Good ideas, here are my vote! (read on)

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Posted by EmuMannen on 14, 2000 at 4:58 PM:

In Reply to: Not that simple unfortunately posted by Andy Warne on 14, 2000 at 2:43 PM:

Both ideas are good but I really like the new "replacement boards with no interface chip" idea. It is hard to find real arcade spinners that suite all MAME games so the best way is to build a compromise by your self or buy one from Fultra. Building it your self usually requires parts from a hacked mouse (easy for one spinner, a bit harder using both axes for another). I want all my controllers to comply as much as possible to original arcade controls (I might want to share them with a JAMMA interface inside the cabinet). That’s where your products fit in so nicely. I-PAC and Opti-PAC accept arcade control input and converts it to PC output and that is the way I want it. I would buy new "replacement boards with no interface chip" from you if you start to make them. I could then put them in my home made spinners and use them with Opti-PAC and a PC or connect them directly to a JAMMA board, can’t I? That would be superior! I could also use these boards for other controls like wheels and rotating joysticks. I know that HAPP already has optical boards but why are they equipped with an interface chip? I know that they do work with the encoders from Hagstrom but they are more than double the price of I-PAC and Opti-PAC and they lack shifting keys!

I vote for Opti-PAC as it is and a new "replacement boards with no interface chip"! They don’t need an external power supply and comply with original arcade controls.

I am quite sure that the result will be awesome whatever solution you finally chose.

/ EmuMannen

: The happs trackball needs a solid +5V but it is not as simple as taking it from the PC because actually it has to be -5 volts (or +5V with the positive to ground) This is because serial mice work on a negative supply. There are various methods of getting around this such as using an opto-isolator for the link from the trackball to the interface to the serial port.
: So there are two possibilities here:

: 1> replace the Happ optical board with one with no interface chip

: 2> design a new interface with isolated inputs but that will need +5Volts. This could come from the game port, ps/2 mouse port or I-PAC header plug.

: Not made up my mind yet... Any thoughts welcome!

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: Both ideas are good but I really like the new "replacement boards with no interface chip" idea. It is hard to find real arcade spinners that suite all MAME games so the best way is to build a compromise by your self or buy one from Fultra. Building it your self usually requires parts from a hacked mouse (easy for one spinner, a bit harder using both axes for another). I want all my controllers to comply as much as possible to original arcade controls (I might want to share them with a JAMMA interface inside the cabinet). That’s where your products fit in so nicely. I-PAC and Opti-PAC accept arcade control input and converts it to PC output and that is the way I want it. I would buy new "replacement boards with no interface chip" from you if you start to make them. I could then put them in my home made spinners and use them with Opti-PAC and a PC or connect them directly to a JAMMA board, can’t I? That would be superior! I could also use these boards for other controls like wheels and rotating joysticks. I know that HAPP already has optical boards but why are they equipped with an interface chip? I know that they do work with the encoders from Hagstrom but they are more than double the price of I-PAC and Opti-PAC and they lack shifting keys! : I vote for Opti-PAC as it is and a new "replacement boards with no interface chip"! They don’t need an external power supply and comply with original arcade controls. : I am quite sure that the result will be awesome whatever solution you finally chose. : / EmuMannen : : : The happs trackball needs a solid +5V but it is not as simple as taking it from the PC because actually it has to be -5 volts (or +5V with the positive to ground) This is because serial mice work on a negative supply. There are various methods of getting around this such as using an opto-isolator for the link from the trackball to the interface to the serial port. : : So there are two possibilities here: : : 1> replace the Happ optical board with one with no interface chip : : 2> design a new interface with isolated inputs but that will need +5Volts. This could come from the game port, ps/2 mouse port or I-PAC header plug. : : Not made up my mind yet... Any thoughts welcome!

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