Has anyone Wired up a knocker for Q*bert?

[Jesse]

Does anyone know if its possible to wire up a Q*bert Knocker in a mame machine to knock at the apropriate time in Q*bert (when he falls off the pyramid) ?? That would be pretty cool. Other wise I will have to buy an original Q*bert, which are very pricey. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Jesse

[SirPoonga]

Yes, I am doing that.
I will try and link a post I started.

I am a software engineer, I know where in the mame code code needs to be added to do it.  I want to make a lpt port interface, but I am no electronics person.  I tried and failed.  I was going to then get this $70 serial port adaptor with relays to do it.
Actually, all the info one where in the code is in the following link too.

If you know electronics I'll do a trade with ya, you make me a knocker, I'll make the code to run it.

Here's the link
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=main;action=display;num=1016919933;start=37

I still want to do it, just don't have the time and money for the hardware side to make it work.

[Howard_Casto]

Sp did you see the new parallel port interface on the main page?  It might help I dunno.  

[SirPoonga]

Not really, has my trouble is the harddware side, I just suck at it.  I tried a relay hooked to a solenoid, no work.  not much more simpler than that you can get!

[1UP]

Here's a USB relay mod that will make things easier: http://www.j-works.com/jsb218.html

It is controllable thru c programming, and comes with sample apps.  All you need is a solenoid and a power supply rated to drive it.  I'm getting the 2-relay model for my T2 guns, but you can get a 1-relay mod for $50.

[Jesse]

SirPoonga, Does 1UP's USB relay mod seem feasible? Also I contacted Oscar Controls about this and Kelsey there said that he has been following this topic (he also seems to Know you Sirpoonga)for a while and that he may try to work on it in his free time. Meanwhile I am trying to locate a suitable device to experiment with. Does anyone know if a Pinball type knocker would work? And where can you buy replacements of these from? Or would it be smarter to get old used ones to tinker with? Any help is apreciated. Thanks.

[SirPoonga]

SirPoonga, Does 1UP's USB relay mod seem feasible?

Yeah, but it is a little overkill for since you need just ONE relay, not 8:)  USB would be better for winxp, as you can;t access low-level hardware directly, like the lpt port.

(he also seems to Know you Sirpoonga)

All too well.

[1UP]

Yeah, but it is a little overkill for since you need just ONE relay, not 8:)

[SirPoonga]

$50 is still expensive, for one relay.

Anyway, what do you mean hack the ipac?  You mean using the keyboard LEDs?  Well, the way mame handles leds that isn't going to work the way I need it to work.

Anyway, I got an idea and am going to try it out.

[1UP]

$50 is still expensive, for one relay.

Anyway, what do you mean hack the ipac?

[SirPoonga]

Anyway, I'm tired of hacking hardware to save a few bucks.

[Dav]

Yeah, that's what I did to test my T2 guns.

[SirPoonga]

Like I said, I know where in the code to edit, I don;t want to use keyboard leds, not generic enough

[Howard_Casto]

I agree with sp on this one.  If you hack the leds not only is it kinda dangerous, (as a bad wiring job could blow your ipac) but you can't use leds in other games without some sort of kill-switch for the knockers.  Also it would be nice to add a usb interface as it's very xp comp.  Btw I believe the way you interface the leds is different in xp and 9x so that could cause more problems.  

[SirPoonga]

And only people with ipac and keyboard hacks can benefit from it.  What about gamepad and other encoder hacks...