Posted by Andy Desak on August 28, 1999 at 17:05:14:
In Reply to: Re: Trackballs and Spinner connections posted by gabe on August 28, 1999 at 10:11:27:
: : I bought an Arkanoid spinner at Ebay (like the ones that sold at Happ Controls). I'm also thinking of getting a Happ trackball. Do I need one of the interfaces they sell to connect to the computer or is there another way?
: OK, in reading older messages I realixed part of my question has been anwsered. The Happ trackballs require the interface kit (Let me know if this ain't true). But what about the Happ spinner (Arkanoid replacement)? How do you connect this?
Ok, here is the deal. You are correct, you need the Happ interface to connect the t-ball. You also need the interface to connect the spinner. But, you cannot run both at the same time off of one interface....here are your options if you want to hook up a spinner and t-ball on the same controller.
#1 (expensive) way...if you have 2 serial ports on your computer you can get 2 interface kits from Happ hook up one to each.
#2 A little cheaper.... The spinner and t-balls use the same optical encoders (but like I mentioned they cannot be hooked up in parralel. Now the t-ball has both axis (what is the plural for axis?!!) and the spinner only has one. So you would hook up the up and down axis of the t-ball like normal. Now the spinner and t-ball both need the left right axis. Each encoder has 4 wires going to it so you will need to wire them up so you can switch between them. You will need a 4 pole double throw toggle swithc. Just wire up the interface to the common terminals of the toggle switches and wire the encoder of the spinner and t-ball to the throw sides. All you will have to do is move the toggle switch to change between spinner and t-ball. You can do this while everything is running.
....I was getting phone calls and trying to do other things while I was typing this so I hope I made it clear enough for ya....if not let me know and I will do my best to help you out!!
--Andy Desak
Arcade Solutions