Issues with 60-in-1 board and icade software menu

Grantman

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I recently bought a machine with a 60-in-1 board in it (the board was purchased from KLOV user Nixs) that is running the icade software menu. I've noticed some annoying features and I wanted to see if others have experienced the same things.

1) When you move the joystick from left/right to up/down (or vice versa), there is a delay in the response on the game (maybe about a half-second). This is most noticeable on games like Dig Dug or Pac-Man. My machine has a new microswitch 4-way joystick so I'm not sure if it's the joystick or the software/PCB. Anybody else notice this?

2) Even though I have high scores enabled on the circuit board (dip switch 3 is "on"), they are not saved. On some games, only the high score is saved but none of the initials are saved. Is this a known problem?

3) I know the sound is messed up on some of the games, but there is also a soft hissing sound pretty much the whole time the machine is on. Is this a known problem with the board or only with my particular setup? Any way to minimize this?

4) Probably not much can be done about this, but the listed games are not in alphabetical order. WTF?! The menu is pretty terrible all around. Can it be updated without swapping out the board? Is there a better menu that is available or is being developed now?

5) The demo music for games does not appear to be working (even after turning this on in the service menu).

Thanks for any comments on these issues.
 
I recently bought a machine with a 60-in-1 board in it (the board was purchased from KLOV user Nixs) that is running the icade software menu. I've noticed some annoying features and I wanted to see if others have experienced the same things.

1) When you move the joystick from left/right to up/down (or vice versa), there is a delay in the response on the game (maybe about a half-second). This is most noticeable on games like Dig Dug or Pac-Man. My machine has a new microswitch 4-way joystick so I'm not sure if it's the joystick or the software/PCB. Anybody else notice this?

No... this isn't normal. Response should be quick... nothing near .5 seconds.

2) Even though I have high scores enabled on the circuit board (dip switch 3 is "on"), they are not saved. On some games, only the high score is saved but none of the initials are saved. Is this a known problem?

Known issue. Most games will save the highest score ONLY and no initials.

3) I know the sound is messed up on some of the games, but there is also a soft hissing sound pretty much the whole time the machine is on. Is this a known problem with the board or only with my particular setup? Any way to minimize this?

Likely an issue with your rig. I've never noticed an extraordinary amount of hiss in my 48-in-1 setups.

4) Probably not much can be done about this, but the listed games are not in alphabetical order. WTF?! The menu is pretty terrible all around. Can it be updated without swapping out the board? Is there a better menu that is available or is being developed now?

You're ass-out... no way to change order.

5) The demo music for games does not appear to be working (even after turning this on in the service menu).

If you're talking about the menu music...be happy it doesn't work. It's that bad. If you're talking about attract sounds...turning it on DOES make some games include attract sounds...others not.
 
From what I've picked up by reading others comments on these boards:

1) Likely the board is bad. While it runs an old verison of MAME and MAME has had issues with input sluggishness, it usually was in a few ms or so range, not 500ms.

2) Those multi boards don't save initials, and even have issues saving scores at all sometimes unless you re-enter the game after it closes I've heard.

3) Yes, the sound is horrible on those boards based on the very old version of Mame they use (like v .37) that was incomplete. Constant hissing could be hardware issues though like a bad amp chip or something.

4) No, you can't update the board unless you had the source code and reburned it. I don't think it's alphabetical though is it? I thought it started with DKs then pac's, then others in no particular order?

5) I think that's a problem others have stated. I dont have one to check so I'll let others comment for sure.
 
I won't answer the ones that others have already gotten the definitive word on, but I'll comment on a couple:

1) I usually hear this a lot on games like the Pac titles and Dig Dug mostly because of the operator and nothing to do with the joystick - especially if the Pacs are on fast speed. Usually the players aren't used to it and have trouble "anticipating" the turns. if you have it on fast, switch it to slow and see if you still notice a lag. As for Dig Dug, you can only move along certain pathways. if you try to move between those pathways, your character will wait until the next pathway before moving in that direction. Perhaps you know this already and are still having an issue besides what I've mentioned, but I've never seen it before.

3) I've noticed this more with the 60-in-1 than with the 48-in-1. I just built one last week that had this issue. if you push on the transformer near the on-board volume pot, you can make it louder. Check to see if the solder got all the way up the holes to those transformer legs. I've seen the part not set in properly and a leg or two have poor contact there, causing a hiss.

5) I'm not sure if this is a broken feature, if it only works while you "preview" a game during the menu select, or if it only works if you disable all the games but one, but I've never seen it work the way you're expecting. of course, I typically turn it off, as I have no desire for the game to make noise if I'm not playing it....
 
My 60 in 1 could pick up a radio station clearly if I held my fingure in a spot on the back (solder) side.. in that cabinet it would hum a little too. Maybe a ground issue..
 
As far as the attract sounds. On my board and others that I have spoken to. Attract sounds will only happen if the "Lame" menu music is on(via the service menu). If you turn off the menu music, the attract sounds will not work. And not all games have attract sounds.

Besides, the menu music sucks.


As far as sound quality. On my board, the actual mame sounds are much better(IMO) if I use the 1/8 headphone jack output, instead of the black and white wires that come out of the jamma adapter. Of course with this, you would need powered speakers to hear anything. But it sounds sooooo much better and way less hiss and audio "noise" since it's not using the 60 in 1's internal board amp to drive the speakers. (try it, temporarily hook up some powered computer speakers and see what you think.)

*Disclaimer* These are my experiences with my board, others may vary.

Also, you must understand. These are $100 and are china hacks. Don't get me wrong, I like mine, however, don't expect perfection. If you want it perfect, get the original boards.



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The menu music on the 39 and one is better. Also on the 39 in 1 you could choose between different background menu music. It's weird the 60 only has 1 background menu tune.
 
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