Would you guys be interested in High Score Save Kits with a Bonus?

[Tyrem]

Apologies been away a while - where is the best place to find out the latest about this (is there a mailing list?).. need one for a Wizard of Wor cabinet? 

just drop me a line under shop@gamenatix.de.
i will save your contact and get back to you when it is ready to roll.

[level42]

Hey guys.....

So, Jochen was kind enough to leave an Asteroids kit for me to try on my machine. After some first tiny issues (a missing E(E)PROM was something that did make the kit not working, LOL but that was quickly fixed) it works fine now. However, it regretfully did not solve the reset problems of this board but I also didn't really expect it to..... But, scores are saved !

I just hooked up a (temporary) long CAT.5 cable. But what now ?
I see it is doing a DHCP request on the set-up screen but how do I know if it was successful ?
Also: there is no entry for Asteroids yet on http://www.arcadehighscores.com    

[level42]

Edit:

I just looked at the DHCP server of my cable router and it shows this:

Eth-Switch Lan(2)   00:17:31:bb:0e:e0   192.168.1.21   AJH_ASTEROIDS

So that looks perfect

 I also noticed that after power up, the screen flashes DHCP REQUEST followed by DHCP OK

Now the serious step: let's put that unused Apple airport express to some good use and make this a WiFi Asteroids !

Pretty cool if it works, I can then move my printer to the inside of the Asteroids and print my shit there.....finally gets that bulky thing out of the way

[level42]

Haha, the on-board 230V outlet for the marquee comes in pretty handy for testing now

Plugged the Airport Express in there and the (now way too long) cat 5 cable into it.

Getting a DHCP Error 4, but I need to configure the Airport first....

[ajhippel]

Hi Andre,

your asteroids already uploaded two scores ;-)
but no "user" is set yet...
so i just sent you a message for the public and secret key..
.

[level42]

AH OK, thanks

So at least it worked OK with the cable, great !

I'm wondering if I can actually do with the Airport Extreme what I think I could do....need to puzzle a bit more with the settings...

[level42]

Ok let's forget about the Airport Express .......found this on eBay and it looks cheap and exactly what we need

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=371410782584&globalID=EBAY-DE


Bridges any Ethernet port to Wifi, can work on 5-15V and only consumes 1.5W.

Will need to make a wire for the power but that is easy enough. The USB connector is only for the power and it can be removed so you have a "regular" power connector.....but can cut the wires too of course

[level42]

Ordered....

[Laszo]

Jochen,

Due to my work in progres on the Centi I was not able to really test the hs setup. Keep you posted.

[ajhippel]

no prob, leo.

i hope you can fix your centi!!! it's a great game!

[level42]

Jochen,

Turns out the same company produces a "DIY" kit for wifi:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=351425215953&globalID=EBAY-NL

Wouldn't there be a way to use this directly instead of going from the save kit-> Ethernet module -> wifi module ?

I don't know how the save kit communicates with the Ethernet module but if it is similar (the same ?) as this wifi kit this would be a way to offer wifi connection directly.

Just an idea of course

[level42]

Found more and even cheaper serial TTL to Wifi modules, you can find them for around 11 Euro on EBay but this site has a nice overview of a lot of them:
http://www.usriot.com/Product/cat-54.html
I guess these are about the same price as the TTL to Ethernet module (some even offer both Ethernet and Wifi).

But I have no clue how both devices compare in connecting, configuring etc. I see the Wifi one uses AT commands:
http://www.usriot.com/Down/WIFI/USR-WIFI232-D2-V1.0.10_en.pdf

[ajhippel]

we already thought about a wifi-solution, but we didn't do it like that because of several reasons:

* the ethernet-module what we're using right is now costs about 5€
* it is plug&play if you use a router with DHCP

the problems with a WIFI-Module:
* how can somebody setup the wifi?
   -> no connection to a pc possible (if there is no rj45 jack anymore)
       [edit] It is possible to be configured. but it seems not to be that easy) [/edit]
   -> every cab(module) has to be set up for wifi
   -> much more expensive
   -> not that easy to configure, the dashboard for the wifi-configuration must be in the software of game (if there is no rj45 jack)

that's why our solution for a wifi method was:

* getting a wifi-router that connects to the existing WIFI (e.g. with a router like i brought to eurocade - the price was about 15 Euros)
  ->plug the cab(s) into that router (most of the time the router has a small switch inside).

the advantages of that method:
  -> configure the wifi only once with a pc (and a dashboard at all)
  -> you can connect es many cabs as you want (just add a switch)

even if you buy such a router for every cab, it is still easier to configure, easier to use and if it burns, easier to replace ;-)

it worked really well in Ridderkerk (i didn't expect it to be that easy btw)

  

[Tyrem]

even if you buy such a router for every cab, it is still easier to configure, easier to use and if it burns, easier to replace ;-)
 

THIS! it had to be easy... and I guess it would also cost as much as a build in solution.

[level42]

OK guys, just was suggesting something that feels to me make the kit a lot more interesting.

It's 2015....who wants spiders of cat.5 cables around his gameroom ? Lots of hassle when moving cabs etc. etc.

Talk about easy

How hard is it to connect to a Wifi network ? It takes selecting one that was scanned by your phone or tablet or computer and then entering a password.
As far as I understand those modules can do this.
It IS easy, like entering hi score initials, just a bit longer and only needs to be done once.

Ethernet is 1995