Unofficial Pi Position Q&A & Support Thread

[Glitch]

Now that the first run of Pi Position boards are arriving, this thread can be used for support. Refer to video below for introduction and features. Suggestions are welcome for opening post (note that current forum software limits post editing to only 90 days).

FAQ

Is Pi Position FPGA or MAME?
Pi Position is not FPGA. Pi Position is powered by a Raspberry Pi 3 and MAME. Any inaccuracies in MAME will be carried over.

Do I need a separate power supply?
Pi Position is completely PnP and utilizes the stock AR-IIs. A separate power supply is not required.

How can I place an order for Pi Position?
See following thread: https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/new-pole-position-pcb-replacement.468682

Can I switch between my original Pole Position 1/2 PCB and Pi Position?
Forum member @VectorCollector offers a Pole Position 2:1 Switcher/Remote for this purpose: https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/new-design-atari-pole-position-2-1-switcher-remote.470261.

What's received in the Pi Position Kit?
(1) Pi Position PCB, (1) Steering Wheel Encoder PCB, (1) Pole Position keychain.

What games can be played on Pi Position?
Pi Position is intended for Pole Position and Pole Position 2. Other games can be added, depending on controls.

What games other than Pole Position 1/2 can be added?
A list will be compiled as games are verified.

Can I play other driving games in Pi Position?
Possibly, verified list coming soon. Games require a 360-degree wheel and foot pedal should work, unofficial list is here: https://forums.arcade-museum.com/th...on-pcb-replacement.468682/page-9#post-4221102.

Is Pi Position Plug and Play?
Pi Position is PnP for Atari cabinets only. Namco versions have a different pinout.

What MAME version is used for Pi Position?
AdvanceMAME (based on MAME 0.106, unverified)

Can High Scores be posted online?
Pole Position games featured hiscore saving via nvram which in mame is implemented as a file that it saves the memory contents to every now and then (not real time unfortunately). Pi Position has a small script that can parse that file and display the scores in a webbrowser if networking is enabled. It doesn't send the scores anywhere and is only accessible on your home network. It does serve the scores in json format though so everyone's free to pull the scores to their PCs and make excel spreadsheet diagrams or something if so inclined.

If scores from both games are found on SD card by default browser switches between the two every 5sec or so but it can be locked to a game. By default the system doesn't have networking enabled. Reasoning was that not everyone wants it, it takes couple seconds extra time during boot, and original cab didn't have networking either. Networking is enabled by uncommenting "ENABLE_NET" flag in sdcard's arcpi-config.txt (by removing #-character on that line), for wired ethernet connection nothing else is needed. For WiFi there's additional config file to fill your access point info. It should then be reachable as http://arcpi/ on any web browser that's connected to the same network (or by IP address it's more limited router setup).



Who's involved with the Pi Position project?
Jason Kopp (hardware)
David Galloway (wrote the first iteration of code for the micro controller)
Thomas Christy (wrote the code that allows the gpio to talk to the video dacs)
Samuli Toumola (wrote custom mame code to fix the shifter and completely changed the way mame saves high scores and much more)



Troubleshooting

A replacement steering wheel encoder was shipped with my Pi Position. Do I need it?
Some Pole Position cabinets have a different encoder PCB, which may or may not work with Pi Position. This is a 50/50 chance it will need to be replaced, more info on video @ 15:46

My accelerator pedal is working backwards
Accelerator post is wired backwards from factory or cable is backwards. See video at 22:38. Alternatively, you can swap the red and black wires on the accelerator potentiometer .

My steering wheel moves in opposite directions (right is left, left is right)
See video at 23.53

Car screeching/skidding sound is off in PP1.
Known issue. The sample used in MAME is of poor quality, this may be fixed later.

My top speed doesn't reach 244mph.
Verify your DIP switch settings in MAME.

No ROMs came with the Pi Position? Where can I find them?
MAME romset 0.185 merged is recommended. For legal reasons, ROMs are not included with the Pi Position nor links/discussions to ROMsets will be provided.

Roms have been loadded into the SD folder, but I still get the "Sad Jason" missing ROMs screen. What's wrong?
AdvanceMAME seems to be picky about filenames, looking for polepos.zip and polepos2.zip. Renaming the files seemed to get things going. Maybe the MAME experts can chime in and explain in detail.





More to come.

 

[KaBoom1701]

Great thread,

Thanks for stating. I'd love to figure out how to fix the sounds issue. I have a working PP1 board if recording sound on a Android phone will work? lol

 

[Glitch]

Great thread,

Thanks for stating. I'd love to figure out how to fix the sounds issue. I have a working PP1 board if recording sound on a Android phone will work? lol

@DogP makes a suggestion about this here: https://forums.arcade-museum.com/th...on-pcb-replacement.468682/page-9#post-4223609

To record a new "clean" screeching sound, I think it'd be easier to simply disable the engine sound, which according to the schematics should be fairly easy. Sheet 9B shows a section called "Engine Sound Generator", which at worst, you could pull the 4066 at 11M and ENGSND would be disconnected. It might even be as easy as removing the two ROMs at 12E and 12F (and maybe tying D7 high or low), or lifting one end of a few resistors.

I could be wrong, but the engine sound also sounds a bit "grittier" in this video than I'm used to on a real PP.

Either way, sure beats a dead PP!

DogP

 

[KaBoom1701]

I'd be willing to try that.. Will the game still run... I'll find out. lol

 

[DocRotCod]

Can't get ours to work. Jason mentions the file that you can specify which game starts and what roms are loaded. In his example those lines are commented out. Not sure if that has anything to do with it but any ROM we download for Pole Position we keep getting the 'no roms found' screen.

 

[Glitch]

Can't get ours to work. Jason mentions the file that you can specify which game starts and what roms are loaded. In his example those lines are commented out. Not sure if that has anything to do with it but any ROM we download for Pole Position we keep getting the 'no roms found' screen.

I was having the same issue and found that MAME can be picky about specific filenames, since it was looking for polepos.zip and polepos2.zip. Renaming the files seemed to get things going. Maybe the MAME experts can chime in and explain in detail.

 

[DocRotCod]

That worked for PP1, still no joy for PP2. Making progress though.

I was having the same issue and found that MAME can be picky about specific filenames, since it was looking for polepos.zip and polepos2.zip. Renaming the files seemed to get things going. Maybe the MAME experts can chime in and explain in detail.

 

[DocRotCod]

So I read the top post FAQ and noted the ROMset they used. Just go here and download the pole position ROMs.

I see above that links will not be provided so just google "MAME romset 0.185 merged"

Download polepos.zip and polepos2.zip

Put those 2 files in your ROM folder and you are good to go!

 

[ArcadeJason]

thanks for starting this thread glitch i don't have much time lately.
now that these boards are being tested in many cabinets i have been able to learn about some new issues.

issues and fixes:
1. screen is too wide
so far 3 people have told me there screen is too wide. when i originally tested the board i found that this was the case on my own machine but the picture looked fine on 9 other machines. i chalked it up to my personal monitor. in fact you can see that my screen is too wide on the piposition video. A future update will decrease screen width if desired

2. pedal reverses direction after next boot.
this can be caused by a noisy gas pot. your original pcb may work fine with a bad pot but the piposition uses an auto calibration program that senses max limits. this program can get confused if your pot is bad. this has been fixed by swapping the outer pot wires but it really is best to clean or replace a noisy pot.

3. volume is too low.
yes in fact it outputs 75% the original volume of an original pcb. i thought this was acceptable but people have told me that its just not loud enough in an arcade environment. this will be fixed on the next update. but if your impatient with me r13 and r14 on your ar2 boards can be swapped for 4.7k resistors.

 

[DocRotCod]

thanks for starting this thread glitch i don't have much time lately.
now that these boards are being tested in many cabinets i have been able to learn about some new issues.

issues and fixes:
1. screen is too wide
so far 3 people have told me there screen is too wide. when i originally tested the board i found that this was the case on my own machine but the picture looked fine on 9 other machines. i chalked it up to my personal monitor. in fact you can see that my screen is too wide on the piposition video. A future update will decrease screen width if desired

2. pedal reverses direction after next boot.
this can be caused by a noisy gas pot. your original pcb may work fine with a bad pot but the piposition uses an auto calibration program that senses max limits. this program can get confused if your pot is bad. this has been fixed by swapping the outer pot wires but it really is best to clean or replace a noisy pot.

3. volume is too low.
yes in fact it outputs 75% the original volume of an original pcb. i thought this was acceptable but people have told me that its just not loud enough in an arcade environment. this will be fixed on the next update. but if your impatient with me r13 and r14 on your ar2 boards can be swapped for 4.7k resistors.

Jason,

Not only is it too wide, it is too low. No matter how much I adjust the screen there is a 1-2" gap from top of tube to where the image starts. It is also that way on the 'sad jason' image so it is before the game actually loads if that helps.

 

[ArcadeJason]

Jason,

Not only is it too wide, it is too low. No matter how much I adjust the screen there is a 1-2" gap from top of tube to where the image starts. It is also that way on the 'sad jason' image so it is before the game actually loads if that helps.

no problem we are on it

 

[DocRotCod]

no problem we are on it

In trying to help as much as possible I hooked up a spare WG D7700 monitor. On this one it said 'over range'. This is a standard res. monitor as well.

 

[ArcadeJason]

In trying to help as much as possible I hooked up a spare WG D7700 monitor. On this one it said 'over range'. This is a standard res. monitor as well.

the wg d7700 is a very picky monitor id say as much as 1 of 8 classic games it will not display

 

[egordon21]

For the many pole positions that have had the ground wires cut and jumpered to the board can this board accept the external ground someplace or do you need to repin your harness?

 

[Brentradio]

Will there be a way to run this in a Jamma cab that has the proper controls?

How would that work?

 

[GackAttack]

So I read the top post FAQ and noted the ROMset they used. Just go here and download the pole position ROMs.

I see above that links will not be provided so just google "MAME romset 0.185 merged"

Download polepos.zip and polepos2.zip

Put those 2 files in your ROM folder and you are good to go!

@DocRotCod @ArcadeJason @Glitch
I've had same issue with rom files aren't recognized. Only thing I can find so far when looking for "MAME romset 0.185 merged" is a massive file that will take 6hrs to download LOL. Can you be more specific how to find just the 2 files needed? Or detail in PM if prefer, thanks!

Fingers crossed I can get it all setup in the next couple hours, doing a Zoom virtual party, woot!

-GackAttack

 

[Glitch]

@DocRotCod @ArcadeJason @Glitch
I've had same issue with rom files aren't recognized. Only thing I can find so far when looking for "MAME romset 0.185 merged" is a massive file that will take 6hrs to download LOL. Can you be more specific how to find just the 2 files needed? Or detail in PM if prefer, thanks!

Fingers crossed I can get it all setup in the next couple hours, doing a Zoom virtual party, woot!

-GackAttack

Note the word "here" is hyperlinked on "Click here to browse this collection." You can browse the contents that way.

 

[Glitch]

Looks like the editing window expired on Post #1, so I'm unable to add additional info to the OP, unless this is something @mclemore can change.

Weird, since I can edit older posts in other areas of the forum.

 

[GackAttack]

Note the word "here" is hyperlinked on "Click here to browse this collection." You can browse the contents that way.

Finally got back to this today, success and THANK YOU!

Had to flip the setting for the gas pedal which is a nice feature to eliminate having to mod stuff.

I've gone thru the dip switch settings and believe I have all correct now as well.

So to clarify, what is the top MPH speed that should be able to hit, and is it different between PP1 and PP2?

I see 244 MPH mentioned. I want to say from memory PP1 was maxing out at like 180 MPH, but PP2 seems to be more like 156(ish) MPH.

Which are the specific settings to change in the MAME settings from keyboard selection style how Jason demonstrated in his video?

FYI - I also have the same issue where screen is too wide AND is about 1-2" shifted down. I suppose maybe that could be a MAME adjustment that could be added similar to the gas/steering direction options?

Cool stuff, making progress!

-GackAttack

 

[Glitch]

Finally got back to this today, success and THANK YOU!

Had to flip the setting for the gas pedal which is a nice feature to eliminate having to mod stuff.

I've gone thru the dip switch settings and believe I have all correct now as well.

So to clarify, what is the top MPH speed that should be able to hit, and is it different between PP1 and PP2?

I see 244 MPH mentioned. I want to say from memory PP1 was maxing out at like 180 MPH, but PP2 seems to be more like 156(ish) MPH.

Which are the specific settings to change in the MAME settings from keyboard selection style how Jason demonstrated in his video?

FYI - I also have the same issue where screen is too wide AND is about 1-2" shifted down. I suppose maybe that could be a MAME adjustment that could be added similar to the gas/steering direction options?

Cool stuff, making progress!

-GackAttack

Should be 244mph for PP1. You'll need to plug in a USB keyboard and access the MAME settings menu like explained in the video. DIP for Twin Galaxies settings are as follows:

Pole Position 1
Settings of 8-Toggle Switch on Pole Position CPU PCB (at 9JA) for Atari Boards
1-5 = OFF
6-8 = ON

Settings of 8-Toggle Switch on Pole Position CPU PCB (at 9L for Atari Boards or 7E for Namco Boards)

1 = OFF
2 = ON
3-4 = OFF
5-8 = ON

Game Time: 120 Seconds
Laps: 4
Practice Difficulty: "C" Rank
Extended Lap Difficulty: "G" Rank [75 - 51 - 57 - 61]

Pole Position 2
Settings of 8-Toggle Switch on Pole Position II CPU PCB (at 9L for Atari Boards or 9E for Namco Boards)
1 = OFF
2-5 = ON
6 = OFF
7-8 = ON

Settings of 8-Toggle Switch on Pole Position CPU PCB (at 9JA for Atari Boards or 7E for Namco Boards)

1-5 = OFF
6 = ON
7-8 = OFF

Preliminary Game Time: 90 Seconds
Preliminary Rank: D
Extended Rank: D [75 - 41 - 53 - 53 - 53]
Number of Laps: 5
Speed: High Speed

For monitor adjustment, change the following settings in your config.txt file, and fine-tune with the monitor controls.

# uncomment the following to adjust overscan. Use positive numbers if console
# goes off screen, and negative if there is too much border
overscan_left=40
overscan_right=40
overscan_top=40
overscan_bottom=40