How do you link 2 MVS machines together? (for H2H play)

Outkast99 · Jan 10, 2011

Hello,

So I was wondering, how do you link 2 MVS cabs together? I know there is a CPS2 link cable(which I am still trying to understand).

I think I have seen arcade cabs with linked KOF going, but not sure.

I am getting a second Astro City, and would like to get some head to head KOF and SS going.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

FA-MAS · Jan 11, 2011

Maybe I'm off but I don't think there's a way you can like you would a CPS2 per say. You could create a harness that will redirect the controls and coin and whatnot for player 2 and connect that to the other cab.

You'd have to find out a way to duplicate the video on the 2nd cab. I dunno if you cna just splice into the RGB and Sync. Maybe someone else has that answer.

I would think maybe running the seconday cab without a load on the switching power supply could be an issue. You may have to figure out something whereas you can just power the monitor on the 2nd cab without actually using the switching psu.

Outkast99 said:
Hello,

So I was wondering, how do you link 2 MVS cabs together? I know there is a CPS2 link cable(which I am still trying to understand).

I think I have seen arcade cabs with linked KOF going, but not sure.

I am getting a second Astro City, and would like to get some head to head KOF and SS going.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

jew90 · Jan 11, 2011

Theres dip-switch settings in the manuals that mention console link mode.

I don't know if any games support it?

I think thats what the big connectors are on some of the older 1 slots and 6 slot boards?

poodude · Jan 11, 2011

You can link 2 mvs's together via a link cable (aka stereo audio cable). This of course only works for games that have the port on the cartridges. Riding Hero and League Bowling are the only ones I can think of that have the link port.

Artemio · Jan 11, 2011

FA-MAS said:
Maybe I'm off but I don't think there's a way you can like you would a CPS2 per say. You could create a harness that will redirect the controls and coin and whatnot for player 2 and connect that to the other cab.

You'd have to find out a way to duplicate the video on the 2nd cab. I dunno if you cna just splice into the RGB and Sync. Maybe someone else has that answer.

I would think maybe running the seconday cab without a load on the switching power supply could be an issue. You may have to figure out something whereas you can just power the monitor on the 2nd cab without actually using the switching psu.

I've done exactly that with CPS-2, System 18 and TMNT... Just spliced the video lines, created a harness with DB15 ports (same layour as the Neo geo and my super gun, hence I can connect my pads/controllers or to the cabs) and place a load on the second PSU (via a resistor). It works really well for 4 player games and I see no problem with two player games, you just need to wire it accordingly.

However, I have always been a bit worried about the video lines and wondered about placing diodes there... but so far I've used them as such without a problem.

Cable for linking two arcade cabinets, four simultaneous players with the same board by ArtemioUrbina, on Flickr

Shadow over Mystara four link player action by ArtemioUrbina, on Flickr

Hewitson · Jan 12, 2011

Hope the resistor's at least 10W and has a heatsink on it

Neo Alec · Jan 12, 2011

Doesn't anyone make a jamma adapter that allows you to spread 2-players across two cabs? I guess I can't see much reason to do this, since two joysticks would be going unused, and there are already H2H cabs with one player on each side that are meant to be setup this way.

Outkast99 · Jan 12, 2011

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm wondering how to make both coin slots work.

yea, I wish somebody made a Jamma adapter like that Neo Alec

city41 · Jan 12, 2011

Neo Alec said:
Doesn't anyone make a jamma adapter that allows you to spread 2-players across two cabs? I guess I can't see much reason to do this, since two joysticks would be going unused, and there are already H2H cabs with one player on each side that are meant to be setup this way.

Apparently Capcom did for the CPS2:

CPS-2 Shock said:
The Link Cable

Several manuals such as Dungeons & Dragons talk of a link cable for use with 2 cabinets. With this cable only one CPS-2 'A' & 'B' board is needed for the process. The cable itself contains about 30 wires and some not so easily found hardware, it's simply a JAMMA harness splitter. It routes video, sound and external wiring to the JAMMA connector on the second cabinet. This Link cable (CAPCOM Part number C-00253) may be obtained through a Coin-OP distributor only but it may be a discontinued part. If you have any info on this part or diagrams on how to build one please let us know.

http://cps2shock.retrogames.com/techinfo.html

Artemio · Jan 12, 2011

Hewitson said:
Hope the resistor's at least 10W and has a heatsink on it

In the picture it doesn't have it, since on that cab I could plug just the monitor aside form the power supply... But later on I added a 30W one which dissipates heat nicely.

Outkast99 said:
Thanks for the info guys.

I'm wondering how to make both coin slots work.

yea, I wish somebody made a Jamma adapter like that Neo Alec

You just split the line as well.. but I usually direct each player coin slot to each machine, for instance I route coin slot 3 and 4 to player 1 and 2 on the other cab, I would do the same for a 2p game... just route coin slot 2 to coin slot 1 on the other machine.

Electric Grave · Jan 17, 2011

I like your setup artemio, I was thinking of doing the same for a vs setup but I really would like to know if there are any future consequences for splitting the video signal like that. I don't see why it would but I rather be safe than sorry.

Artemio · Jan 17, 2011

ElectricGrave said:
I like your setup artemio, I was thinking of doing the same for a vs setup but I really would like to know if there are any future consequences for splitting the video signal like that. I don't see why it would but I rather be safe than sorry.

So far I've had none after a year... But I cannot guarantee a thing.

Adderall · Jan 17, 2011

I have an adapter that duplicates video and splits up player 1 and 2. I haven't tested it yet because I only have 1 cab....

Would I need a resistor? If so, where and why?

Electric Grave · Jan 17, 2011

Adderall, pics and sell it to me!!!

Thanks for the info there Artemio, glad to hear it.

Adderall · Jan 17, 2011

this is what I have....

So would I need a resistor somewhere or what?

Artemio · Jan 17, 2011

I have two cases, on one of cabinets I can unplug the power supply and plug the monitor and chassis directly to AC. This is uncommon but for that case you don0t need a resistor.

A resistor is needed to provide a dummy load on the second machine power supply, since it isn't running a pcb off the power supply. You need to place it between 5v and ground, I have a 15W and a 5w, the higher it is the less likely to burn you when touched due to heat dissipation. It is one of those white block, power resistors I believe they are called.

mr_b · Jan 19, 2011

Glad someone is also working on something like this. I have been working on something in my mind to do the same thing for all pcb's. I've been looking at this link cable from RiverService.

http://www.rs2006.co.jp/j/harnes0/index.html

caldwert · Jan 22, 2011

I too have been wondering this for a while since I know of another MVS-U4 for sale locally. I didn't even think of Astro Cities but it would be kind of interesting.

Hewitson · Jan 23, 2011

Artemio said:
A resistor is needed to provide a dummy load on the second machine power supply, since it isn't running a pcb off the power supply. You need to place it between 5v and ground, I have a 15W and a 5w, the higher it is the less likely to burn you when touched due to heat dissipation

Or catch on fire.. I don't really recommend those ceramic resistors for this purpose, a metal one runs much cooler and can handle much more power.

ratson · Jan 23, 2011

poodude said:
You can link 2 mvs's together via a link cable (aka stereo audio cable). This of course only works for games that have the port on the cartridges. Riding Hero and League Bowling are the only ones I can think of that have the link port.

You forgot Thrash Rally.

Tyranix95 · Jul 14, 2013

Ok, what kind of metal resistor, with a heat sink, am I looking for?

And how many watts and ohms is cool (good)?

Anybody got a link?

-----------

Hewitson said:
Hope the resistor's at least 10W and has a heatsink on it

Artemio said:
In the picture it doesn't have it, since on that cab I could plug just the monitor aside form the power supply... But later on I added a 30W one which dissipates heat nicely.

You just split the line as well.. but I usually direct each player coin slot to each machine, for instance I route coin slot 3 and 4 to player 1 and 2 on the other cab, I would do the same for a 2p game... just route coin slot 2 to coin slot 1 on the other machine.

Artemio said:
I have two cases, on one of cabinets I can unplug the power supply and plug the monitor and chassis directly to AC. This is uncommon but for that case you don0t need a resistor.

A resistor is needed to provide a dummy load on the second machine power supply, since it isn't running a pcb off the power supply. You need to place it between 5v and ground, I have a 15W and a 5w, the higher it is the less likely to burn you when touched due to heat dissipation. It is one of those white block, power resistors I believe they are called.

Hewitson said:
Or catch on fire.. I don't really recommend those ceramic resistors for this purpose, a metal one runs much cooler and can handle much more power.

How do you link 2 MVS machines together? (for H2H play)

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