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Some questions from a complete r-tard

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asker:
I've been looking through all the FAQs I could find but couldn't find answers to all my questions.

So, I'm thinking of building this arcade, mainly to use with Golden Tee Golf PC. What I want is a trackball working as the mouse of the computer and two buttons working as mousebuttons. To make it more versatile, I will also add two joysticks with 4 buttons each. What I put on my order list so far:

I-PAC 2 Interface
Opti-PAC Interface

SUPER JOYSTICK,4&8 WAY BRACKET ,HUB,SUB ASSY BLACK SHAFT x 2
TRACKBALL ASSY 3" GREEN TRANS TRANSLUCENT HIGH-BALL STD HARN
3" TRACKBALL (HIGH BALL) MNTG KIT BLACK WITH HARDWARE

ULTIMATE PUSHBUTTON x 12

Now to the (probably silly) questions:

1) Will the trackball work as a mouse, and will I be able to get two buttons connected to work as mousebuttons? If so, to what interface will I connect those buttons?

2) I'm not really clear on the meaning of the 4/8-way joystick, other than that it only reads X directions. What happens if I push a 4-way joystick diagonally, or is that physically impossible due to how the joystick is constructed? What about an 8-way-joystick being pushed in a direction other than the regular 8? Is the actual joystick pushable in 360 directions?

3) I understand the I-PAC emulates keyboard button presses. Will there ever be a problem where too many buttons are pressed at once so that other button presses are ignored?

4) This is perhaps the silliest question, but I can't find any answer to it that I understand. How do I connect the interfaces to the computer? What cables do I need? Will the computer identify the interfaces automatically (ie, will it think the trackball is a mouse by default)?

I'm sure there are more questions to be answered and I'll post them as they pop up.

Another thing; as a veteran forum lurker, I know the default way of treating new users with stupid questions is "lol, read FAQ!". I did and couldn't find any exact answers to these exact questions. IF there in fact are answers, post me the URL and I'll look into it.

English isn't my native language, so be gentle with me.

shardian:
1) Yes. The trackball will hook up to the optipac and be recognized as a mouse in windows. You could get a trackball that is already wired up to plug directly into the computer, like a Betson Imperial Ps/2 trackball. This would simplify your wiring ALOT, and you wouldn't need the optipac anymore.

2) The Super joystick has a rotatable restrictor on the bottom. You have to get under the control panel to switch it from 4 way to 8 way. In 4-way mode, the joystick will still go to the diagonals, but no switches will be depressed - thus a dead spot will occur. Not optimal in a 4-way game, but works in a pinch.

3)No. What you are describing is blocking. The IPAC does not suffer from this.

4)The IPAC comes with a ps/2 cable and it simply plugs into the keyboard port. The pc will recognize the IPAC as a keyboard. With ps/2, you have to have the cord plugged in before the pc is powered up for it to be recognized. Same thing for the opti-pac. It plugs into the mouse port on the pc.

Good luck.

leapinlew:
lol, read FAQ!

Just kidding!


--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---1) Will the trackball work as a mouse, and will I be able to get two buttons connected to work as mousebuttons? If so, to what interface will I connect those buttons?

--- End quote ---

yes


--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---2) I'm not really clear on the meaning of the 4/8-way joystick, other than that it only reads X directions. What happens if I push a 4-way joystick diagonally, or is that physically impossible due to how the joystick is constructed? What about an 8-way-joystick being pushed in a direction other than the regular 8? Is the actual joystick pushable in 360 directions?

--- End quote ---

The super is either a 4 way, or an 8 way. There are 4 switches on the bottom. In 4 way mode, only 1 switch at a time can be activated. If you push a joystick in 4 way mode to a diagonal, you'll activate 1 of the 2 switches. In 8 way mode, you'll activate both switches.



--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---3) I understand the I-PAC emulates keyboard button presses. Will there ever be a problem where too many buttons are pressed at once so that other button presses are ignored?

--- End quote ---

no - push as many buttons as you want.



--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---4) This is perhaps the silliest question, but I can't find any answer to it that I understand. How do I connect the interfaces to the computer? What cables do I need? Will the computer identify the interfaces automatically (ie, will it think the trackball is a mouse by default)?

--- End quote ---

The ipac hooks up via USB or PS2 (depending on which model you order). I've used both with no problems. I'm not sure about the Optipac, but I believe it operates the same way. The computer will automatically recognize these devices as input controllers.

javeryh:
Welcome!  I'll try to help...


--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---1) Will the trackball work as a mouse, and will I be able to get two buttons connected to work as mousebuttons? If so, to what interface will I connect those buttons?
--- End quote ---

Yes.  There are 4 button inputs on the Optipac if I remember correctly which you can also connect to the iPac so you don't have to put separate buttons on your control panel - they are very customizable.


--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---2) I'm not really clear on the meaning of the 4/8-way joystick, other than that it only reads X directions. What happens if I push a 4-way joystick diagonally, or is that physically impossible due to how the joystick is constructed? What about an 8-way-joystick being pushed in a direction other than the regular 8? Is the actual joystick pushable in 360 directions?
--- End quote ---

With the joysticks you chose you will probably be physically restricted due to a restrictor plate or something.  If you get something like the Ultimarc 360 you can program different maps so even though you won't be physically restricted you can still tell the joystick what to do when pushed in a given direction.


--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---3) I understand the I-PAC emulates keyboard button presses. Will there ever be a problem where too many buttons are pressed at once so that other button presses are ignored?
--- End quote ---

Nope.  


--- Quote from: asker on February 08, 2007, 12:29:16 pm ---4) This is perhaps the silliest question, but I can't find any answer to it that I understand. How do I connect the interfaces to the computer? What cables do I need? Will the computer identify the interfaces automatically (ie, will it think the trackball is a mouse by default)?
--- End quote ---

The iPac and Optipac can be connected by USB or by a PS2 cable.  The computer should automatically recognize everything but there are drivers you can load too that come with the iPac and Optipac if that doesn't work.  The first time I tried hooking all this stuff up I had ZERO trouble and I had no experience with wiring or computers or anything...

Good Luck!   :cheers:

asker:
Thanks alot guys!

I'm still confused about the mouse buttons. Does the opti-pac support buttons? If so, does the buttons hooked up to the opti-pac work as mouse buttons?

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