ACT LABS Light Gun Question

[8way]

Alright im planning on purchasing an ACT LABS Light Gun to go in my MAME cabinet. My cabinet has a ArcadeVGA and arcade monitor setup. I see that the ACT LABS Gun comes in PC and TV-OUT versions. So in my case which version do I get to work on my arcade monitor?

[BobA]

To connect to an arcadevga and arcade monitor you would use the USB PC version.   This version connects by daisy chaining the ouput of the VGA card thru the act labs box.   The TV version does not allow connection to an arcade monitor rgb.  Look at the threads with arcadevga and act labs.  There have been quite a few in the last couple of years.

[ahofle]

You'll also need to determine how you are hooking up the arcade monitor.  If you are using composite sync, the guns won't work.  They require separate H and V sync.  From ultimarc.com:

"Do Light Guns Work?
The Act-Labs USB gun works but there are some factors to bear in mind. The gun will only work if the H and V sync are not connected together. The H and V signals must both be connected to the monitor. OR, if a J-PAC is used for the connection, this will also work. A few people have found that ATI cards (including the ArcadeVGA) used with certain models of the D9200 monitor, produce a signal which is slightly too low for the gun. The Act-Labs gun seems particularly sensitive to the VGA signal levels and ATI cards do generally produce lower signal levels than other cards. We believe that some older variants of the D9200 load the signals (ie reduce the levels) more than others."

[8way]

Thanks that answers my question. Now it seems I might run in to some compatibility issues. Wondering if I should just go with a TV for my cab instead of the arcade monitor…

[ahofle]

Sounds like you already have an arcade monitor.  Which one is it?  Does it use composite sync?

I just went from a TV to an arcade monitor and I cannot imagine going back.  I used to use the USB TV guns with that setup and I do miss them.  But the difference in picture quality with the arcade monitor is so worth it to me.  I am also hopeful that there will be another lightgun solution similar to the LCD  top gun lightguns (that don't require you to stand 10 feet away from the screen) in the near future.

[Banacek]

I have two Act Lab light guns that I have yet to get working with my ArcadeVGA and Betson Multi-sync. Maybe they'll work one day...

[AMDman13]

I have two Act Lab light guns that I have yet to get working with my ArcadeVGA and Betson Multi-sync.

Sorry to hear. I've been skeptical about buying them. I have a AVGA and Betson as well and just to make matters worse smoked plexi. Guess this might not be worth the 170.00 then eh?