USB Control Panel Conversion

dd0ck

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So I was wondering what people use for MAME controllers. More specifically, for original control panels.

I found this converter: http://www.revisionx.com/usb2arc.html

I've been wanting to be able to have a "portable" Nintendo control panel for DK "on the go" so to speak. I have an extra control panel, and I have a laptop, let's make this happen.

Does anyone have any experience with this? The control panel on it's own isn't very usable if it's not actually in a cabinet. Are there custom boxes to put the panel in so it's useable outside a cabinet? Or would I need to build my own?
 
$109?! You're probably better off with an I-Pac or something along those lines. I guess what you're looking at may be easier to use, but that's expensive.

http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=2

Thanks for the heads up.

Alright $39 is looking a little better. I'm probably going to need some wires too, they sell the wiring kit for that for $23 which is brining it up to $62 which is a bit better. I have an extra wiring harness but it would probably be easier to just make new wires.
 
Thanks for the heads up.

Alright $39 is looking a little better. I'm probably going to need some wires too, they sell the wiring kit for that for $23 which is brining it up to $62 which is a bit better. I have an extra wiring harness but it would probably be easier to just make new wires.

When I did mine I just used wires from an old Neo Geo harness. It's all up to you though.
 
When I did mine I just used wires from an old Neo Geo harness. It's all up to you though.

Okay cool. Now I gotta figure out the best way to make the control panel standalone. Can't have all these wires and buttons hanging out all over the place!
 
You can send your panel to them and they will hook it up.

That's a cool site.
 
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With some effort you can build yourself a "portable" style control panel. Or since you have the top (spare DK panel) just build a box around that.

Ipac is what I use on my Mame cabs (I have 4 of them - long story - none dedicated) it's easy to keep everything clean and in one location. Just buy some wire and some connectors, and run the wires yourself since DK doesn't have many buttons it would be easier then you think. Daisy chaining the ground wire is what takes the longest.

Since the Ipac is USB most older computer and every new computer i've seen has em. Easy to run just one wire out of your box to the computer and be able to play. Since mame is preconfigured to certain keys you shouldn't have any problems playing any games right out of the gate on a DK panel.

Ipac also utilizes "hot keys" which an example of that is Player 1 and Player 2 buttons = ESC key. Player 1 and Button 1 = Credit Slot 1 I personally prefer the hot key method over the other frankenpanel setups (extra buttons everywhere).
 
I hacked a DDR pad connector for PS2. Soldered everything to micro switches and then used a PS2toUSB adapter. Worked well for my first mame cab which was a scratch built DK cab.
 
It worked out well for me. The main reason I did it was because it was free and available. I'm going to use the same control board for my visual pin I build
 
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