of part numbers.
Good luck on your project!
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Well, you know what, suprised Oscar didn't reply witht he trouble we had with my wico, it still doesn't work.
Just really weird, lots of backspin.
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Well, you know what, suprised Oscar didn't reply witht he trouble we had with my wico, it still doesn't work.
Just really weird, lots of backspin.
That's because I've only had a problem with a single trackball/mouse hack, and it happened to be a Wico. I'm not ready to jump to the conclusion that all Wico's are bad for hacking based on a single experience. Perhaps there was something funky with yours, the type of mice we were using, how it was hacked (mouse optics in lieu of originals), etc...
Even if all 3" Wico's display this behaviour with a mouse hack, maybe the 2-1/4" will work just fine (Rocky didn't specify size).
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Oscar is right, shouldn't jump to a conclusion.
If there is anyone here that would like to figure it out my Wico 3" is for sale or trade.
Rocky, just take my comment as a warning then, tread lightly.
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Thanks for the info and the warning.
I think I'll try to find a used Happs trackball instead of a new one or a Wico.
I found a great deal on USB mice for $.99
I picked up a bunch and am looking for a trackball to be my guinea pig. ;D
Rocky
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Well,
To followup on my Trackball quest. I decided to go ahead and try the Wico Trackball. I ordered the 2 1/4. I'm pretty cheap and I decided to risk the 25$ since I was placing an order with them anyway. rather than the 80+ bucks on a Happs trackball.
I had looked at a few articles on hacking spinners and trackballs and thought that I would give it a try.
I used a USB mouse and used the existing optic board in the Wico trackball. After a few issues with bad wiring, (I'm a serious rookie at soldering and desoldering) the trackball works great. I get no backspin and it works great in windows and in Mame! ;D
I am so psyched! 8)
Something I hacked actually worked!
Rocky
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AHHHHHH!!
I think my Wico is just a freak of nature.
Oh well.....
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My 2 1/4 Wico trackball hacked to a PS/2 mouse works great. No odd stuff going on with backspin or anything like that.