Mame & Dreamcast cab Possible??

[Marky_1979]

I am converting an old Golden Tee cabinet into a mame cab i am currently swopping over the old arcade monitor for a new one and plan on adding my pc components shortly.

My question is would it be possible to set up my cabinet to be used with my pc for Mame and emu's and then also with my Dreamcast for titles like House of the dead, virtua tennis, soul calibur etc.

Im trying to think how it would be possible but cant work out how it could be done.

Problems I see are:

1. How to set up control panel for pc use with mame and then with hacked DC pads for Dreamcast

2. Use arcade monitor with Dreamcast

Any ideas guys can it be done?

or will I have to build 2 seperate cabs?

Cheers guys

[Ginsu Victim]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle a PC and Dreamcast in the same cab myself (as far as using one control panel goes).
As for using an arcade monitor with a Dreamcast, there's a vga box hack around here that will allow it. Just use the search.

[Marky_1979]

Hey buddy thanks for the reply iv tried finding that hack but no joy could you give me the link to the page? cheers

[Goz]

HERE it is

An alternative to hacked DC pads which only give you digital controls would be an XArcade BYOA kit. The kit which comes with the connections for PC and MAC is decent and can emulate analog controls as well as digital. You would need to buy a Dreamcast adapter but thats under $20

[waveryder]

Did a Mame/Dreamcast cab here http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66932.40
It allows the DC to be switched to analogue or digital control. Mame and DC are switched using a db25 and VGA switch. Also allows the use of other consoles.

[Ginsu Victim]

An alternative to hacked DC pads which only give you digital controls would be an XArcade BYOA kit. The kit which comes with the connections for PC and MAC is decent and can emulate analog controls as well as digital. You would need to buy a Dreamcast adapter but thats under $20

A) I already have an Ipac, so I could order a dreamcast adapter. I'm was just trying to find out if there was an easy solution I could do with a few parts from radio shack.

B) I wouldn't waste my money on anything from X-arcade. Even if it was a decent product, they can't have my money.

waveryder: Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

[ablizno]

Ok i hope this helps you. What i am going to do in my Mame cab also involves a dreamcast. Wire your arcade controls to the ipac like you normally would. Then I'm going to use a hacked madcats Dreamcast controller and wire that to the ipac as well. As long as when u are playing MAME you unplug the controllers from the Dreamcast, and when u play Dreamcast remove the usb cable from the PC, you should be fine. When playing the Dreamcast all that the ipac is doing id making the wires from the hacked Dreamcast pad and the arcade controls touch, completing the circuit. By unplugging the controllers from the Dreamcast while playing MAME will rid of any interferance.

Note: i have not tried this yet but that is what i plan to do in my cab as soon as I start laying in the hardware.

[Ginsu Victim]

I don't want to unplug things. I have an old KVM switch-box that I'm working on using in this setup.
Thanks for your input. Hopefully you'll post again after you've actually tried it.

[northerngames]

you need a dreamcast hais vga box cut wire #6 on the pcb there numbered on the pcb for your convienence.

one end goes to the DC the other end you use a vga break out cable like on ulitmarc.com plug it into the hacked vga box and then draw up your DB-25 male solder cup pin-out solder the wire end to your DB-25 male

take you vga break out from the pc and do the exact same wire in the exact same spots on another male DB-25.

connect both males to the A and B port on a DB-25 switch box.

then take your monitor input wires and connect them in the same order as your output port wire it up the exact same as the other 2.

when done you can safely swap between DC and PC video signal by the flick of a switch a DB-9 may be better for this part

for the controls same thing wire all your arcade controls into a DB-25 male make sure you know what wire you put where and write it down.

then take your Ipac wire and run them to a male DB-25 and make sure all the wiring is the same as your arcade controls pinout.

take 2 DC pcb's straight wire them and put all them wires on a DB-25.

take all 3 db-25's and connect the to a DB-25 switchbox.

you now have all controls from pc to dc by a flick of a switch.

I did my digital to analog signals for the joystick by using a 4PDT on each switch to swap between digital and analog on the dreamcast.

also when you make the control panel make player 1 and player 2 have their own seperate grounds for the DC side.

use a surround sound reciever or similair that has a selectable audio that way you can swap from dc and pc audio wise also.

you may also require a video amp if your using a arcade monitor some need and some do not it all depends on the monitor.

a example of mine before I added the analog can be found here so you can get an idea of how it can be done and what I am explaining.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77164.0

[fjl]

I would think this should work, it was something I had been planning on doing. Do your CP and connect all the buttons to the I-pac. Then also connect all the buttons to the Dreamcast controller. Problem is that now both the dreamcast controller and I-pac will work in unison and one can interfere with the other electrical wise which might even damage the devices. But my suggestion is to put a switch that switches between grounds on the Dreamcast controller and the I-pac. Example would be that when you switch to the I-pac it opens the circuit to the dreamcast controller rendering it useless and only the i-pac works. Switch back to the dreamcast and only the dreamcast controller works and the i-pac does not. This way only one device is on at one time and neither can interfere with either. Basically you switch between ground wires. Plus it's a whole lot less wiring and won't even require a DB 25 converter box.

[Marky_1979]

Im a bit confused on the whole vga box hack any one here done it? Ideally a visual guide would be great so I could see what I need to do. Does it mate that I have an ntsc Dreamcast or is thing universal?

Cheers

[NickG]

Basically you switch between ground wires. Plus it's a whole lot less wiring and won't even require a DB 25 converter box.

No, that alone will not work.  I am fairly certain that this would not switch off your unused device's inputs as they will still find a path to ground through the used device's ground as you press a button.

[northerngames]

and I am pretty certain it would fry your dc controller ports there very picky and I dont think the ipac and it are going to be running the exact same juice ratings.

as mentioned prior goog hais vga box

open box up

look where the wire go out to the dc but where there soldered to the pcb they are numbered cut wire #6 put it back together and it is ready to go.

just open cut wire 6 close and walla

[fjl]

Basically you switch between ground wires. Plus it's a whole lot less wiring and won't even require a DB 25 converter box.

No, that alone will not work.  I am fairly certain that this would not switch off your unused device's inputs as they will still find a path to ground through the used device's ground as you press a button.

Only if the grounds where shared/connected all the way back to the consoles power supply. And most of the power supplies, except a computers, have the power supply separated from the step down transformer that changes AC to DC.

[NickG]

Hey, it's your equipment. 

northern games is correct.  I have experienced this myself.  I've had to replace my control panel fuse in my Dreamcast.

[northerngames]

it's fairly simple to do it just takes time to wire everything but to have it all swapable by swtich in the end is worth the time it takes getting it all wired up.

if you ever wanted to add another console you can leave everthing working as it sits and build your other console of choice by the same DB-25 and then it too can either be on a switch or just plug it in like a huge video game console plug.

eventually you can swap any system you have with no tools needed in the end to changhe out anything.

put your DC PCB's behind your marquee light that space is plenty and out of the way of everything.

[Marky_1979]

this is the inside of my vga box




am i right in thinking i need to remove one wire from this lot?

[northerngames]

it's wire #6 on the hais vga box I have not seen that box before so I would need to know who makes it.

pin 6 can also be clipped off the plug in your second picture but you have to be carefull not to damage the other pins by it.



this is the hais you would turn it over take 4 phillips screws out pull the case off and right under the orange sticker that was on the case area but on the pcb where the wire from the cord connect to it the wires are numbered 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 etc. you just clip off #6 wich I believe is a white wire make sure the clipped end does not short on anything and put it back together.

for the vga cord part you need a vga breakout cable and wire it into the monitor signal input wires.

[Marky_1979]

My vga box looks like this it has no make or name on the box

one of the wires is white but not sure if its the 6th or not as they are not numbered.

If i remove the 6th wire do i also have to remove a pin from my picture 2?

[northerngames]

the pin from picture two is good enough and should do.

the clipped pin must not toach the dreamcast port pin or it will not work.

to make sure it is done correctly after you get done hook it up to a vga monitor and if it is out of sync then it is good to go on a 15K monitor.

[Marky_1979]

Excellent I think this is the way to go, how would you suggest I get to the pin and how would I remove it plus which one is it?

Also another point I need to clear up I currently connect my pc to the arcade monitor with this lead see pic which connects to the arcade golden tee board would I use the same method once I hack my vga box?.

[northerngames]

go to google click images type dreamcast video pinout

your after pin #6 on the vga box's plug

if you were the console and pluggin it in to your eye look at the cord how it would go in like it would normal on the dreamcast and I believe it is the 6th pin from the right side wich also would be pin 6 from the console's left side but leave the console alone.

try a small sewing needle to pry the pin up and either clip it back or perhaps try to tug it out of there you may have to take a dremel and take a cut-off wheel and shave some of the casing in a line to get better access to the pin but if your not sure let me know.

I would have to know what kind of cable that is first.

if it is a VGA then it would plug right into the dc box and your monitor and it's good to go or better yet if it is still a golden tee put a KVM switchbox and get another vga cord for the dc box and then you could swap the video between the GoldenTee and DC by turning the switch.

there like less then $10.00 shipped on ebay new/used

[Marky_1979]

yes mate its a vga lead is this the switch box you were talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Port-KVM-PC-Keyboard-Video-Monitor-VGA-Switchbox_W0QQitemZ190221203091QQihZ009QQcategoryZ45341QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Marky_1979]

[northerngames]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-2-Port-PS-2-KVM-Switch-Two-KVM-Cables-VGA_W0QQitemZ130221293900QQihZ003QQcategoryZ45341QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I assume your in the UK

the link you had is a 4X port meaning it can switch 4 different one's.

[Marky_1979]

Iv ordered that switch thanks northern. Do you know anyone who sells these vga boxes already set up for arcade monitor use? the reason i ask is iv gone through 2 vga boxes now and neither work i cant even get a picture up on the monitor iv moved the v sync to try and get an image but no luck so both damaged vga boxes are now in the trash.

[northerngames]

I have only used the hais brand there easy like explained prior and you can't mess those up.

if your in the U.K. try a google search for dc hais vga sale or something along that line.

ebay has them but there like $28.00 to the U.K.

some monitors require a video amp if you get a dim or dull picture.

if your in the u.k. go with this

http://www.arcadecabinets.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=18&category_id=6&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26




it also has a built in amp so you would be all set it is not mentioned but it will come with everything you would need but the kvm switch.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103710&cp=&sr=1&origkw=mini+jack+rca&kw=mini+jack+rca&parentPage=search

those will plug into the vga box and pc to convert over to rca put rca on pc dc and golden tee and connect them to a surround reciever made for the living room and all will have great sound and be sekectable by switch on the reciever plus you will get more raw sound power 

[ark_ader]

Wow all this to get the Dreamcast and Mame to work in your cab?

Heck just wire the dreamcast with a DC to Jamma fingerboard and run Mame off the DC with MAME4 All.

The VGA is a no brainer, just get the adapter and if necessary buy a switchbox.

 

[Marky_1979]

1. Does it matter that im using a ntsc Dreamcast on a uk arcade? or is vga universal and not really alter things? im not even getting a dull picture just a really black and red type thing

2. Is this  Dreamcast Video / Audio Adapter a hacked vga box or something i need as well as a hacked vga box?

many thanks

[Ginsu Victim]

Wow all this to get the Dreamcast and Mame to work in your cab?

Heck just wire the dreamcast with a DC to Jamma fingerboard and run Mame off the DC with MAME4 All.
 

Bad idea. Why downgrade my MAME any further? I'd rather go through the trouble to have both a PC and a DC in my cab than to use a version of MAME that doesn't run near as much as I already can. (Plus I like my spinner and possible future trackball)

[northerngames]

DC cannot even emu snes very well so mame would be terrible on it.

yes the link I gave comes with everything you need it is a vga box that is made to run 15K with a built in amp on it and it also comes with the cord needed to go from it to you monitor along with the cord to your DC.

like I was saying prior I use DB-25 on a switchbox for my controls

the arcade control panel goes to one DB-25 wich goes on the input jack of the switchbox

port A output goes to the IPAC wich also has all it's wire hooked on a DB-25 that goes to the switch

port B out goes to the DC PCB's button signals and the DC PCB cord's go to the DC console.

that site also makes more DC adapters for controls to work on arcade stuff but I used my own controller pcb becuase it was like $120.00+ cheaper for me to build my own then buy a kit and nothing emulates the controls better then it's own offcial controls.



I left the origanal DC cords as is and made my wire's from the DC pcb's almost half the lengh of them becuase there was no way that box was going to actually fit in my control panel.

I did not want it under the monitor area so I looked around and found a nice open place behind the marquee speakers and light there is plenty of space up there that would never get used so I laid a 4"X4" peice of velcro up there and the same on the dc box and I place it up there on the velcro and it holds it perfect.

if for some reason there ever were a problem it can just be unplugged and pulled off the velcro and removed the the cab in seconds.

[Marky_1979]

is the picture your displaying what i'll get? and would the fact my dreamcast is ntsc and my arcade uk make any difference to my set up?

[northerngames]

if you mean the DC box picture that is my creation  for the DC controls

you are trying to get this on a arcade monitor correct?

I belive all arcade monitors are still 15K wether they are ntsc or U.K. for instance i use a japanese nanao but I could be wrong and not 100% sure on that grantspain or kenlayton would be the one to ask that and they could give you the correct info on that part.

I could show you a picture of the DC A/V that the site sells but I have mine incased in a project box like my DC control project box.

I am currently running the same part I gave you the link to becuase it has the built in amp and is a tad better display the hacked hais vga box.

both type video box's work great though in either case.

[Marky_1979]

is this it? yes I am only trying to get the picture onto the monitor controls i think i have sorted

[Ginsu Victim]

so I laid a 4"X4" peice of velcro up there and the same on the dc box and I place it up there on the velcro and it holds it perfect.

if for some reason there ever were a problem it can just be unplugged and pulled off the velcro and removed the the cab in seconds.

I'll second that. I use velcro for a LOT in my cabinet. It's one of the greatest inventions ever.

[northerngames]

is this it? yes I am only trying to get the picture onto the monitor controls i think i have sorted

yes that is the part I took mine and put it a project box like the dc controls but one that fits it good it is not required but this way I dont have to worry about them shorting on anything or getting caught on anything when installing/removing them becuase they are incased and really dont heat up so they wont overheat or anyting like that becuase of the case.

[Marky_1979]

excellent i'll order one now