Homebuilt ASC problem

animesuperj · 10-17-2007, 11:26 PM

I built my ASC about 2 - 3 years ago now, and recently whenever I've been playing I get a ton of random misses or bads. My scores have been around 60 - 70k on songs I could previously get 95 - 98k on. I've checked all the solder connections, buttons, and controller; everything seems to check out. My last guess is the microswitchs are just dead, or going dead? Does this sound right to anyone?

Also, if I do order new switches, what are people's recommendations on cherry's vs. omron?? Can you use omron switches with the pop'n buttons, or are those only for IIDX? I guess my next stop after this is the marketplace to try and pickup 9 new switches, assuming that's the problem. Any thoughts on what could be up would help!

616 · 10-18-2007, 12:00 AM

Pics would help. Most micro switches will work but there are prefrences. IS there only one button thats not working or all of them? It could be a number of things but i know a bit about these things so ill see if i can help

animesuperj · 10-18-2007, 01:17 AM

All of the buttons are having this problem. I don't see how pics would help, seeing as how nothing has changed inside the controller. I've checked more than a dozen times inside to see if it was a controller problem or wire problem. I'm pretty sure it's not one of those. I will take pics eventually though if you think it will help.

dj Outlaw · 10-18-2007, 08:15 AM

I had a Ransai Kagura that was reaching 4 years old that had a ton of phantom bads on one button. I was using cheap Baolian switches at the time.

Switching to Cherrys fixed it but they're kind of mushy. Nice and sensitive, but not as "clicky" as say the Omrons are gonna be.

Yeah, from what it sounds like though, you probably wanna just invest in some new switches if you're positive it isn't something like solder connections or wires.

Marouku · 10-18-2007, 03:04 PM

If there really isn't any visible problem with the wiring as you said, then it's definitely the switches. The chance of anything being wrong with the PCB itself is really really unlikely.

Omrons are typically used in Japanese arcades and will take a bit more pressure to register than Cherries. For instance, if you graze the side of a button with a Cherry switch installed, it will likely register while with an Omron it probably won't.

Some say Cherries last longer, but I don't see how this would be the case. If anything, a worn in Omron should feel like a Cherry.

At any rate, I prefer Omrons for the solid click and elimination of any mushiness. However, if you like to lightly slide your hands across the buttons for certain parts or don't tend to use much force, Cherries would be your best bet. If you want to order some, try Tornado Terry's. The site looks awful, but it's legit. I don't personally know of any places to get Omrons though.

FoxFireX · 10-19-2007, 09:26 PM

When I was building my controller, I ended up seeing a lot of phantom hits as well. I read somewhere that it might have been static build-up. To fight that, I added in some low-value resistors, one per button along the signal lines. After adding the resistors, my phantoms nearly (but not completely) disappeared. I'm not sure whether that's the problem or not since yours had been working fine for so long, but if you can't come up with anything else, it might be worth a shot.

animesuperj · 10-20-2007, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the help. I think I'll order 9 new cherries, and see if that does it. If not, I'll probably add the resistors and see how that does. I've also thought about just getting a Dao after reading reviews and some friends opinions on them. Either way, hope something works.