Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: OSCAR on December 06, 2002, 04:29:09 pm
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I've put together a page that explains how to connect a spinner and trackball to a single USB mouse interface, as I have had quite a few email requests for info on this.
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/DPDTswitch.shtml.
This "How-To" doesn't go into actually hacking a mouse, as that is already well documented on Minwah and BobA's webpages (which are linked to on my page). Let me know if there are any questions or if something isn't clear.
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That's why you da man! You see a need and fill it!
;D
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First class write-up, as usual, OSCAR.
Quick question. I notice you mention +5V and GND wires connecting to the PC Power Supply. I was hoping that a single trackball could connect to the USB interface and use the USB port for power. Will this work or do I need a separate +5V source?
Thanks again!!!
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Yes, it should be possible. I say should because I didn't actually try that, but based on my previous experience with USB mice, the +5V for each optic board needs to be taken from different places on the mouse if it isn't taken directly from the incoming power source on the USB cable.
I used one of my mouse boards in my example, and since the USB mice boards I sell take the +5V from the original phototransistor locations, if taken from those locations they don't give enough "juice" to power simultaneous optic boards. I take the power from those locations because it makes the wire harness simpler with fewer connections. So, rather than re-hack a mouse to power all three boards, I opted to source the power directly from the PC power supply.
I realize that for your specialized controllers the method I used isn't very desirable, but my example is geared more towards a typical MAME cab setup.
When I get a few spare minutes, I'll rewire the harness to see if it will work all from the mouse.
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i'm clueless on the whole trackball/spinner scene. would this hack work as well as an optipac? I'm gonna grab a trackball and throw it in a panel over xmas and i want to get the most accurate recreation of a golden tee machine.
are there any major advantages for either the optipac or mouse hack(aside from havin to do the hack yourself)? is one more accurate?
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The Opti-PAC is seen by Windows as a standard mouse and uses the same native drivers as a generic mouse.
I've had trackballs connected to both an Opti-PAC and a mouse, and I can't tell the difference between them performance-wise.
The Opti-PAC is an out-of-the box solution that allows multiple devices to utilize a single port, but it is still seen by your system as a mouse.
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ah, thats kinda what i was assuming. thanks for verifying
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Yes, it should be possible. I say should because I didn't actually try that, but based on my previous experience with USB mice, the +5V for each optic board needs to be taken from different places on the mouse if it isn't taken directly from the incoming power source on the USB cable.
I modified my wire harness to take the +5V and GND directly from the mouse board and it works just fine. I soldered a wire to back of the mouse board right where the +5V comes in from the USB cable connection to the PC.
Let me know if you have more questions. :)