I knew this could be accomplished but said nothing... I just went the old fashioned route as I did not want to bother with network cables.
I knew this could be accomplished but said nothing... I just went the old fashioned route as I did not want to bother with network cables.
Quoted from mattosborn:The problem with that device is that there is no physical switch, so there's no way to isolate the connections. You can't use all 3 ports on that at once, since they are all tied together.
So you’re saying it’s not a one way flow from the reader to many machines? The flow would be 2 way do that All machines would be connected to each other with data flowing both ways between all machines creating all sorts of mishap? Ok, think i got it. I was thinking along the lines of splitting like we do with power. Guess you can’t do that with data. Thanks!!!
Quoted from gumnut01:Apologies for being dumb.
So something like this is not going to work?
https://www.amazon.com.au/Network-Splitter-Adapter-Ethernet-thernet/dp/B08PC312Y5/ref=asc_df_B08PC312Y5/?tag=googleshopmob-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463510390935&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6865773356109558784&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071654&hvtargid=pla-1395764877497&psc=1
I would have liked to have the same QR logins go to all my connected machines, rather than saying this person A connected to tmnt, whilst person B connected to AIQ. Is this the only issue with switching so different accounts can be on different pins? When I have a few mates over we would login the same across all machines.
Or is the problem the signal will be too weak if just split without a switch.
Again apologies for being stupid, was going to PM you privately, but thought their may be other thick people out there as well.
Thanks in advance,
Thicky person.
Hey sorry for the delay! I wasn't following the thread wisely.
That's actually a good question, I never tried it.
My goal was to be able to control the flow of the traffic and not spreading it
But you can have same account connected at the same time on differents machines.
P.S: There is no stupid question
Quoted from gumnut01:So you’re saying it’s not a one way flow from the reader to many machines? The flow would be 2 way do that All machines would be connected to each other with data flowing both ways between all machines creating all sorts of mishap? Ok, think i got it. I was thinking along the lines of splitting like we do with power. Guess you can’t do that with data. Thanks!!!
I'm not a tech guy, but from what I gather I think would work this way with the different types of ethernet hubs/switches if you have a QR reader on one machine hooked up to 2 or more other machines through a hub/switch:
1) With a managed/physical ethernet hub/switch, you have to push the button on the switch that represents the machine that you want the QR scan sent to. The scan then only goes to that machine. Even if the other machines are powered on, the QR scan won't go to them because the hub isn't directing the signal down those cables. If you want to scan into a different machine then you have to push the button for that machine.
2) With an unmanaged ethernet hub/switch, when you scan into the QR reader the hub/switch just passes that signal through to all other machines hooked up to it. This would mean that if you scan into the QR reader that scan would register at every machine that is connected to the hub and is powered on. So you'd be starting a game on all those machines at once. If you only want to scan into only one particular machine you can't do it like you can with a managed hub.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking this is the main difference in how the managed vs. unmanaged hub/splitter would work for a QR reader hooked up to 2 or more other machines. I put the managed switch on mine so there wouldn't be an issue of scanning into multiple games when I didn't want to.
Quoted from EaglePin:I'm not a tech guy, but from what I gather I think would work this way with the different types of ethernet hubs/switches if you have a QR reader on one machine hooked up to 2 or more other machines through a hub/switch:
1) With a managed/physical ethernet hub/switch, you have to push the button on the switch that represents the machine that you want the QR scan sent to. The scan then only goes to that machine. Even if the other machines are powered on, the QR scan won't go to them because the hub isn't directing the signal down those cables. If you want to scan into a different machine then you have to push the button for that machine.
2) With an unmanaged ethernet hub/switch, when you scan into the QR reader the hub/switch just passes that signal through to all other machines hooked up to it. This would mean that if you scan into the QR reader that scan would register at every machine that is connected to the hub and is powered on. So you'd be starting a game on all those machines at once. If you only want to scan into only one particular machine you can't do it like you can with a managed hub.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking this is the main difference in how the managed vs. unmanaged hub/splitter would work for a QR reader hooked up to 2 or more other machines. I put the managed switch on mine so there wouldn't be an issue of scanning into multiple games when I didn't want to.
Again, the QR reader is NOT ethernet. The cable is using a serial protocol and has power. Do not try to hook up networking equipment.
Quoted from EaglePin:I'm not a tech guy, but from what I gather I think would work this way with the different types of ethernet hubs/switches if you have a QR reader on one machine hooked up to 2 or more other machines through a hub/switch:
1) With a managed/physical ethernet hub/switch, you have to push the button on the switch that represents the machine that you want the QR scan sent to. The scan then only goes to that machine. Even if the other machines are powered on, the QR scan won't go to them because the hub isn't directing the signal down those cables. If you want to scan into a different machine then you have to push the button for that machine.
2) With an unmanaged ethernet hub/switch, when you scan into the QR reader the hub/switch just passes that signal through to all other machines hooked up to it. This would mean that if you scan into the QR reader that scan would register at every machine that is connected to the hub and is powered on. So you'd be starting a game on all those machines at once. If you only want to scan into only one particular machine you can't do it like you can with a managed hub.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking this is the main difference in how the managed vs. unmanaged hub/splitter would work for a QR reader hooked up to 2 or more other machines. I put the managed switch on mine so there wouldn't be an issue of scanning into multiple games when I didn't want to.
Option 2 is what I was after. I was thinking the reader would publish or broadcast across the splitter to 3 machines which are all subscribing. Since it is the same people playing one machine at a time then this is fine. Worst case if different people wanted to play different machines, I could just turn the reader machine off.
BUT, if what mattosborn says is true then even though the splitter is just a splitter with no real Ethernet logic in it, we could have a problem where each machine is trying to push and pull data and power to each other creating a hive mind of chaos which will either create a pinball god of some kind or fry some machines.
It’s annoying cos I wanted to give it a whirl. Thanks for everyone for their help and mattosborn for your timely warnings.
Quoted from mattosborn:Again, the QR reader is NOT ethernet. The cable is using a serial protocol and has power. Do not try to hook up networking equipment.
Except that I have it hooked up to a managed hub so I can scan in on other machines and it works perfectly?
Quoted from EaglePin:Except that I have it hooked up to a managed hub so I can scan in on other machines and it works perfectly?
You have a physical switch box, which is not a managed network hub.
OP, thanks for figuring this out! I’m going to give it a run after trying out IC first. Wasn’t sure I was going to be on board with IC, but if every game doesn’t have to have it, I may change my mind.
Now that Star Wars is IC enabled, anyone able to find a workaround to connect to the IC reader? I have the R2-D2 topper on mine and did run the cable to CN17 but that didnt work. I then plugged the IC reader to port CN12 which worked just fine but of course the topper doesnt work when plugged into CN17.
Added over 2 years ago:I was able to get the IC reader connected on my SW P after connecting the RJ45 to the Mini LCD display on the playfield. there is an extra RJ45 port there.
Are the bottom holes in the back of the cabinet the best (or the only) route for the ethernet cables? I'm far from the games at the moment and can't check myself.
At minimum, a proof of concept for temporarily trying out Insider Connected on another machine that didn't come with the kit but is compatible, would require just a RJ45 coupler, a long ethernet cat5e cable, a wifi dongle and a microSD card, right? I could even route the cable through the host machine's coin door as it would be only temporary.
Does the cable have to be cat5e or higher, or would cat5 or cat4 work too? Again, just for trying it out, as they are not that expensive. I just might have some old long ethernet cables around.
Quoted from Jarkko:Are the bottom holes in the back of the cabinet the best (or the only) route for the ethernet cables? I'm far from the games at the moment and can't check myself.
At minimum, a proof of concept for temporarily trying out Insider Connected on another machine that didn't come with the kit but is compatible, would require just a RJ45 coupler, a long ethernet cat5e cable, a wifi dongle and a microSD card, right? I could even route the cable through the host machine's coin door as it would be only temporary.
Does the cable have to be cat5e or higher, or would cat5 or cat4 work too? Again, just for trying it out, as they are not that expensive. I just might have some old long ethernet cables around.
I routed my cables through those holes in the bottom back of the cabinet and used zip ties with the playfield up to run the cable along the main wiring harness for the game. That way I won’t have to unplug the cable every time I lift the playfield up. It was easy to use scissors to snip a small opening in the plastic mesh that’s on that bottom cabinet hole to put the cable through it.
Quoted from Jarkko:At minimum, a proof of concept for temporarily trying out Insider Connected on another machine that didn't come with the kit but is compatible, would require just a RJ45 coupler, a long ethernet cat5e cable, a wifi dongle and a microSD card, right?
Ordered these parts and will have them soon. Is there more to installation than turning both games off, connecting the RJ45 cable, installing the wifi dongle and the microSD card to the other game and turning both games on? Both have the latest software already. Anything else that I should be aware of?
Quoted from SlapDrain:Can be found on thingiverse.
[quoted image][quoted image]
Thank you! You incentivised me to buy a 3D printer just so I could do this.
So after reading this thread I'm thinking of hooking up my Batman LE to my Elvira LE which I just upgraded to IC. Got a couple of questions.
While one game is being played can you switch and instantly scan into the second game?
While a game is on and online can the scanner be connected and disconnected between powered games. I guess those are both the same questions.
Thanks Martin
Yes and yes. I usually switch the to the game before I turn it on, but I have done this when the game it is installed on is already on. The game it is installed on also doesn’t need to be on. All 4 machines can be on and you can switch before scanning at anytime. Once you are scanned in switching to another machine does not lose your sign in. If the sign in times out then you need to switch it back to sign in again. Enjoy!
Trying to get my insider connect working. Put in a new microsd card and when I power up it says it is formatting the card. I walked away after a few minutes and came back 4 hours later and it is still formatting. tried again and still it is taking way too long. Is that some known issues?
angus did you try formatting the microSD card as FAT32, not NTFS?
I really appreciate the knowledge shared in this thread, thanks to all for your guided input.
Made up a bracket holder in Tinkercad to hold the network switches underneath my pin which turned out well, just need the wifi dongle adapters to turn up and I'm set to go
image_67188225 (resized).JPGUnrelated, but can only a wifi dongle and memory card be added just to go online for updates?
This would be convenient for new games with frequent updates. Once game has final code move it to next new game.
Quoted from Symonz:Made up a bracket holder in Tinkercad to hold the network switches underneath my pin which turned out well, just need the wifi dongle adapters to turn up and I'm set to go [quoted image]
Link to 3D bracket uploaded to Thingiverse> https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5403879/files
mounted bracket (resized).jpgQuoted from Symonz:Link to 3D bracket uploaded to Thingiverse> https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5403879/files[quoted image]
This is awesome! Could you make a version to hold 3 switches please?
Quoted from Bos98:This is awesome! Could you make a version to hold 3 switches please?
Here you go Bos98
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5412161
3 switch bracket (resized).JPGI am not sure this has been brought up elsewhere, but the "Ethernet Cables" that are always referred to in these threads for Spike2 machines are actually being used for RS485 serial interfaces. Technically they patching 4 wires using RJ45 modular shells to transport RS485 signals. The reason I mention it here is the 'network switch' used for IC sharing must actually be a MECHANICAL switch, not an active ethernet network switch. Hope this helps anyone avoid the mis-match in the future when experiemnting the sharing IC
So I've learned something that I did not see in this thread before. Every time I boot up another machine the node board for the ic reader keeps changing the firmware. I have 3 machines and 2 of them are on older software so I have to downgrade the one with the latest to match the version of the others I think.
I'm not sure if this is a problem or not. Has anyone run into that? One machine is on node board protocol .80 and the other on 1.0. I don't think I can make them match exactly as the game on 1.0 only has a release with .83 of the node board protocol
My switch is coming today after which Star Wars will be connected. If I only care about IC for me (my guests usually are not pin freaks like me) can I just store my family's IC codes in home team, and remove the IR scanner cable except when I want to update my home team? Does it need to stay connected for the IC to work or can I just disconnect it and go with home team?
Quoted from coloradodan:Does it need to stay connected for the IC to work or can I just disconnect it and go with home team?
As long as your code is set to auto-update, you'll never the need the scanner again. Assuming you have at least one game with a scanner you can use that one to add folks to the home team, then they'll appear everywhere.
My Batman LE has been updated to use home team but then I removed the scanner after set up. I have it set to auto update and has not yet updated to last version of the software that came out.
So when I go to settings to update it now wants the scanner. Will I need to hook up a scanner again to update. Or should I just use the USB since it seems auto update doesn't work without a scanner.
Quoted from marspinball:I have it set to auto update and has not yet updated to last version of the software that came out.
I wonder if IC only auto-updates at a certain time of night like iOS, or if it's supposed to check & update as soon it powers up and gets online.
Here's the transplant operation, and the success pic. I had to run the cable to the mini-LCD display as another pinsider commented (thanks for that tip!). Yeah there's no reason to raise the playfield but I was looking for that RJ45 jack. I've now unplugged it all and am succesfully IC connected for my home team, with no real changes to Star Wars except adding that new microsd card and that wireless dongle. And I don't have to scan anything on the SW machine after setup, as it pull in my home team which I can easily edit on Godzilla. I did steal the network dongle from Godzilla while I'm waiting on Amazon delivery (one more day, but I'm impatient!). BIG thanks to jurulz for the instructions.
IC success (resized).jpgIC transplant (resized).jpgAnyone know if the size of the SD card matters? Looks like I can get larger/newer cards for less money.
Quoted from joetechbob:Anyone know if the size of the SD card matters? Looks like I can get larger/newer cards for less money.
I doubt it. Mine was $10 though. It's microsd.
Very interesting thread, 2 things i like to be sure with
1. After all installations, is the reader necessary during startup of the Pin ? So i need to set the switchbox to the channel of the Pin i switch on ?
2. After both Pin´s are up, can i switch simply between A and B while the Pin´s are running ? Sounds like i could "Hotplug" the Nodeboards for the Scanner
regards
Ralf
Quoted from Jim-Beam:Very interesting thread, 2 things i like to be sure with
1. After all installations, is the reader necessary during startup of the Pin ? So i need to set the switchbox to the channel of the Pin i switch on ?
2. After both Pin´s are up, can i switch simply between A and B while the Pin´s are running ? Sounds like i could "Hotplug" the Nodeboards for the Scanner
regards
Ralf
1. It doesn't matter if the ic is connected on startup.
2. You can switch while the machines are on.
Quoted from C0untDeM0net:1. It doesn't matter if the ic is connected on startup.
2. You can switch while the machines are on.
thanks a lot, impressive that it works in this way...
Does anyone have a current list of places to get the stuff to do this? I am looking for a 4 port switch. Thank you!
Quoted from ilovegames:Does anyone have a current list of places to get the stuff to do this? I am looking for a 4 port switch. Thank you!
It's a lot easier to use home team, as long as you have at least one IC unit. I bought my switch from Amazon, but it is now OOS. I found this one that is in stock from a different site - https://www.sanoxy.com/4-port-rj45-manual-network-sharing-switch.html
Quoted from finman2000:It's a lot easier to use home team, as long as you have at least one IC unit. I bought my switch from Amazon, but it is now OOS. I found this one that is in stock from a different site - https://www.sanoxy.com/4-port-rj45-manual-network-sharing-switch.html
Is this the same thing?
Also do you just use regular network cables?
Thank you for the help in advance!
Quoted from ilovegames:Is this the same thing?
ebay.com link: itm
Also do you just use regular network cables?
Thank you for the help in advance!
Yes, it looks like that will work. Yes, you can use standard Cat 5 network cables.
Quoted from finman2000:Yes, it looks like that will work. Yes, you can use standard Cat 5 network cables.
Thank you very much!
Quoted from coloradodan:Here's the transplant operation, and the success pic. I had to run the cable to the mini-LCD display as another pinsider commented (thanks for that tip!). Yeah there's no reason to raise the playfield but I was looking for that RJ45 jack. I've now unplugged it all and am succesfully IC connected for my home team, with no real changes to Star Wars except adding that new microsd card and that wireless dongle. And I don't have to scan anything on the SW machine after setup, as it pull in my home team which I can easily edit on Godzilla. I did steal the network dongle from Godzilla while I'm waiting on Amazon delivery (one more day, but I'm impatient!). BIG thanks to jurulz for the instructions.
After reading this, I just did a quick proof of concept as well. I wasn't clear on the above so here are some more verbose instructions. I have a Rush and Star Wars with the IC kit installed and an Iron Maiden without. I wanted to see what the minimum was that I could do that get IM online.
Rush and IM are side by side so I worked with those two games. I took the wireless dongle from Rush and put it in IM along with a spare 16gb memory card. I had to do a game code update on IM as I was a bit behind and the version I was running on the pin did not include all of the IC networking code. Once that was done, I lifted the playfields on both games, unplugged the cable on the QR reader in Rush and connected it to the IM node board near the bottom left of the playfield with a regular network cable.
I then went through the process of getting IM online and registered using the Network options in the game menu and the Stern website. I didn't have to scan my QR code on IM because I have Home Team set up. When the game was power cycled, and I held the left flipper button for a few seconds, I showed up on the list. Success! I reconnected the QR reader to Rush but didn't move the dongle back (I will be ordering one shortly).
Next thing I did was scan my friends QR code on SW which is still intact and online. I added him as a Home Team member. I waited for a while to see if he would show up on IM but had no luck. I could see on SW and through the Stern website that he had been added to my Home Team. I did a power cycle of IM and then he appeared on the Home Team screen. Perhaps if I waited long enough, the information would have propagated to IM without a restart. I will try that with another friends QR code later.
So it looks like, at a minimum, you can get by with a wireless dongle and a memory card for each non-IC equipped game. You will need to have a QR reader connected, at least temporarily, to get the game online as the game code appears to be looking for the reader. If you go this route, you will have to add people to your Home Team through one of your pins with a QR reader and then power cycle your other games to have them show up. It isn't the most convenient way to do things and it isn't instantaneous but at least you know that it works.
Thanks to everyone on here that has contributed!
Me too. I have a spare Ic reader and last week used it to connect my Ehoh and JP. As noted, you need a WiFi dongle and a micro sd for each game. The code reader only needs to be connected the first time to register the game. The game formats the micro sd card on boot up so just insert a blank one. To add players without the reader, use home team on another connected game that has the reader, it will then transmit to other games on your network after a reboot.
Quoted from dzorbas:After reading this, I just did a quick proof of concept as well. I wasn't clear on the above so here are some more verbose instructions. I have a Rush and Star Wars with the IC kit installed and an Iron Maiden without. I wanted to see what the minimum was that I could do that get IM online.
Rush and IM are side by side so I worked with those two games. I took the wireless dongle from Rush and put it in IM along with a spare 16gb memory card. I had to do a game code update on IM as I was a bit behind and the version I was running on the pin did not include all of the IC networking code. Once that was done, I lifted the playfields on both games, unplugged the cable on the QR reader in Rush and connected it to the IM node board near the bottom left of the playfield with a regular network cable.
[quoted image]
I then went through the process of getting IM online and registered using the Network options in the game menu and the Stern website. I didn't have to scan my QR code on IM because I have Home Team set up. When the game was power cycled, and I held the left flipper button for a few seconds, I showed up on the list. Success! I reconnected the QR reader to Rush but didn't move the dongle back (I will be ordering one shortly).
Next thing I did was scan my friends QR code on SW which is still intact and online. I added him as a Home Team member. I waited for a while to see if he would show up on IM but had no luck. I could see on SW and through the Stern website that he had been added to my Home Team. I did a power cycle of IM and then he appeared on the Home Team screen. Perhaps if I waited long enough, the information would have propagated to IM without a restart. I will try that with another friends QR code later.
[quoted image]
So it looks like, at a minimum, you can get by with a wireless dongle and a memory card for each non-IC equipped game. You will need to have a QR reader connected, at least temporarily, to get the game online as the game code appears to be looking for the reader. If you go this route, you will have to add people to your Home Team through one of your pins with a QR reader and then power cycle your other games to have them show up. It isn't the most convenient way to do things and it isn't instantaneous but at least you know that it works.
Thanks to everyone on here that has contributed!
Is there a current list of wireless dongles that will work in these pins? I see the listing in the first post but there have to be some other options. Amazon would be my preferred vendor simply for free shipping. I tried a dongle that I had sitting around. The pin recognized it when it was plugged in but wouldn't connect to my network.
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