Using 2 PCB's - Help Please

Jason999

New member
Joined
Nov 26, 2017
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Location
Tennessee
Hello,

I'm new and would appreciate some help on a Christmas present for my little boy.

I have:

--Pandora box 4 & VGA LCD Monitor in classic (horizontal) cabinet w 2 joysticks

I want:

--- Add additional multi game PCB

I need opinions on:

--Elf (750 in 1), Family Game (3000 in 1) or other recomended PCB??

-- Best method to switch between the two PCB's

-- I've heard concerns on audio w/ cheap ebay switchers?


Thanks,
Jason
 
The Pandora box 4 gives you 645 games. What are you trying to play that does not comes with this PCB?

https://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=DBLJAMMA

https://www.highscoresaves.com/vector-labs-jamma-4-game-switcher.html

The vector labs is more expensive, but you get to play four games in one cabinet.

Joust and Moon Patrol are a couple that I noticed missing. Mainly, I think it would be fun to have as many games as possible, if I can add some for a few dollars.

I'm looking and learning. The 3000 in 1 pcb looks like a small PC, which made me think about connecting an old PC that I have and buying one of the loaded Mame harddrives.

I was thinking that I could wire the PC totally separate in my cabinet and just buy a device that would let me connect two sources to my VGA monitor. I would have 3 power switches - PCB -PC -Monitor

Would there be a way to make my two joysticks work on a PC and a PCB? In other words, the same joysticks would control the device that was turned on.

Doesn't $135 seem expensive for a switcher?
 
Joust and Moon Patrol are a couple that I noticed missing. Mainly, I think it would be fun to have as many games as possible, if I can add some for a few dollars.

I'm looking and learning. The 3000 in 1 pcb looks like a small PC, which made me think about connecting an old PC that I have and buying one of the loaded Mame harddrives.

I was thinking that I could wire the PC totally separate in my cabinet and just buy a device that would let me connect two sources to my VGA monitor. I would have 3 power switches - PCB -PC -Monitor

Would there be a way to make my two joysticks work on a PC and a PCB? In other words, the same joysticks would control the device that was turned on.

Doesn't $135 seem expensive for a switcher?
I think those are both on the 619-1

How old is your son. 600+ games is a lot to toggle thru and if he's like my kids, him and his friends will play the same 10 or so games anyway.

I've got a few set ups with cheap 2-1 switchers and don't have any issues.
 
I think those are both on the 619-1

How old is your son. 600+ games is a lot to toggle thru and if he's like my kids, him and his friends will play the same 10 or so games anyway.

I've got a few set ups with cheap 2-1 switchers and don't have any issues.

I'm in no way saying that we NEED more that 600 games, but enjoy modifying things.

The Elf 750 has several games that my Pandora doesnt have & looks to cost about $100

Any details on which switcher you have? Has anyone had luck with the $40 ebay switchers?

I saw one on here by riddled TV. Anyone familiar?
 
You could always get a 6 in 1 switcher and put in several multi boards, but I suspect you would have lots of duplicate games.
 
Not for or against your plans, so don't take the following that way... Neo-Geo w/multi cart is on the acquisition list.

As a fellow parent (of an early teenager) I've found the "lets get a multi cab" (which started my arcade insanity) was a mistake. The bonding and fun we've gotten out of tracking down, road trip pickups, cleaning/fixing, and playing individual games we really enjoy (and want to play again, and again) is greater than any multi setup we quickly tired of.

IMHO, YMMV, and other disclaimers, non-'90s fighting multi cabs suck and just never look/feel right.
 
Not for or against your plans, so don't take the following that way... Neo-Geo w/multi cart is on the acquisition list.

As a fellow parent (of an early teenager) I've found the "lets get a multi cab" (which started my arcade insanity) was a mistake. The bonding and fun we've gotten out of tracking down, road trip pickups, cleaning/fixing, and playing individual games we really enjoy (and want to play again, and again) is greater than any multi setup we quickly tired of.

IMHO, YMMV, and other disclaimers, non-'90s fighting multi cabs suck and just never look/feel right.

I played on a Commodore 64 for years. I loved downloading and trading obscure hacked games. Some of the hacked games weren't perfect, but I never cared. I enjoyed the acquisition and variety. This has me thinking about building a computer for emulation.

I take no offense and appreciate your post, but I don't think this system will suck. We're new to this, so it's all a novelty.

I bought my first banjo for $140. I could play a song (now) on that banjo & most people (excluding my wife) would love it. I owned a Gibson that sold for $15,000. It was a better banjo. Years ago I thought a prewar was the ultimate, but now my favorite, a modern Gibson, is worth about $3k and I would pick it over any banjo. Admittedly, I added a $1,000 tone ring. How many tone rings have I bought, always looking for something better... That's another story. I buy expensive instruments w/ little thought. I barely play guitar, but own a $2,000 Gibson. I often know value on site. After years of buying and selling, it's like putting money in the bank. You probably wouldn't buy a $2,000 banjo and I wouldn't buy a $2,000 arcade game, even if each was worth $2,500.

I read a post where some guy indignantly insisted that a new guy not to get an LCD monitor over a CRT. His reasoning was so obvious that he didn't bother to explain! I had to wonder if he pick a 70" LED or a 26" console TV. I'm a dummy because I'm still not sure what he was talking about, but I'll bet he wouldn't know a tone ring from a telephone ring tone.

In the end, I whole-heartedly disagree with your post. It sounds like the multi cab was anything but a mistake if it took you down a road, with your son, that you enjoy and love.
 
It sounds like the multi cab was anything but a mistake if it took you down a road, with your son, that you enjoy and love.



Good perspective vis-a-vis "down a road". Tagging post to see how your project turns out. Good luck!
 
Good perspective vis-a-vis "down a road". Tagging post to see how your project turns out. Good luck!

I failed to include my most relevant thought on my $140 banjo. I wouldn't buy one of those today for $50! LOL

It really is great that this generation of kids gets to play and enjoy video games with their parents, occasionally. I can remember trying to get my dad to play a video game with me... Never happened!
 
Jason, I tried to do exactly what you are doing. Had the Game Elf and then picked up the Pandoras box 621-1 (actually Heroes of the Storm 3) for Moon Patrol and a few others...then the cheap Jamma switcher off ebay. I never could get it to work as I wanted.

I do have a VL switcher in a DK cab that plays DK, DK Jr., DK Remix and DK Jr. Remix.
It was spendy but simply works fantastic.

The multi boards just never sync that well for me. One would show a decent pic and the other would be scrolling...

Quite honestly... without knowing exactly what you are trying to accomplish, in terms of games to play... I have had great luck with the ArPiCade. There is a bit of a learning curve on set up. But it works the best for me. It was cheaper than buying multiple boards, switchers, etc.. in the end for me.

Best of luck with everything! Keep everyone posted.
 
Heh, they're the best.

Seriously though, let me know if I can help answer your questions.

I would love for you to answer my questions.

Can I just plug an ELF 750 and a Pandora 4 into you switcher and go?

You've done this before? Is there any compatibility issues?

What doesn't come with your switcher that I will need?

Thanks,
Jason
 
Jason, I tried to do exactly what you are doing. Had the Game Elf and then picked up the Pandoras box 621-1...

I do have a VL switcher...

The multi boards just never sync that well for me. One would show a decent pic and the other would be scrolling...

Quite honestly... without knowing exactly what you are trying to accomplish, in terms of games to play... I have had great luck with the ArPiCade. There is a bit of a learning curve on set up. But it works the best for me. It was cheaper than buying multiple boards, switchers, etc.. in the end for me.

Best of luck with everything! Keep everyone posted.

Thanks for the post. What exact problems did you have with Pandora and Elf? I played a couple of games on Pandora and it looked pretty good to me, but I have very limited experience.

We went to a pizza restaurant that had a new cocktail table. I think it had 60-1 and LCD. The games looked perfect to me. We played and my 8 year old loved it. We have a 700+ sq ft family room, so I decided to get him an arcade game for Christmas. I just want a cool machine that we can play with. That's all I'm trying to do. I've watched youtube videos and I think my expectations of the multi play pcbs are reasonable, but maybe not?

I read about ArcadeSD, but I'm not familiar w/ ArPiCade. I ordered the ELF 750 for around $80. If it doesn't work out then I'm sure I can sell it for half price and move on. I can also sell the Pandora, if I end up wanting something different. I'll get a decent switcher and I can possibly use it even if I want to change this set up later, so I don't feel like I have much to lose. The Vector Labs switcher is OOS, so it doesn't seem to be an option.

We have a vending/arcade auction close. I'm gonna go to the next one. Maybe I'll get another game and a pinball machine.

These are just my thoughts. They may change completely. I'm enjoying learning a little about this.

Thanks
 
I would love for you to answer my questions.

Can I just plug an ELF 750 and a Pandora 4 into you switcher and go?

You've done this before? Is there any compatibility issues?

What doesn't come with your switcher that I will need?

Thanks,
Jason

The biggest issue you'll have with using one of my switchers is using the VGA connector. My boards don't have that. I'd suggest trying one of the cheap ones that leave both boards powered. Just make sure to disconnect the inactive board anytime you're in the service menu, otherwise you'll also be making unknown changes for the inactive board without knowing.
 
The biggest issue you'll have with using one of my switchers is using the VGA connector. My boards don't have that. I'd suggest trying one of the cheap ones that leave both boards powered. Just make sure to disconnect the inactive board anytime you're in the service menu, otherwise you'll also be making unknown changes for the inactive board without knowing.

Really?

Are the cheap one set up specifically for VGA?

I thought that you would just use a Y VGA adapter that would allow you to connect both boards to the monitor. Would that work? Would the monitor play from the source that is on with no issues from the source that is off?
 
Really?

Are the cheap one set up specifically for VGA?

I thought that you would just use a Y VGA adapter that would allow you to connect both boards to the monitor. Would that work? Would the monitor play from the source that is on with no issues from the source that is off?

I've not tried to use a Y adapter, but assume it would not work to have 2 active signals. If I understand them correctly, the cheap 2way switchers will switch between the two VGA sources.
 
I've not tried to use a Y adapter, but assume it would not work to have 2 active signals. If I understand them correctly, the cheap 2way switchers will switch between the two VGA sources.

I just watched a video. You are correct about the cheap switcher. I'm reluctant to try it because I saw 3 or 4 reviews that noted sound issues with the second PCB. Of course, some people dont seem to have that issue.

When I mentioned the Y cable, I was asking if you could use that setup with your switcher. Doesn't it power only one PCB at a time? So, wouldn't there only be one active signal?

Thanks for your help
 
I just watched a video. You are correct about the cheap switcher. I'm reluctant to try it because I saw 3 or 4 reviews that noted sound issues with the second PCB. Of course, some people dont seem to have that issue.

When I mentioned the Y cable, I was asking if you could use that setup with your switcher. Doesn't it power only one PCB at a time? So, wouldn't there only be one active signal?

Thanks for your help

You're right about there being only 1 active signal, but I assume the unpowered board would still affect the video signal if those circuits are still connected. I'm not sure, I still think you'd have a better chance of success with the cheap switcher.
 
Back
Top Bottom