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needed help with dreamcast to arcade display and control interface questions
northerngames:
Hi I am debating to put my dreamcast in my current machine or make a cabinet for the dreamcast itself so I am asking a few more questions to make a final decision I am wanting to connect a US sega dreamcast to my current machine and have a few questions before I start or go from scratch on another cab...
To start this off I am running a nanao 26" ms8-26su arcade monitor in 15khz mode with the ultimarc video amp that runs to the pc along with my buttons and joysticks ran to a ultimarc mini-pac and then the mini pac to the pc by ps2 cable and that is what I am running currently and going to be asking questions about.
DISPLAY QUESTIONS:
1. the ultimarc ARCADEVGA puts out a 1V signal and I needed to attach the ultimarc 5V video amp in order to display correctly with a pc will I still need the video amp for the dreamcast with the vga box mod or does the DC vga box itself already output the needed 5V or does it not even matter becuase it is the dreamcast instead of the pc?
2. if the amp is needed for the vga box and DC does the vga box connect to the video amp like the pc normally would and that is all that is needed for it to run safely?
3. the monitor is currently set at composite sync where H & V are on the same single signal wire and I was wondering if that is o.k. or do I need to split the H and V on there own seperate path/wire in order for it to display correctly for the DC?
4. do dreamcast light guns work with arcade monitor's and same as above how does the H & V need to be set up for the DC light guns to run correctly if its even possible.
5. what is the normal resolution for the dramcast to run on a arcade monitor correctly I run the pc and arcade monitor at 640X480 and was wondering if the dreamcast is a different reoultion and would I need to adjust the H&V pots on the monitor itself everytime I swap from pc to dc and vice versa in order to get them both displaying right?
6. can the pc and dc vga box be hooked up at the same time without causing damage I know having the pc and DC powered on at the same time probabaly would not be good at all but if they were only powere one at a time is it alright and tragic lol.
CONTROL INTERFACING.
1. I plan on using stock dreamcast controllers and doing the striaght wire mod off the button and joystick contacts and was wondering if I can wire them right to the buttons and joystick like it would normally be done except my buttons and joys are already hooked to a mini-pac that runs to the pc can this be hooked up this way safely without cuasing damage to the dreamcast or the mini pac or pc by having them both connected at the same time?
2. if it is not safe that way what would be needed to make it right and safe having the mini-pac and dreamcast controller hooked to the same buttons and joys?
3. if it is safe if the mini-pac and dreamcast controllers are hooked up at the same time does one or the other need to be unplugged where only one is connected at a time or is it safe to leave them both hooked up at once?
I ask these questions to see if it is going to be a pain to squeeze the DC in with my current set-up or just throw a tv in a cab and do a custom control panel with the modded DC controllers.
severdhed:
i dont know anything about acrade monitors, but i have an idea for the controls. i dont know how many controls you have, but you could wire all of your controls to a 25pin parallel cable, and use a switch box like this:
http://store.pchcables.com/db2wayswitbo.html
you attach a 25pin cable to the ipac, and a 25 pin cable to the dreamcast controllers, and then use the switch to select which device the buttons and sticks are connected to.
this is assuming that 25 wires is enough for all of your controls, and that the dreamcast controllers you are using have a common ground for all the inputs.
Hiub1:
If you wait til tonight, I can snap off some pics of my setup, which is exactly what Severdhed said. I have my controls wired up to a 25 pin serial connector, then I have a set of hacked DC pads with wires coming out into the connectors, and I have an Ipac coming out to 2 serial connectors. Keep in mind that I use a switch box for every player, so that makes them 2 total. The system works great, and all that is needed is to flip 2 knobs that I placed on the side opening of my coin door to swtich between DC and the PC.
As for the display, I have no idea about the light guns. I guess if your monitor is picky you might need the amp, but you lose nothing by trying it out without it first. About the sync, I have a presentation monitor capable of 15khz, and it has the old twist on connector cables with separate syncs. Lemme look in there later and I'll double check to see what I'm running.
northerngames:
some pictures would be great so I have a better idea of what to do but that set-up sounds easy and good to me.
if I do need the ultimarc video amp hooked up will it run off the dreamcast vga correctly I would I need to get power from something else?
northerngames:
still would like to see some pictures if possible so I can get an idea and go from there.
also still looking for any comments on getting the display stuff down right.
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