March 2011 - UtVgG - mailman.xmission.com

Smart hardware guys, check my logic please.
by Sean McLachlan 29 Mar '11

29 Mar '11

OK, so what I want to do is interface an optical rotary encoder, most likely this one, http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Bourns/EM14A0D-C24-L064N/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMs Wp46O%252bq11WR5thhCT804a9prPhzh6jnc%3d with this Octal buffer / Line Driver chip http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheets/134/375530_DS.pdf And then plug the 8 data pins from the above chip into the Asteroids multi kit, which uses the P0 -P7 pins on a POKEY to read a value between 0x01 (001) and 0xFF (255), which is how the thrust level for LL is determined. The only issue I have is that I don't know what the hell I am doing and I am going off random snippets found on the Internet. USDigtal.com says this rotary encoder, http://usdigital.com/products/encoders/incremental/rotary/shaft/sp-16#descri ption , will work with the 74LS244 above, but their encoder is $50, while Mousers is $17. I can't see a difference between the 2, but please reference my earlier "No Clue" statement and you can see the state I am in. So, do you guys think this will work? Or do I need something fancier? --Sean McLachlan

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My Asteroids multi kit arrives today
by Sean McLachlan 28 Mar '11

28 Mar '11

And I could not be happier, unless it shipped in a solid gold box. The fun part is going to be building an external thruster for Lunar Lander. I know there are guys out there working on a commercially viable solution, and I am sure they will be great. I am trying to put something together that has a small-ish footprint, and doesn't require drilling holes or ugly CP art. I even have a digital solution worked up, rather than using a pot and an ADC, but it might not add any value, beside costing more. :-) Chris W, looks like I might be meeting you at Nickle-mania to have you burn any updates in the next month or so! Thanks again for your generous offer of assistance. BTW, anyone seen Kurt M. in a while? Kurt, you out there? --Sean McLachlan

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Re: [UtVgG] My Asteroids multi kit arrives today
by Christofer Hardy 28 Mar '11

28 Mar '11

I miss the get togethers too.. Alas I am still an entire state away. On Mar 28, 2011 11:29 AM, "Christopher B Strong" <strong(a)cs.utah.edu> wrote:

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cutting holes in CPOs
by Christopher B Strong 21 Mar '11

21 Mar '11

Does anyone know the proper method to punch holes in CPOs? Meaning that the control panel already has a hole. I know one can use a knife, but my skill does not appear to be high enough to do it without making it look terrible. There has to be some sort of punch that the folks who make the reproductions use. -Chris

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Re: [UtVgG] Anyone willing to loan me an eprom burner?
by Chris Wright 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

I would be happy to share mine, works well so far. Fixed my Warlords lickety split. Sent via T-Mobile -----Original Message----- From: Sean McLachlan <sean(a)lithoflexo.com> Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 23:20:43 To: <utvgg(a)xmission.com> Subject: [UtVgG] Anyone willing to loan me an eprom burner? Man, things have been quiet around here lately. My biggest thing, other than enjoying my games, is adding a 4-1 multi kit to my Ms. Pac. Things are going to heat up soon, though. The long fabled Asteroids/Ast. Deluxe/Lunar Lander multi game is actually going to get released sometime in the next few months and I am lucky enough to get a beta kit. The hardware is set, just software bugs to be worked out. When software changes come out, I need to be able to update the eprom. I bought a cheap USB burner 5 years ago, but I never had any success with it so I chucked it. --Sean McLachlan

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Anyone willing to loan me an eprom burner?
by Sean McLachlan 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Man, things have been quiet around here lately. My biggest thing, other than enjoying my games, is adding a 4-1 multi kit to my Ms. Pac. Things are going to heat up soon, though. The long fabled Asteroids/Ast. Deluxe/Lunar Lander multi game is actually going to get released sometime in the next few months and I am lucky enough to get a beta kit. The hardware is set, just software bugs to be worked out. When software changes come out, I need to be able to update the eprom. I bought a cheap USB burner 5 years ago, but I never had any success with it so I chucked it. --Sean McLachlan

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