Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Tokey on February 09, 2005, 10:32:33 am

Title: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Tokey on February 09, 2005, 10:32:33 am
I'm looking to buy a trackball (preferably a PS2/USB one so I can use it as a mouse) and I don't have really any money to spair right now.  I want a real trackball though and not just a mouse, with Golden Tee being emulated it'll get a ton of playtime.

Any advice on some good bargain trackballs?  Ideally I'd like to keep it under $100, but I don't know where to start looking for that price.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: SirPeale on February 09, 2005, 10:34:09 am
I suppose I could get working on mine again.  I've got a bunch of Betson TBs.  Cleaned, lubed and tested, $49.  You'll have to either hack your own mouse, or get one of Oscar's though.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: JoyMonkey on February 09, 2005, 10:37:43 am
There's a bunch of PS/2 trackballs on eBay right now with BuyItNow ranging from $57 to $87. Take a looksee here (http://search.ebay.com/ps-2-trackball_Arcade-Jukeboxes-Pinball_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfmcZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZ66502QQsatitleZpsQ2f2Q20trackballQQsojsZ1)
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Tiger-Heli on February 09, 2005, 11:28:04 am
2-1/4 - www.ultimarc.com and www.oscarcontrols.com hacked mouse interface.  Should be about $45, but check with OSCAR on any possible config issues.

3" - Either Peale above or www.wicothesource.com has them for $50, but WICO's customer service and shipping are suspect.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: GGKoul on February 09, 2005, 11:30:15 am
I would recommend a 3" happ or benson trackball over a 2 1/4 mouse.

Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Tiger-Heli on February 09, 2005, 11:37:38 am
I would recommend a 3" happ or benson trackball over a 2 1/4 mouse.
Not a 2-1/4" mouse, 2-1/4" Ultimarc trackball and hacked mouse.  The trackball is actually made by Suzo.

http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: GGKoul on February 09, 2005, 12:19:53 pm
I would recommend a 3" happ or benson trackball over a 2 1/4 mouse.
Not a 2-1/4" mouse, 2-1/4" Ultimarc trackball and hacked mouse.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Tiger-Heli on February 09, 2005, 12:49:07 pm
I would recommend a 3" happ or benson trackball over a 2 1/4 mouse.
Not a 2-1/4" mouse, 2-1/4" Ultimarc trackball and hacked mouse.  The trackball is actually made by Suzo.

http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

Hahaha... I wasn't refering to a 1/4" mouse.  Just forget the "-" and """..
I understood the 2 1/4 = 2-1/4" part.  It's the mouse and trackball that is throwing me.

The mouse interface would be used with either the Happ, Betson, or www.ultimarc.com trackball

If you mean the 3" trackball is better than the 2-1/4" trackball, I tend to agree, but he did say he was on a budget. . .
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: GGKoul on February 09, 2005, 12:53:00 pm
Spending under $100 on a trackball isn't really short on cash.  Peale and I sold Trackballs awhile ago for $25-$30 each.

I can probably get another batch of trackballs to sell, but they won't have the ps2/usb attachment.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: brained on February 09, 2005, 01:11:51 pm
Gkgoul, Love your avatar!! I'm rick james B....
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Stingray on February 09, 2005, 01:32:07 pm
I suppose I could get working on mine again.  I've got a bunch of Betson TBs.  Cleaned, lubed and tested, $49.  You'll have to either hack your own mouse, or get one of Oscar's though.

I've got one of Peales 3" Betsons , works like new.

-S
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: zaphod on February 09, 2005, 01:50:52 pm
Watch the ebay auctions.  You can find the Betsons for selling under $35 (+S/H) all the time.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: GGKoul on February 09, 2005, 02:00:40 pm
Gkgoul, Love your avatar!! I'm rick james B....

Love live the Chappelle Show!!
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Stormy151 on February 09, 2005, 02:37:51 pm
I bought a 3" Betson from Peale a while back, and hooked it up via a mouse hack.  The mouse cost $5.  Works great! :)
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: TOK on February 09, 2005, 04:45:28 pm
If you've got $100, you have more than enough for the 3" Happs USB/PS2 with 3 button loom. Even the translucent if you want to light it. I got the translucent red Happ for a little over $80 shipped. If you get the mounting plate, it'll put you right about at your max price.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Tokey on February 10, 2005, 11:39:20 am
This beston deal for $35 seems pretty nice, where can I find instructions on how to hack a mouse?
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: BobA on February 10, 2005, 12:28:19 pm
Link for a mouse hack or easier still get a USB interface (already hacked mouse) from Oscar Controls.

http://www.members.shaw.ca/bakaye/tballhack.htm
 (http://www.members.shaw.ca/bakaye/tballhack.htm)

www.oscarcontrols.com (http://www.oscarcontrols.com)


BobA
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Stingray on February 10, 2005, 02:03:26 pm
Minwah's mouse hack directions made everything crystal clear for me. It's really a very easy hack to do.

http://mamewah.mameworld.net/mousehack.htm

-S
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: brandon on February 10, 2005, 02:41:45 pm
I'm putting together a 3" trackball at the moment myself..
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Tokey on February 10, 2005, 03:06:31 pm
Thanks guys, the price is right and I prefer building things myself so I'll give it a shot.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: JODY on February 10, 2005, 10:18:52 pm
I got a brand new Happs 3" lighted translucent trackball off Ebay for under $70, a harness from Oscar for about $7.50 and used Oscar's USB spinner board for around $10.
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: brandon on February 10, 2005, 11:41:01 pm
so it seems easily done for under $100..  you could probably buy 3 happs pushbuttons and a project box for radio shack and stick stay under budget.. that is, if you wanted a stand alone unit..
Title: Re: Trackball on a budget
Post by: Stormy151 on February 11, 2005, 12:17:00 am
You might buy more than one mouse.  I managed to smoke one when I hooked one of the TB axes up wrong.  Don't ask me how... ???

If you get it right the first time, you have an extra mouse for a spinner hack!  ;D