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).
View attachment 469708
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.
