Switch from PC to DC to XBOX?? MOLEX LINKS?

[Demon-Seed]

My new cabinet I want to be able to switch between PC and DC and XBOX and PS2 etc..... I was thinking molex but wondered if anyone could explain how this is done? any links would be very helpful.

[dema]

I need to know the answer to this as well. I'm hoping to save a few of my games to the hard drive (Soul Calibur 2, capcom vs snk) and then play them on my cabinet. However I don't know of any way to do it other than changing the input on the tv with the remote control, which I'm not interested in doing.

How can this be accomplished?

[abrannan]

For TV/monitor switching there are, IIRC, switch boxes that can handle automatic priority-based switching.  i.e.  if device 1 is on and device 2 is on, display device 1, if device 1 is off display device 2.  Do a search to find these switch boxes, though they're probably pricey.  Otherwise, use a standard switch box, since you're going to have to open your cabinet to power on the device and change controllers.

[Demon-Seed]

Whats the best way to change the controls from PC to console? I am newbie in that and I am looking for instructions or help.. been advised to use MOLEX

[abrannan]

Whats the best way to change the controls from PC to console? I am newbie in that and I am looking for instructions or help.. been advised to use MOLEX

No, I advised you to use a switch box.  Darn near gave you exact instructions on how to do it, too.

[dema]

For TV/monitor switching there are, IIRC, switch boxes that can handle automatic priority-based switching.  i.e.  if device 1 is on and device 2 is on, display device 1, if device 1 is off display device 2.  Do a search to find these switch boxes, though they're probably pricey.  Otherwise, use a standard switch box, since you're going to have to open your cabinet to power on the device and change controllers.

I was going to get a "4-Input Audio/Video Selector with S-Video Jacks" from Radio Shack so the PC and the XBox are hooked to the same input on the TV. This would obviously work for a Dreamcast as well. I'd then figure out a way to get a couple buttons on the cabinet itself to swap between the two, possibly even to fire up the XBox. I'm going to try downloading a few of my games to the Xbox and play off of the hard drive, rather than loading games up manually.

The only issue is how to get the controls to work for both the Xbox and the PC, especially if they're both powered on. How do I go about setting that up? Is there even a way to get the arcade controls to work for an XBox? Is it possible to hack those giant arcade sticks that are sold for XBoxes? I don't want to play xbox on my arcade machine with the XBox controllers. I want it all to integrate into one functional unit.

[dema]

The only issue is how to get the controls to work for both the Xbox and the PC, especially if they're both powered on. How do I go about setting that up? Is there even a way to get the arcade controls to work for an XBox? Is it possible to hack those giant arcade sticks that are sold for XBoxes? I don't want to play xbox on my arcade machine with the XBox controllers. I want it all to integrate into one functional unit.

I forgot to mention that the games I'm interested in playing are not going to be contingent on the controller's analog stick. Would this be an easy interface to use if I make them standard button and joystick presses as opposed to an analog stick interface? Most of the games I'd use the XBox for would be fighters which aren't analog necessary.

[Dave_K.]

Demon-seed, molex connectors are simply that...connectors.  You wire your hacked console pads to a male-15-pin molex connector, and then wire your control panel to a female-15-pin molex connector (one connector for each player side).  To make this compatible with the ipac, you wire 2 male-15-pin connectors to the ipac, and match it up with the player1/2 female molex connectors coming out of your control panel.  To switch between the two setups, means you manually unplug one set of male connectors for the others.

If you or Dema, do not want to switch the molex connectors manually, then use a PC switchbox with pc connectors.  This was discussed in great detail (thanks to abrannan) in the following discussion thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=17200

And to answer Dema's question before he asks it: No you can't have both the PC and Xbox hooked up to the same controls at the same time.   You need to use a switch box, or manually unplug/replug using molex connectors.

[dema]

Thank you for the response. I was asking about having the controls all plugged in permanently because of jr76's post from February. He wrote...

"I haven't built my full cab yet, but I did build a trial control panel. I have mine hooked up to a PC, PS2, Xbox, and DC. All stay plugged in at all times. I wired the buttons and joysticks to wire terminals. From the terminals I wired to a db25 connector. That then plugs into the output of a 4 port parralel printer switch box. The inputs of the switcher box go to the respective console. Just wire your console pad hacks to db25's. You'll need a switcher for each player. It pays to come up with some wiring diagrams in regards to wiring the db25's to your  pads so there is some consistency."

I wasn't sure how manageable this was, or if it was the optimal solution for my cabinet.

[Demon-Seed]

so in order to do the switch box thing I ened to hack a db25.?

[dema]

On a sidenote, in addition to using a switch to swap the controls between the PC and console, you'd also need a switch to change the video inputs from the PC to the console, right? If that is the case is there a way to sync up the video and the controls to a single switch? I'm just trying to get a handle on the parts I'll need.

Thanks.

[abrannan]

so in order to do the switch box thing I ened to hack a db25.?

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=17200

[dema]

And do you need to do this cable hack for each player (therefore twice for a 2p cabinet), or do you wire both player 1 and player 2 to the same db25? If you need to do two hacks for two players then how do you wire them to the switch box so they're both operational for the same console?

[Dave_K.]

And do you need to do this cable hack for each player (therefore twice for a 2p cabinet), or do you wire both player 1 and player 2 to the same db25? If you need to do two hacks for two players then how do you wire them to the switch box so they're both operational for the same console?

To answer your first question, yes you would need a seperate switchbox to switch the sound/video connections.  As for the p1/p2 connectors,  I choose to make them seperate because I was using 15-pin molex connectors.  If a DB25 has enough connections for all your control panel buttons/joysticks then thats good enough (and you will have to hack 2 console pads to a single DB25 to connect it to the control panel).  The link posted above by abrannan and me has more info on DB25 and some other types of PC connectors.

[dema]

And do you need to do this cable hack for each player (therefore twice for a 2p cabinet), or do you wire both player 1 and player 2 to the same db25? If you need to do two hacks for two players then how do you wire them to the switch box so they're both operational for the same console?

As for the p1/p2 connectors,  I choose to make them seperate because I was using 15-pin molex connectors.  If a DB25 has enough connections for all your control panel buttons/joysticks then thats good enough (and you will have to hack 2 console pads to a single DB25 to connect it to the control panel).

Thank you for responding, and thanks for your patience in dealing with a newb. Out of curiosity, you mentioned that you chose to use a DB15 and then make two separate cable connections. By doing this do you need to physically swap the cables in and out in order to have your CP control your console? If you use a switch how do you have it so both cables work on the same channel? Can you buy one of those three-headed cables that merges two DBs into one and then plug that into a switch? If I go with a bigger DB cable (more pins) would that easily solve my 1 vs 2 cable dilemma and allow both hacked controls to go to the same input channel? And does this all work well with an IPac interface linked up to the switch as well, especially if you consider that the keyboard encoder can be connected with a USB cable?

Sorry to pester you and I appreciate any guidance.

[orntar]

check this out guys. pretty sweet.

http://www.cablesforless.com/browseproducts/2-WAY-DB25-SWITCH-BOX.HTML

and by the way, dema, you will need something to switch inputs and video/sound. they will not be together in any solution you find, unless it involves some extensive hacking and or setting up.

so get one of these db25 switchs and a video switch from walmart and mount them to the bottom of you cp, all will be well. just my opinion of course.

i think i need one of these db25 switches!

[orntar]

here is a four way since you wanted to switch more that 2 sources...

http://www.cablesforless.com/browseproducts/4-Way-DB25-Switch-Box.html

[dema]

check this out guys. pretty sweet.

http://www.cablesforless.com/browseproducts/2-WAY-DB25-SWITCH-BOX.HTML

and by the way, dema, you will need something to switch inputs and video/sound. they will not be together in any solution you find, unless it involves some extensive hacking and or setting up.

so get one of these db25 switchs and a video switch from walmart and mount them to the bottom of you cp, all will be well. just my opinion of course.

i think i need one of these db25 switches!

That's exactly the kind of thing I'm planning on getting. The last concern I had was how to go about hooking up two hacked XBox controllers using two different DB cables. If a higher-pinned cable is a solution by wiring the two to the same cable then that would be the route I'd take. Otherwise I'm not sure how to get two separate hacks into the same input channel with two different cables, since each port has its own channel.

I like the idea of wiring the switches below the CP. I was thinking of putting it somewhere on the cabinet but I wasn't sure where.

And who thinks this will get even more complicated if I try to install a rotating control panel? I want this thing pimped out.

[orntar]

yes you would take *both* controllers and wire them to one male db25 connector, thats why there is so many pins. then you take your ipac and wire it to one male db25 and so on...
then wire the controls on your cab to a female db25 and swap em when you need to.
if you bought one of the switches i linked to , then it would be slightly different, but yuou could figure it out.

[dema]

I'm hoping by plugging everything into the switch that I can keep the PC and the console running at the same time and then just flick the switch when I want to go from one to the other. I'd like to get it so I don't need to plug and unplug anything.

I'd probably need to get a bigger-pinned DB cable and switch box because the IPac has more controls than the 25 allotted in the DB 25. While I'd probably be able to fill everything up with a console controller hack, I need more for MAME

[Demon-Seed]

Is there any sites that show how this is done?

[orntar]

not that i know of, its pretty simple, if you have done any kind of wiring or anything like that before

[Dave_K.]

Is there any sites that show how this is done?

If you can read spanish:

http://profesional.terra.es/personal/dapargelsl/cabinet/idiomas/english/controles2.htm

Scroll down to the last section entitled " Conmutador PC-DC" and click on the pictures.

[Demon-Seed]

Hey
Its a great cabinet.... heres an online translater to convert to english!

http://quickfound.net/webdev/language_translation_tools_index.html

[Demon-Seed]

that posting only translates parts..there is lots of others

[Demon-Seed]

http://babelfish.altavista.com/

Best translation site I could find.. works mint!

[dema]

Wouldn't we need to use a greater-pinned cable, like a db37 instead of a db25, in order to accomodate the controls necessary to run both consoles and IPac controls? I was just totalling the directions and buttons and there aren't enough to run MAME or two player console controllers using a db25. I'm guessing that the number of cable pins is irrelevant as long as it's wired up properly and you use the corresponding switch box.  

[abrannan]

Wouldn't we need to use a greater-pinned cable, like a db37 instead of a db25, in order to accomodate the controls necessary to run both consoles and IPac controls? I was just totalling the directions and buttons and there aren't enough to run MAME or two player console controllers using a db25. I'm guessing that the number of cable pins is irrelevant as long as it's wired up properly and you use the corresponding switch box.  

Exactly.  I don't use a switch box, but I have a DB25 and a DB9 for my connectors.  

[Dave_K.]

Wouldn't we need to use a greater-pinned cable, like a db37 instead of a db25, in order to accomodate the controls necessary to run both consoles and IPac controls? I was just totalling the directions and buttons and there aren't enough to run MAME or two player console controllers using a db25. I'm guessing that the number of cable pins is irrelevant as long as it's wired up properly and you use the corresponding switch box.  

My control panel uses 29 wires total (including ground).  Player 1 has an 8-way joystick (4 wires), 8 buttons, 1 start and 1 select/pause button.  Player 2 has an 8way, 8 buttons, and 1 start button.  This is why I choose using two 15-pin molex connectors (one for each player side).  Each pad hack goes to one molex connector which in turn goes to one player side.   So using a single DB25 cable with switch box wouldn't work for me unless I wanted to get rid of some buttons.  Plan your CP first.

BTW: I planned my control panel for both Playstation and Dreamcast (thats why there are an extra 2 buttons per player side...the DC only has 6 buttons total on a pad).  

[dema]

I've been drawing up a number of diagrams on scrap paper to figure out the best way to do this, and I'm getting closer to a solution. I've learned a ton from you all and I appreciate everyone's assistance and patience with me.

Since I'm going to connect the PC and XBox db cables to a switch box and leave them in at all times (going back and forth between the two sets of controls with the switch box's dial) I have to get a bigger cable, like a db37, to wire every unit's controls into one port. This way everything will be simplified by switching a dial from one to the other, and I'll have instant gratification, which is always a good thing.

[Demon-Seed]

will a db 37 work? i thought of that before been told it will not work though

[dema]

will a db 37 work? i thought of that before been told it will not work though

Did they say why it wouldn't? I'm not sure why it would be a problem if you wired them to a 37 pin switch box, since it should just serve the same purpose. I hope it's not a problem because I need this to work in order to build the cabinet the way I want.

[Grasshopper]

Check out this thread for one possible solution:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=18028

[dema]

I'm guessing the db37 would work fine, but the Centronix sounds like another good alternative. That's definitely something for me to consider.