Connect a namco STR PCB to Triforce w/ sega IO bd ?

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:35 pm

Hello Guys,

I recently got on the net a Mariokart GP namco STR PCB and I would like to know how I have to connect it to other PCB in order to have a feedback power on my HAPP feedback system.

According to namco user manual there are 6 connectors from the STR PCB:

-AMP UNI with 3 wires (110 +; GND; 110-)

-AMP MINI with 3 wires (12V; GND; 5V)

-AMP UNIV with 2 wires connected to the feedback motor

-AMP EI with 6 wires and only 3 pins connected to Triforce RS232 connector (TX, RX GND)

-AMP EI with 3 wires connected to the steering potentiometer (5V, Steering , GND)

and the last one, AMP EI with 8 wires and as I understand with 3 pins connected to the sega IO bd, and for this one I do not know exactly where I have to connect,

the pin 3 (STRV-out)=>A18 (STR-OUT) on the namco IO BD and?, I need sega IO BD pin correspondance number

the pin 4 (GND)=>any output white cable on the IO BD?

the pin 8 (Free)=>A7 (POWER) on the namco IO BD and?, I need sega IO BD pin correspondance number

Your help will be appreciated,

Thks

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:56 pm

i didn't think the namco board will work on sega system. ?

the AMP EI/6 wires "rs232" would probably be the MIDI Data Line

the STRV=Out would probably be 0-5volt for Steering which ties to the Steering AD Input on the Sega I/O

Thats only a guess.

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:25 pm

I would think you could connect them to the same pins on the I/O that other Sega drivers use, try looking at an Outrun2 manual, etc. The +5 and Ground will definitely be the same or you could just get that right from the power supply. I'll be curious to see how you make out as I am going to try to do the same thing with my Chihiro Outrun2 setup and use a Namco STR PCB to drive my Happ wheel for Wangan2. Do you have the right program ROM for the STR PCB to run MarioKart? According to Andy Geezer you would need this to make it work so I don't know if either of us will be successful:

http://www.sega-naomi.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4348

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:49 pm

Thx for your feedback.

I already tested to connect 5V STR OUT and GND to the same pins of the anlaog CN of my sega IO bd and it is working:

I can turn left and right but I have no feedback reaction.

But something is wrong with the feedback maybe with TX and RX connection between the STR PCB and the triforce.

I will try to invert tx and rx connection....

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:05 pm

You sure it is a Mario Kart GP Feedback board, and not a Maximum Tune or Ridge Racer 5, they all look 100% the same, just drive board code is different.

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:11 pm

I ve got the V194 STR PCB.

I do not know if it is a Mariokart original STR PCB but it has been sold as with MKGP surface mount rom.

Maybe the problem can be due to a wrong connection of the TX, RX between the triforce and the STR PCB.

But as namco system is new for me I dont know what to think about it and how to do to get it work.

Any help will be appreciated.

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:17 pm

superplac wrote:I ve got the V194 STR PCB.

I do not know if it is a Mariokart original STR PCB but it has been sold as with MKGP surface mount rom.

Maybe the problem can be due to a wrong connection of the TX, RX between the triforce and the STR PCB.

But as namco system is new for me I dont know what to think about it and how to do to get it work.

Any help will be appreciated.

TX from Triforce should be RX on the drive board

RX from Triforce should be TX on the drive board

well that is how Sega drive boards work, I never tried Mario feedback board on Sega hardware though.

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:36 pm

i was told that you need a namco FFB also to make it all work? , as i also have a mario GP and was looking at how to get the FFB all up and running.

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:43 pm

I played this in the states just last week and I have to say it wasn't great, it did look really well I have to say but there was no feedback though.

Sounds interesting though

Cheers

OldFoo · Post by **OldFoo** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:44 am

After many test,

I ve tried TX=>TX w/ RX=>RX

and TX=>RX w/ RX=>TX

and I have no feedback reaction.

I already cheched my happ motor and it works.

Do I need a namco FCA PCB in addition of my STR PCB ?

Or Do I have to configure something special in the test menu or have a special bios or firmware?