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cp interface planning?
carl:
Hello,
I'm just getting started with building my first cab, and I've become paralyzed with the number of options available for building the control panel and interface. I've spent hours on the net reading all the reviews and web logs from various projects, and I think I've got a plan, but I wanted to get some feedback from those of you who have experience.
I'm pretty clear on the controls I want to get, they are as follows:
2 Ikari style rotary joysticks
1 spinner
1 Trackball
1 classic 4 way joystick
12 player buttons
2 one/twp player buttons
maybe a couple pinball buttons on the sides
but as for the controllers... do I need all three types?
I-pcac 24input for buttons and joystick movement
Opti-poc for trackball and spinner
Druin's Rotary Interface for rotary motion on joystick
http://members.rogers.com/druins22/ls30/
or will the Opti-pac accommodate two rotaries, one spinner and one four-axis trackball?
Thanks for you help!
Carl
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: carl on March 23, 2004, 03:20:51 pm ---Hello,
I'm just getting started with building my first cab, and I've become paralyzed with the number of options available for building the control panel and interface. I've spent hours on the net reading all the reviews and web logs from various projects, and I think I've got a plan, but I wanted to get some feedback from those of you who have experience.
I'm pretty clear on the controls I want to get, they are as follows:
2 Ikari style rotary joysticks
1 spinner
1 Trackball
1 classic 4 way joystick
12 player buttons
2 one/twp player buttons
maybe a couple pinball buttons on the sides
but as for the controllers... do I need all three types?
I-pcac 24input for buttons and joystick movement
Opti-poc for trackball and spinner
Druin's Rotary Interface for rotary motion on joystick
http://members.rogers.com/druins22/ls30/
or will the Opti-pac accommodate two rotaries, one spinner and one four-axis trackball?
Thanks for you help!
Carl
--- End quote ---
Easiest thing to start out is break everything out by control type -
Analog controls - None
Rotary Joysticks - There are three types - SNK LS30's will require druin's interface as well as six switch inputs (4 direction and 2 rotation) each. Happ mechanical - same thing, but better feel if these will be your primary joysticks. Happ optical - do not require Druin's interface, but need one optical axis per control, and don't click as they're rotated.
Optical controls - 1 spinner, 1 trackball, and the optical rotaries. (3 or 5 axes, depending on how the rotaries are interfaced). There are three options (and some variations) - First option - The mini-pac controls one trackball, but you could probably use a DPDT switch to select between your other controls. Second option - The opti-pac will control two trackballs and 4-spinners and switch between the two (4-axis total) but you could wire all three controls to one opti-pac port since you'll never use them together in the same game. Third option - www.oscarcontrols.com sells a pre-hacked mouse. You could buy two or three of the USB version of these and you one for the spinner, one for the trackball, and one for the rotaries (if optical), or you could just buy one interface and wire everything to it, with or without switches.
Buttons and switches -
2 Ikari style rotary joysticks
1 classic 4 way joystick
12 player buttons
2 one/twp player buttons
maybe a couple pinball buttons on the sides
If you go with the mech rotary joysticks, you are looking at 32 inputs for the above which would work with the KeyWiz from www.groovygamegear.com. If you can have your 4-way share inputs with the P1 stick, you would need 28 inputs, so either the KeyWiz or the mini-pac, or the I-pac/2 would work.
Let me know if that wasn't clear.
carl:
Good info Tiger, I'm trying to wrap my head around it.
so let's take this one step further, I'll make some choices...
Rotary Joysticks---------
2 Happ mechanical #50-5618-00 ($43ea) as primary sticks
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50561800.htm
requires Druin's interface ($45) + six switch inputs per stick
http://members.rogers.com/druins22/ls30/
Optical controls ---------
1 Happ trackball 56-0100-10
3" TBALL ASSY RED STD HARNESS ($96)
http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/560100xx.htm
1 oscar Vortex spinner
$59 ($16 knob not included)
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/vortex/
requires opti-pac ($40)
http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac1.html
Buttons--------------------
12 happ ultimates ($1.75ea)
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/539200xx.htm
2 happ player buttons ($1.95ea)
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/589111l1ply.htm
requires i-pac1 keyboard interface ($43)
http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html
-----------------------
total $310
that's a little more $ than I was hoping. Is there any way to get the same functionality, and spend less? The trackball and spinner are lower in priority for me. Highest would be the buttons and rotary joysticks.
Thanks for your help!
carl
GGKoul:
You can save your self some cash on the trackball by purchasing one from Peale. Check out the Buy & Sell forum.
Also check out eBay or the www.therealbobroberts.com for prices.
If you cant get everything at once. Just start my purchasing the IPAC, Opti-pac, 2 joysticks, trackball and buttons. And build from there.
AlexC:
You can also go with one of these for your trackball:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3281469277&category=13718
I have one and works great, just plug and play.
It will also save you quite a bit of $$ :D
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