New Egret II set up recommendations

[Gingerzilla]

Hello all,

I'm lucky to be getting an Egret II system next month. It will come set up for Jamma and it will also have an MVS system.

Now I'm a total noob when it comes to arcade machines and don't have super great electronic skills.

So I would really appreciate some advice or direct links on how to set up my home consoles so that they can work without too much re-wiring. I'm kind of hoping I can do it though one all in one converter if possible.

I want to attach my xbox360, Sega DC, Sega Saturn.

I will also blog the whole procedure to help others out.
Cheers in advance for the advice.

Alex

[arcade-stg]

This is your page:

http://www.emphatic.se/?cat=11

You can see other links at my page (see below), but they don't focus that much into egret 2.

[emphatic]

Quick and easy:

1. If your consoles have RGB Scart cables, get a viletim scart to JAMMA adapter: http://etim.net.au/scart2arcV20_orders/orders.htm for Audio/video
2. Get a couple of (if you plan on using 2 players at once) PS360+ PCBs: http://www.akihabarashop.jp/index.php?c ... 12a1124819 with DC and (if you want it) PSX cables
3. You'll also need wire to hook the controller PCB's up to the viletim, personally, I like to strip CAT5 cables and use the thin wires inside


If you want to play in mid res as well, you'll need to pick up an UVC (capable of 15kHz as well) instead of the viletim scart to JAMMA, but they're very hard to come by now and you won't have the audio from your consoles in your cabinet (check the link to my site in arcade-stg's post).

This is your page:

http://www.emphatic.se/?cat=11

Thanks for the exposure.

[EllertMichael]

Quick and easy:

1. If your consoles have RGB Scart cables, get a viletim scart to JAMMA adapter: http://etim.net.au/scart2arcV20_orders/orders.htm for Audio/video
2. Get a couple of (if you plan on using 2 players at once) PS360+ PCBs: http://www.akihabarashop.jp/index.php?c ... 12a1124819 with DC and (if you want it) PSX cables
3. You'll also need wire to hook the controller PCB's up to the viletim, personally, I like to strip CAT5 cables and use the thin wires inside

^This is the console set-up I use in my E2 and I love it.
Only difference is I had Lemony Vengeance throw the ps360+ in a project box and added the "Controller board 2: Pass through JAMMA" to my viletim board.

The ps360+ box works great for xbox360, DC & oXbox (using the RJ45->USB and then a USB->XBOX), but not so great (see also: unplayable) with PS2 & PSX.
Just saying because I wish I knew this before I bought it Otherwise, I wouldn't have tracked down PSX SCART cables & RJ45->PSX cables.
However, it's fully upgradable so hopefully in the future full PSX/2 support will be added, along with Saturn support.

if you don't want to wait for ps360+ to add Saturn support, you can still hook up the video through SCART & viletim's board, and ask Lemony Vengeance to make you a Saturn padhack box. his thread on Neo-Geo.com of his services can be found here: FS: 360/ps3/dreamcast padhacking

[emphatic]

The ps360+ box works great for xbox360, DC & oXbox (using the RJ45->USB and then a USB->XBOX), but not so great (see also: unplayable) with PS2 & PSX.
Just saying because I wish I knew this before I bought it Otherwise, I wouldn't have tracked down PSX SCART cables & RJ45->PSX cables.
However, it's fully upgradable so hopefully in the future full PSX/2 support will be added, along with Saturn support.

I'm curious, please tell us more about the lacking PSX/PS2 support. My first (unsuccessful) attempt at playing PS2 in my EGRET II was using the Ultimarc setup. Boy, that was disappointing. I now have an excellent padhack for PS2 instead. I didn't know this about the PS360+. Perhaps getting the viletim PSX controller board along with a couple of these would be better? http://www.ebay.com/itm/PS-PS2-Wheel-Co ... 416bb0edfd and these http://www.ebay.com/itm/Total-Control-P ... 19df042d04

[EllertMichael]

The ps360+ box works great for xbox360, DC & oXbox (using the RJ45->USB and then a USB->XBOX), but not so great (see also: unplayable) with PS2 & PSX.
Just saying because I wish I knew this before I bought it Otherwise, I wouldn't have tracked down PSX SCART cables & RJ45->PSX cables.
However, it's fully upgradable so hopefully in the future full PSX/2 support will be added, along with Saturn support.

I'm curious, please tell us more about the lacking PSX/PS2 support. My first (unsuccessful) attempt at playing PS2 in my EGRET II was using the Ultimarc setup. Boy, that was disappointing. I now have an excellent padhack for PS2 instead. I didn't know this about the PS360+. Perhaps getting the viletim PSX controller board along with a couple of these would be better? http://www.ebay.com/itm/PS-PS2-Wheel-Co ... 416bb0edfd and these http://www.ebay.com/itm/Total-Control-P ... 19df042d04

Well to put it simply, it doesn't register PSX/PS2 inputs as it should.
For example, every 3-5 times (or more. it varies ) I tap a button or joystick direction it might register once.
When I finally manage to boot up a game, for example DoDonPachi, I can hold the joystick hard left or right and it will move the ship a pixel every few seconds.

So I figured I had a "bad" RJ45 PSX cable and ordered a new one from Focus Attack. Same problem.

At this point I did a little research and saw there's a way to boot the PCB in a "forced mode." It seemed to help a little, but it's still extremely choppy and unplayable. Holding hard right, for example, will see your ship "skipping" across the screen rather than a smooth motion.

There's a bit more discussion in this thread on shoryuken where people say it plays well with some (fighting) games but not others.

I seem to remember people saying in the viletim thread that controller converters played well with his psx controller board.
From my own experiences and from what I've read others say, the ps360+ does not work well with converters.

But like I said, hopefully the future upgrades to the ps360+ will fix these issues...

(the thing that gets me is they are advertising it as if it's fully compatible with PSX/PS2 when it's not )

[emphatic]

Well then, that absolutely sucks.

[Gingerzilla]

Hey thanks so much all. The links helped heap and I have loads to read and learn. I undoubtedly will post up more annoying noob questions when I start to tinker.

Strange thing is I bought a PS360+ and connectors for my taito arcade stick but have not got around to installing it. Bit of a bummer hearing it has PS2 troubles.

Still my main concern is Sega Saturn, if they bring out support for it will it be a whole new PCB or just a cable? They are not expensive so I'm ok with them either way.

Anyway I will have to wait and see till next month I hate waiting ARGHHHH

So looking forward to E3.

Cheers
Gingerzilla

[Gingerzilla]

If you want to play in mid res as well, you'll need to pick up an UVC (capable of 15kHz as well) instead of the viletim scart to JAMMA, but they're very hard to come by now and you won't have the audio from your consoles in your cabinet (check the link to my site in arcade-stg's post).

What is the advantage of the 15KHz btw? As in when does this become essential and is switching in the E3 automatic with other PCBs?

[emphatic]

What is the advantage of the 15KHz btw?

15kHz (240p) is what arcade PCB's generally look like. Crisp picture with scanlines, essential for most people who's grown up with it and who prefer this look. 24kHz isn't high res (480p), but close enough if you prefer you gaming to look a bit more "modern" in lack of a better word.

is switching in the E3 automatic with other PCBs?

Is this a typo, or are you actually waiting for an EGRET 3 to arrive? If you are awaiting an EGRET 3 and not an EGRET II, then you won't have to worry about hooking up your high res consoles, as the VGA connector will take a 360 VGA outputting @ 640x480 without any problems and switch resolutions of your monitor too. The EGRET 3 has an auto-switching tri-sync Wei-Ya monitor.

Sorry, I can't help you with the Saturn, as I have zero knowledge about it. But you could always buy a padhack from someone in the Marketplace if you wanna go through a viletim.

[EllertMichael]

Still my main concern is Sega Saturn, if they bring out support for it will it be a whole new PCB or just a cable? They are not expensive so I'm ok with them either way.

If they bring out support for the Saturn it will be in the form of a firmware update for your existing ps360+ pcb. You will need an RJ45->Saturn cable to use it on the console, of course.

[Gingerzilla]

Sorry was an iPhone typo. I will have an Egret II.
I wanted it for the rotating monitor as I don't have the space for a second machine.
Also people seem to love that cab and I sure have enjoyed playing on it here in Tokyo.


Cheers
Gingerzilla

[emphatic]

OK, the EGRET II doesn't auto-switch between 15kHz and 24kHz, so you'll basically need to make your mind up on what mode you prefer. If you plan on playing JAMMA boards as well, then 15kHz is the mode go go go with!