FAQ about Arcade DDR

[thehud]

Hey guys,

I've got a good question. Well our DDR 3rd mix Korean, upgraded to 8th Mix machine had a rather rough trip back home one day. In short it took out the CD-ROM in the process. Well in diagnosing the error, we tried dip switch 4. We found that jewel of info on a web page. I know BIG mistake. Well it seems as though the CR-589-B is doing it's job, but we can't get past the darn 144 error code.

I've read that it takes a 2 disk set to get beyond this. Is that true? And where would I find it?

Thanks guys.

[RyogAkari]

I actually had this happen to me once. The arcade itself is amazingly resilient, but the CD-Rom drive was the thing to go.

It really honestly sounds like you broke your CD-Rom drive. CD-Rom drives will still appear to turn on even if they are broke, but anything can be damaged or misaligned.

I couldn't find you a cheap one when I briefly looked on ebay. It sounds like you know what to look for though.

Here is a rather expensive one, but it's atleast a replacement:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dance-Dance-Revolution-DDR-Replacement-CD-Player_W0QQitemZ6214802479QQcategoryZ13718QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[kyaku]

[CreatorThomas]

just info from my experience with ddr machine cd-rom drives, you can go to wal-mart and get one of those crappy lite-on cd burner/dvd-rom drives, which are usually $50 or less, and put it in your machine instead of getting one of those overpriced things on ebay. we used one of these in our japanese machine after the drive crapped out from the trip from japan to here.

[thehud]

Thanks guys,

The replacement 589-B I got through ebay was DOA, so well...

CreatorThomas, what is the model # for the drive you used?

All dipswithch 4 does is bypass the boot from CD, but it looks like the dipswithc stuff is probably OK.

I've read on here that the Mitsumi CRMC-FX4821T will work as well, so I will probably give it a try next.

Thanks again!!

[RyogAkari]

Wait.... your from Louisville KY? Dude, that's where I live!

What machine went down? Was it the UK one or is this a private machine? I have a spare CD-Rom drive that you can borrow untill you find a succesfull replacement.

[thehud]

Small world!!

Nah it's a semi private/ convention machine. It is actually in Cincinnati at the moment awaiting its next con.

Thanks for the offer though.

[CreatorThomas]

i don't remember the exact drive number, but looking at lite-on's website, it's model number was SOHC-5232K. i know it was a combo cd-rw drive/dvd-rom drive and it had a white faceplate. it's like the cheapest drive wal-mart carries (that's why we got it)
_________________

Stepmania cab in progress, trying to get a hold of a good pc, 450mhz is kinda sluggish.

[RyogAkari]

Continuing my report on the green sensor.

There has been both good things and bad things that have come up with the use of the green sensor.

First the good. It seems that I was indeed right. They needed time to be broken in. I've had nothing but good reports from the regulars that play at the arcade machine. One came in last night that 2 people AAA'd Tears together along with other AAA's that they recieved seperately throughout their session. The sensors are definetely picking up in sensitivity as they are worn in.

Second, the bad. It seems that there are a couple places on my machine that simply refuse to register the channelbeat sensor. They did at the beginning, but a few days later, they simply gave out. It's not that the sensor is bad, its that the port will not register that sensor there anymore. It's really quite puzzling. I tried many different channelbeat sensors in the same port all with no luck. I also tried those same channelbeat sensors on different ports and they register fine. It might have something to do with my own individual machine, but I remain skeptical. So far, this has only happened on 3 ports and I don't anticipate it to happen anymore. For those spots I have simply put in a konami sensor back where it was.

Overall, the sensors are still quite amazing. There are no signs of freezes even beginning to break and the arrow registers no matter what part of the panel that you hit.

[Aoi-chan]

I've delt with these green sensors quite a bit with varied results. Some of them come DOA, while others break a bit too quickly. Usually I find that there's a break somewhere in the wiring, since it's very tiny/thin wiring strip inside these sensors. I also talked with a Roxor rep this past weekend and he was telling me about the new and improved 'ITG' sensors that are supposed to be compatible with DDR machines. Does anybody have these sensors or know more about them? Pics would be awesome.

[RyogAkari]

Thanks as always Aoi. I'll get to work testing those sensors as soon as I can.


As far as I know about the ITG sensors they should work on a ddr machine. They are basically PIU sensors after all and piu sensors work on DDR. The only problem is the connector will be different since it will be a PIU connector.

The only problem I've heard with PIU sensors on a DDR machine is that the PIU sensors tend to "stick" after awhile. Basically when you press down on it and then release, it wont release the sensor until a little after. This is actually more problematic then a dead sensor because it garuntees a miss for the player if they go to try to hit that arrow again while it's stuck.

[Yeehaw McKickass]

Ryog, that hasn't been my experience with PIU sensors in a DDR. Chalk it up to luck.

OH YEAH GUYS, DON'T THINK I'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS SUCKER. I just made a small update and I've been pretty freaking bored lately so I might acutally be going through this and the monitor guide again with a fine tooth comb.
_________________

[BigBroMario]

Quick question.

A local arcade has a 7th Mix machine, I believe it's running off a bootlegged disc. My friends and I (two of my friends work at the arcade) want to purchase a 3rd Mix disc from Channelbeat and play it on the 7th Mix machine.

Is there any other procedures I need to go through besides putting in the 3rd Mix disc? I heard that I need the 3rd Mix ROM card, is that all? And if so, how much would the card run for?

[RyogAkari]

I think the reason why no one has responded yet is because it's not possible to do what you are asking.

Now, if you wish to buy a 4th plus, 5th, 6th, or 8th kit, then you can downgrade/upgrade your machine by following the directions. However, you won't be able to get back 7th mix back without the proper materials.


Anyway, it's more difficult to switch mixes than you suggest and I doubt the arcade manager would submit to what it would require to change a mix.

[Aoi-chan]

Not sure if anyone else has been keeping up on this topic, but I've been able to look inside an ITG 2 dedicated cabinet recently. Turns out the new ITG sensors look and feel exactly like the original Konami gray sensors or a Pump sensor, except the ITG ones are a lighter gray color.

Everything inside the arrow looks very similar to DDR's setup. Though I've never been inside a PIU cabinet, I would venture to guess these are almost the same design. The light is different too from a DDR cabinet, much longer, thinner and only one light if I remember correctly. Brackets are almost identical too.

If I can get some pics, I'll post em.
_________________

Anime Fan Zone
Milwaukee's Newest Anime & Gaming Store
http://AnimeFanZone.com

[xequar]

[Yeehaw McKickass]

[MrFixIt]

Hey all, new guy here, but I have been doing regular repairs and maintainence on DDR's and ITG's as part of my job for the local arcade for awhile now,I think I can offer a little advice:

The green sensors,if they seem to go dead try this: Take the little sensor strip out of the rubber, take a neednose plier to the strip right where the wiring hooks into the plastic at the end of the strip, and crimp the heck of it; those wires tend to jiggle loose and alot of times this will restore a dead sensor to full working condition.

Sensors that seem to stick a little it usually best to start by making sure the track the sesnors go in and the bracket holding them in is not too tight,it cause the sensors to get pinched a little and be slow to release. Also make sure any spacer or pad being used to help make the pad more sensitive is not too thick for the same reason.You can also have this problem if you overtighten the screws on the 4 diagonal brackets that hold the step pad in; it forces the pad down enough that the sensors cannot return to the fully off state.
_________________

"Dude...he wasn't even supposed to BE here!"- Big Boss Man

-DDR:1st person to play on the new arrows
-ITG:1st person to play on the new arrows
-SC3:1st person to have a legend character

[vesper]

I just went to an arcade for my first time to play DDR and the sign on the top said 3rd Mix but I think it was upgraded to Extreme. I saw songs like the Legend of Max, Bag, and Irresistiblement, but I thought Extreme had more songs like Maxx Unlimited and Max 300.

Would doing that arrow trick on the song wheel shown more songs, or was I just using an older version

[Aoi-chan]