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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Vicious Burger on May 30, 2009, 12:00:44 am

Title: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: Vicious Burger on May 30, 2009, 12:00:44 am: Hi all,first post here. I'm renovating a Taito Pacman (converted to Big Event Golf) cabinet (will be posting pics soon) and I am making a custom control panel with a PC inside the cab to run MAME. I have most of the parts for the CP, joysticks, USB spinner,buttons etc,and I have a USB trackball but it means using the one from my X-Arcade console,which would basically render that useless.
Can't afford to shell out $100 right now for a Happ 3"USB,but I can get a decent used non-USB one cheap,but not sure how to hook it up.
There is a trackball in the CP from the Big Event Golf game,but its only a small one and i want to put a 3" in there.
I have an IPAC4 to connect the joysticks and buttons,but if i get a trackball from another arcade machine,how can I connect it up to work with the system along with the IPAC if its not USB connectable?. If its a pain in the you-know-what I'll just use the one from my X-Arcade and go via USB

thanks
Title: Re: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: severdhed on May 30, 2009, 01:01:12 am: there are PC interfaces that are designed to work with most arcade trackballs...

mainly the OptiWiz from groovygamegear.com, and the opti-pac from ultimarc.com

I own and love several ultimarc products, but i have not personally used their trackball interface. i do have an optiwiz in my cabinet and it works great...plus it is only like $15
Title: Re: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: BobA on May 30, 2009, 01:45:36 am: The minipac from ultimarc has a trackball/spinner interface built in along with the button and joystick interface.
Title: Re: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: Vicious Burger on May 30, 2009, 02:38:35 am: Thanks guys,the OptiWiz sounds like the one I need,since most of my other connections will be going through the IPAC,I won't need anything too fancy for the trackball connection.
Title: Re: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: Vicious Burger on May 30, 2009, 05:12:08 pm: Found a used Happ 3" trackball,but it has an AMOA connection on it. I saw a USB interface adapter at arcadeemulator.net but its like $43 for what amounts to a bit of wire with a plug on it.

Is there anywhere else that sells the AMOA to USB/PS2 adapter cheaper? I couldnt find one. If anyone has a spare one for sale maybe?

I was thinking of getting the Optiwiz,($15 woohoo!)does anyone have a diagram of how to connect a Happ trackball to the Optiwiz if i cut off the AMOA plug(s) and go that way ?
Title: Re: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: maddags on May 30, 2009, 07:33:20 pm: I am not familiar with the opti-wiz, but found this on GGG website that might work (I think) somebody correct me if I am wrong.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=261

Hope this helps.

I use the ultimarc opti pac, for both my spinner and trackball. Easy install, great product.
Title: Re: Need Help to Hook up Trackball
Post by: Vicious Burger on May 30, 2009, 08:22:58 pm: Quote from: maddags on May 30, 2009, 07:33:20 pm
I am not familiar with the opti-wiz, but found this on GGG website that might work (I think) somebody correct me if I am wrong.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=261

Hope this helps.

I use the ultimarc opti pac, for both my spinner and trackball. Easy install, great product.

Thanks maddags,that sounds like the kind of thing i need. Weird thing is,I was on their website but didnt see that,guess I didnt look hard enough ! Thanks again.