Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: mtd on April 01, 2003, 10:30:11 pm

Title: Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: mtd on April 01, 2003, 10:30:11 pm

Do I get a Happs and optipac or just go with a betson ps2 trackball?  What is the general thought at present?

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: Jakobud on April 01, 2003, 10:56:57 pm

Another option is Happs + Hagstrom ME4.  This is what I use and it works very well.

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: 2slk on April 01, 2003, 11:03:04 pm

 That really depends on your design. If you have say, swappable panels each with an optical device or two then the optipac would be the way to go IMHO. If you are building a fixed panel that includes one trackball, ps/2 is easy and cheap, so why not?

 As for Betson vs HAPP, there are a few options there too. Betson sells a non-ps/2 trackball as well. Both can be found quite often on Ebay at very decent prices. Hack off the molex connector of the non-ps/2 model and you can hook it up to the opti-pac pretty easily. If you can only get your hands on a ps/2 model and you still want to go the opti-pac route, you can hack it to bypass the ps/2 stuff.  


Hope this helps.  

 

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: seaner on April 02, 2003, 01:59:15 pm

or jsut butcher an oly serial or ps/2 mouse.. everybody has a few of these lying around, don't they??

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: djsting on April 02, 2003, 04:12:13 pm

I got a Happs USB trackball which has three buttons that work like the mouse buttons when the unit is just plugged into Windows.  Works great!!

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: Cue-Ball on April 02, 2003, 05:26:45 pm

After using a 3" trackball from Happ, i don't think there's any way i could use anything less.  It's got the perfect arcade feel and is rock solid.  I have mine hooked up to an OptiPac and i really can't imagine a cleaner, easier setup.

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: AX on April 02, 2003, 06:36:41 pm

I agree.  I have the usb happ and it is tight.  Although the price is steep if your on a budget.  There are a few happ balls under control ball on ebay.  prob the best way to go.

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: Sasquatch! on April 02, 2003, 07:29:39 pm

Quote from: Cue-Ball on April 02, 2003, 05:26:45 pm

After using a 3" trackball from Happ, i don't think there's any way i could use anything less.  It's got the perfect arcade feel and is rock solid.  I have mine hooked up to an OptiPac and i really can't imagine a cleaner, easier setup.

I've never used a Betson, but I did use a PC trackball on my last cab, and I agree with this.  Going to the 3" Happ was trackball bliss.

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: spidermonkey on April 02, 2003, 11:25:30 pm

I have a 3" lighted translucent blue Betson Imperial ps2 version and I have no complaints.  All my controls are on one cp so I don't need to do any hot swapping so ps2 was the right choice for me.

Title: Re:Which is the "preferred" trackball method now?
Post by: u_rebelscum on April 02, 2003, 11:41:37 pm

I don't have the ps/2 model, but I like both the happs and betson 3" trackballs (attached by optipac).  I lean a little for the happs (longer free spin, louder roll) over the betson, but you should be happy with either.  I started with the very nice kensington expert mouse (2 1/4" ball, one of the better PC trackballs supposedly), but the arcade TBs are way better for gaming.