Advice Needed: Common Issues With Multi-Jamma Cab Builds

jgreene

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Advice Needed: Common Issues With Multi-Jamma Cab Builds

Looking for some advice on the pros/cons of multi jamma cab setups.

I'm thinking about getting a dedicated 4 player cab so my kids and I can play together (simpsons, TMNT, gauntlet, etc.). I have limited space and can really only fit 1 4p cab so I was thinking about adding a 2-1 or 6-1 switcher to allow for more than one game in the cab. The plan would be to install the switcher in a way that does not damage or hack up the original cab.

I've located a couple threads on this, but still have some questions:

1) If done well and games use the same control setup is it worth the trouble to do a multi jamma cab, or are these things just more trouble than their worth?

2) Is it common to have video issues when switching between boards? I've seen a couple comments on the need to adjust a monitor when switching.

3) How much trouble is it to add an older non-jamma board into a jamma cab setup? For example wiring up a gauntlet into a multi-TMNT type cab. I'm assuming this would work best by making a Gauntlet-Jamma adapter harness?

4) To switch games is it better to use some type of switcher, or to just transfer the cab harness between boards to switch games? I'm thinking a switcher is better since it eliminates repeated cycling of the harness connector on/off a 20 yr old pcb?

Thanks,
Jim
 
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If you're going to go through all that, run a MAME setup with a JPAC and ArcadeVGA.
 
I don't see a way to do a multi jamma cabinet with a switcher if the games need kick harnesses (like 4 player konami games etc). Maybe other people have solved this problem
 
Is the kick harness for the 3rd/4th players controls?

If the switchers won't work with these, what's the best method to have the ability to run more than 1 board? Mount the boards inside & then make jumper harnesses to manually connect/disconnect to the cabinet as needed?
 
Well I haven't done it but if it is for the third and forth player controls I would make a molex connection for the 3rd and 4th player controls with basically a Y connector going to each board. The reason I think this would work is that each board is powered on only when in use unless your buying the multijamma from multigame that is set up to turn on all 6 boards at the same time.
 
Just run mame.

Buy the original boards and box them up in the bottom of the machine if you want to feel better about it. Multijamma setups are quite costly and can be quite problematic with 4 player games.

Video issues are not uncommon when switching between boards, sometimes a monitor adjusted right for one board isn't right for the next one. You can use Jamma adaptors with a multijamma setup, however I personally found that the pre-jamma boards had even more video variation than the JAMMA titles did. Your experience may vary here. Mine is based off my experiences with my old Candy cabinet, 60ish boardsets, a few adaptors and a non-name 2 board switching setup.
 
I agree with tbbk. monitor sync issues seems to be the number one problem for multi jamma setups. I'm basically building one and have to test each board in advance to see if it will work with the same monitor and settings before I commit it to the multi jamma cabinet.
 
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I am running the 6-1 with DK,DKJR,GALAGA,PAC-MAN.DIG DUG and a 60-1 in my Nintendo cab.
If you use a monitor with a remote adjustment board then you could mount that just inside the coin door to adjust the pic as needed.
The only problem is the orientation of the screen on the DK & DKJR.
I had to run the yoke wires to the coin door and use .093 molex connectors to flip the screen for those games.
I haven't tried the other jamma games,so I can't verify pic quality for those.
Also if the games require -5v then you would need to modify the switcher for that.
I must be one of the lucky ones who have had no problems with my switcher.*knocks on wood*
 
I agree with tbbk. monitor sync issues seems to be the number one problem for multi jamma setups. I'm basically building one and have to test each board in advance to see if it will work with the same monitor and settings before I commit it to the multi jamma cabinet.

Sounds like I am headed down the same path as you. What drove you to go multi Jamma rather than mame? I was thinking multi jamma for more 'authentic' gameplay.

But adjusting the monitor between games or having to swap harnesses kinda takes away the 'authentic' aspect. Maybe I am setting myself for a project better done via a MAME setup...

Thanks
 
Well I haven't done it but if it is for the third and forth player controls I would make a molex connection for the 3rd and 4th player controls with basically a Y connector going to each board. The reason I think this would work is that each board is powered on only when in use unless your buying the multijamma from multigame that is set up to turn on all 6 boards at the same time.

I was thinking of doing this for a switcher. I'm assuming that if a board's not powered, having it y'd into the control switches won't be an issue.

My other idea (and this might be overkill) was to mount each board and then make a jumper harness to go from the board to the cabinet's harness. This would eliminate the would auto-switcher but require intensive harness building.
 
Sounds like I am headed down the same path as you. What drove you to go multi Jamma rather than mame? I was thinking multi jamma for more 'authentic' gameplay.

But adjusting the monitor between games or having to swap harnesses kinda takes away the 'authentic' aspect. Maybe I am setting myself for a project better done via a MAME setup...

Thanks

Well I used to own arcade games about 15 years ago and I do have a mame cabinet and as impressive as it is I still prefer the real thing. So I am building a cocktail that will house a 60 in 1 and a 19 in 1. I know not much better than mame but wanted to start on easy and get more complicated as I went on. I am just waiting for my Multijamma from mikes arcade as you switch between boards by pressing Player 1 and 2 at the same time instead of needing a remote to switch between boards. The cocktail will look like a 4 player machine but its only a 2 player machine this way the vertical games you play on the ends so its in cocktail mode. The horizontal games will be set in upright mode as your sitting side by side playing together. Once this is done I will be going with the 6 in one Jamma as I am limited on Room at the moment I have some horizontal and vertical boards I will build 2 machines one for horizontal and one for vertical unless I build another cocktail.
 
I don't see a way to do a multi jamma cabinet with a switcher if the games need kick harnesses (like 4 player konami games etc). Maybe other people have solved this problem

I made a board that can connect all the kick harness for a multi cabinet setup. The first round was geared more for a multi-rotary type games like Ikari Warriors, but if there is interest I could gear it more for a kick harness. Here is the thread
 
Those 60 in 1 and 19 in 1 are NOT a little better than mame, they are simply an older version of mame....they are fine for simplicity but the latest version of mame is more authentic than the either of these two boards.....

If you want ease of use and faithful emulation, use the phoenix pcb...simplicity and authenticity in one red little pcb....Also, the phoenix board gets regular updates with bug fixes and new games added....
 
Think about doing a very similar 4p multiJAMMA setup jgreene. You might find this thread fairly interesting http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=186267 if, you haven't checked it out already.

I made a board that can connect all the kick harness for a multi cabinet setup. The first round was geared more for a multi-rotary type games like Ikari Warriors, but if there is interest I could gear it more for a kick harness. Here is the thread

That's a pretty cleaver and clean way to do it 2600! Do you have any boards left?
 
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I made a board that can connect all the kick harness for a multi cabinet setup. The first round was geared more for a multi-rotary type games like Ikari Warriors, but if there is interest I could gear it more for a kick harness. Here is the thread

very interesting...

would love to get my hands on one I could make work for the 4 player cabs
 
very interesting...

would love to get my hands on one I could make work for the 4 player cabs


I don't have any in stock atm, but if there is enough interest then I don't mind running some. If people want them specifically for a kick harness, then I could modify it a bit before getting the PCBs made. I'm not familiar with the kick harness pinout so you guys would have to guide me on what you want. It would take less then a month to get the bare PCBs in.
 
I have a 25" Z-back cabinet and put in a Atari Tetris PCB with Street Fighter Alpha 2. Honestly, neither game is worthy to be in my arcade alone but together in one, it flat out rocks. Great puzzle game for my wife and a fighting game for when my friends come over. I use Mike's switcher and it works FLAWLESS. Can't speak about the others.


I even made a custom maruqee for it... :)

6967935342_531983f7c9_b.jpg
 
i've got a little tabletop project going for the kids with the cheap 19-1 and 60-1 card.
Haven't tried it yet but I can tell you i'm not paying for a multi-jamma board at over 100 bucks. considering a jamma harness is 10.

--2 boards with a jamma harness apiece.
--join the control wiring together in parallel.
--then put the 5 volt line coming off the switcher through a single throw/double pole switch.
--That would make sure only 1 board or the other was powered on at a time.
--and build the horizontal controls on the horizontal side of the monitor, vertical controls on vertical side of monitor
--only thing i'm not sure about is finding a Y style d-sub connector so the monitor output from the boards doesn't require physical movements.

but they are right. MAME with a Jpac is the most versatile route, and the cheapest in the long run.
If you've gotta have an all in 1 pcb, then phoenix is the best going.
 
i've got a little tabletop project going for the kids with the cheap 19-1 and 60-1 card.
Haven't tried it yet but I can tell you i'm not paying for a multi-jamma board at over 100 bucks. considering a jamma harness is 10.

--2 boards with a jamma harness apiece.
--join the control wiring together in parallel.
--then put the 5 volt line coming off the switcher through a single throw/double pole switch.
--That would make sure only 1 board or the other was powered on at a time.
--and build the horizontal controls on the horizontal side of the monitor, vertical controls on vertical side of monitor
--only thing i'm not sure about is finding a Y style d-sub connector so the monitor output from the boards doesn't require physical movements.

but they are right. MAME with a Jpac is the most versatile route, and the cheapest in the long run.
If you've gotta have an all in 1 pcb, then phoenix is the best going.

Actually this is a good idea I'm not sure but this could work for the VGA side its actually to split the single 2 ways but nothing should stop it from going the other way her is the link http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1074788&CatId=467
 
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I don't have any in stock atm, but if there is enough interest then I don't mind running some. If people want them specifically for a kick harness, then I could modify it a bit before getting the PCBs made. I'm not familiar with the kick harness pinout so you guys would have to guide me on what you want. It would take less then a month to get the bare PCBs in.

I can send you the pinout for the 2 button version (TMNT, Simpson, Captain America) and the 3 button version (X-men, NBA Jams) 3p/4p harness when I get home from work.
 
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