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best interface for just a trackball?

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Marsupial:
I want to make a trackball module to add to my arcade from time to time for gaming (missile command) or maintenance. I would have a USB port in the front of the cab to connect to. The module would have only a trackball and 2-3 buttons.

Now, in the whole planing: what interface is the best / cheapest for this?

Being that ultimarc's a-pac has been replace by the u-hid nano (35$) and that you can get a mini-pac (without harness) for 29$ that will handle more then the u-hid nano, I am thinking I should go with a mini-pac.

I however see that the opti-whiz trackball & spinner interface is 15$ with the ez-solder option; I don't know this setup at all and wonder if it would do what I want. I already have the sensor quadrature setup on the trackball itself, all I need it the USB interface.
GGG don't have much info on their webpage. And I don't know this "active low" thing they're talking about (should I worry about the mini-pac too for that matter?)

Hints are welcomed.

DeLuSioNal29:
What about this option?  (X-Arcade trackball)

http://www.xgaming.com/store/refurbished/product/x-arcade-trackball-arcade-mame-mouse/

Blanka:
The optiwiz is the cheapest option, but I wonder if you can beat that X-arcade option above. The 3 inch trackball alone costs that much. A Utrak has an USB option for 14$, the same as an optiwiz, but the unit itself is 79 like the X-arcade.

Edit: the X-arcade ones are refurbs....

BobA:

--- Quote from: Marsupial on November 22, 2010, 09:42:33 pm ---
I however see that the opti-whiz trackball & spinner interface is 15$ with the ez-solder option; I don't know this setup at all and wonder if it would do what I want. I already have the sensor quadruple setup on the trackball itself, all I need it the USB interface.
GGG don't have much info on their webpage. And I don't know this "active low" thing they're talking about (should I worry about the mini-pac too for that matter?)

Hints are welcomed.

--- End quote ---

Active low indicates that an input low will turn on an output low.   Since trackballs track hi and low diuring use it seems like a non issue in most cases.  The working trackballs on this interface include the happ and the betson/imperial which are the most common trackballs so your trackball is probably covered.

bkenobi:
If you already have the trackball and have an old USB ball mouse sitting around, the cheapest option is to just hack it.  Cost=$0.  Time=10 minutes (once you know what you are doing of course).  I have a few hacked mice here.  If you want one, I'll send it to you for the cost of shipping...but you are probably better off going through GGG at that point I suppose.  Let me know!

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