So much confusion...jpac...ipac..jamma this, jamma that....URGH!

[tyson171]

Okay......so I have a MKI cabinet converted with a mk3 jamma board/controls ect.  The moniter inside the cabinet is a wells gardner 25k7191.  Going to be doing a mame conversion, and I want to use the moniter that is in the cabinet now(i think it looks really good).  Also going to build my own control panel.  I'm guessing the best video card to use is the arcade vga (i need a new vid card anyways).  I can't figure out exactly what i need to make this work?  Is the Jpac an interface to connect the monitors factory connector straight to the jpac, then use a vga cable from the jpac to the arcadevga?  Or do i just need a conversion cable to hook the arcade moniter to the video card and use the ipac for the control panel?  Like I said....confusion! Thanks in advance.

[Malenko]

You are naming both ways to do it.
arcade vga to jpac using a VGA cable.
or
breakout cable from PC running soft 15 and an IPAC (or other encoder)

avga outputs in a resolution the monitor can handle. the JPAC then feeds the signal from the card into the monitor via the JAMMA wiring. The JPAC also then runs the inputs from the control panel into the computer .

soft15 outputs to a resolution the montor can handle and the breakout cable runs to the monitor RGB/HVG inputs. The IPAC then runs the inputs from the control panel into the computer.

[Mauzy]

soft15 outputs to a resolution the montor can handle and the breakout cable runs to the monitor RGB/HVG inputs. The IPAC then runs the inputs from the control panel into the computer.

Dont forget the possible (actually probable from what I've read) need for a video amplifier if the soft15 route is taken...

[tyson171]

Okay thanks for clearing that up (so i was on the right track at least).  Would i be waisting my money with jpac if I wasn't going to use the jamma control panel or can I hook up my custom controls to the jpac the same as i would the ipac?  I like the fact that the jpac has the videoamp built in if needed, so as long as I can hook up my controls to the jpac i'm thinking this is the best way to go, (doing a two player cp with probably around 20 buttons, 3 joystikcs, and a trackball which i guess has to use the optipack?)  Am i missing anything?  I think i'm starting to get a feel for this

[Malenko]

Dont forget the possible (actually probable from what I've read) need for a video amplifier if the soft15 route is taken...

Never needed one on ANY of my setups.

Okay thanks for clearing that up (so i was on the right track at least).  Would i be waisting my money with jpac if I wasn't going to use the jamma control panel or can I hook up my custom controls to the jpac the same as i would the ipac?  I like the fact that the jpac has the videoamp built in if needed, so as long as I can hook up my controls to the jpac i'm thinking this is the best way to go, (doing a two player cp with probably around 20 buttons, 3 joystikcs, and a trackball which i guess has to use the optipack?)  Am i missing anything?  I think i'm starting to get a feel for this

the point of the JPAC is s you dont have to rewire the cabinet and keep the jamma standard, you can keep all the same wiring. 20 buttons for 2 players? Why?

[Mauzy]

Dont forget the possible (actually probable from what I've read) need for a video amplifier if the soft15 route is taken...

Never needed one on ANY of my setups.

What kind of monitors did you use? From what I've understood, VGA output from a computer is about 1 volt but apparently there is a small number of models that a lot of people have that need 4 volt on the RGB sync lines for the monitor to "use" the signal. The unamplified will display, but it isn't healthy for that monitor. You have have the models that don't need it. 

According to Ultimarc "This is a standalone video amplifier which converts the 1 Volt output from a VGA card into 4 Volts required by most arcade monitors". Usually he knows what he is talking about, but I may be misinterpreting his page.

I'm not saying you're wrong, Malenko. I'm just looking to help someone new and gain a little info myself.

[tyson171]

Hey m8, I needed 20 buttons for.... 7 buttons per each player (14), two buttons for the 2 way joy stick (16), two pinball buttons...one on each side (18), coin buttons, start buttons, (and a few more admin butons) which puts me around 20+ buttons . 

So i guess i'm still at the same place, if I can wire my own custom cp with the jpac then thats what i would like to go with, if not then i'll have to go with the ipac, arcadevga, and a breakout cable and possible a video amp?  Hey mauzy i believe that certain monitors have a pots that you can adjust to make them output 1v/5v depending on adjustment, for monitors that don't have the ability for adjustment the video amp is needed.....at least thats my understanding, but i'm still a newb . 

[Malenko]

I used both Hantarex Polo and Wells Gardner  , both looked peachy  I dont have pix of the polo, but the link in my sig that says NeoMAME was the WG.


you need 6 buttons per player (Jamma takes care of 3 and the JPAC has extra inputs for the other 3) coin and start for both players are again handled by the jamma standard. You can parallel wire the pinball buttons and not use extra inputs same goes for the 2 way, you can just wire the inputs from the 8 way. I believe the JPAC uses the shift function so that eliminates the need for separate inputs for those as well (for example P1 start & P1 down = pause)