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ddrstep
Basic Member
Joined: 16 Jul 2004
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1580.  Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:46 pm Post subject: metal pad pro? |
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question for the masses.....
I'm looking at some metal pads on ebay. I'm worried about these pads breaking on me (already gone through 4 soft pads) is it safe to assume that with a decent knowledge of electronics that any metal pad can be repaired?
thanks |
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vsamaco
Trick Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
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| 1581. Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: metal pad pro? |
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| ddrstep wrote: | question for the masses.....
I'm looking at some metal pads on ebay. I'm worried about these pads breaking on me (already gone through 4 soft pads) is it safe to assume that with a decent knowledge of electronics that any metal pad can be repaired?
thanks |
Sure, thats one of the benefits of metal pads compared to soft pads, you have a better chance of repairing it if something is wrong.
Ebay dealers you should check out for metal pads are: ngult($129), judysdeals($99), and discount-auction($99).
Unlike the other dealers, these pads have polycarbon arrows which are more durable than acrylic. I'm pretty confident that the pads from any of those dealers won't break as easily as those soft pads and have just as much durability as the more expensive RedOctane, as long as you take care of it. |
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Prizm
Trick Member
Joined: 07 Oct 2003
Location: Australia |
| 1582. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:25 am Post subject: |
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I'm getting some new pads soon, and was originally going to get a couple more from Level Six (where I got my original two hard foam pads). Though they're out of stock at the moment.
But I see Lik-Sang has those TX-1000 metal pads for $90 US. What I don't understand is why everyone else wants to buy them elsewhere for $200 US? Besides the BNS pads, since they have the polycarbon plastic.
Should I just buy two TX-1000's from Lik-Sang and buy some polycarbon to mod them with? I live in Australia, so the postage will be killer....but worth it I guess. Though I definately don't have the money for two Cobalt Flux's + overseas shipping cost (ouch).
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Skez_Hollis-NH
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Joined: 17 Jul 2004
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| 1583. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:04 am Post subject: |
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| Hey, I just got my BNS metal pad, and im surprized how good it is for a mid-range metal pad. The only thing is I have to hit the DEAD center of the arrow to get it to respond. Is there anyway I can make it so I can hit it in a more vast range? also, it uses foil on copper... |
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vsamaco
Trick Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
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| 1584. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| Prizm wrote: | I'm getting some new pads soon, and was originally going to get a couple more from Level Six (where I got my original two hard foam pads). Though they're out of stock at the moment.
But I see Lik-Sang has those TX-1000 metal pads for $90 US. What I don't understand is why everyone else wants to buy them elsewhere for $200 US? Besides the BNS pads, since they have the polycarbon plastic.
Should I just buy two TX-1000's from Lik-Sang and buy some polycarbon to mod them with? I live in Australia, so the postage will be killer....but worth it I guess. Though I definately don't have the money for two Cobalt Flux's + overseas shipping cost (ouch). |
People pay more for the assurance thats they aren't ripped off and to make sure the pads aren't faulty. Customer service is kinda better at RO than BNS and there is a lack of confessionals for BNS pads to show its just as sturdy as RO (which I believe are).
Replacement panels for RO/BNS and the ones selling on lik-sang won't fit in a tx-1000. Due to the 4 screw setup, the arrows of a tx-1000 don't have angle-cut corners. The RO/BNS arrows are a little wider and cannot fit its width in a tx-1000. Here is a picture (R/B arrows is on top). I've found one dealer that sells arrows for tx and also ships internationally at www.keepgaming.com It's not listed on the site so you have to refer for it directly thru email/phone. After a 2 months use with 7-9 footers, the acrylic arrows of my TX are still holding up.
The only other website I know that sells a metal pad w/ polycarbon cheaper($139US) than RO and ships internationally is http://www.gameenhancer.net/ Unfortunately, they are sold out...
| Skez_Hollis-NH wrote: | | Hey, I just got my BNS metal pad, and im surprized how good it is for a mid-range metal pad. The only thing is I have to hit the DEAD center of the arrow to get it to respond. Is there anyway I can make it so I can hit it in a more vast range? also, it uses foil on copper... |
You can cut more foam from the center or manipulate in some way so its softer/not as densed. Since the copper grid doesn't cover the whole arrow, you won't be able to get a response from the corners.
You should do the sheet metal mod for the foil because it breaks down easily. |
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vsamaco
Trick Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
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| 1585. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 11:29 am Post subject: |
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For future reference about polycarbon and acrylic arrows. The more clear/see thru arrow is polycarbon while the inside of the acrylic is cloudy/flaky white. Polycarbon arrow is a little more pliable than acyrlic. Here are some pictures.
pic1
pic1
pic1
sorry about the blurriness  |
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Jopo
Basic Member
Joined: 11 Feb 2004
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| 1586. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| DuffMan wrote: | | Do the metal pads help in the arcade? I currently have an Ignition 2.0 pad, and I cant play worth poopy in the arcade. Will any of the metal pads listed here help, and if so, which ones? |
im been playing on my naiki soft pad(20 bucks) for 5 months now, still works good, and i can A all my 9 foot songs in the arcade (afronova, exotic ethnic, and dead end) |
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Jopo
Basic Member
Joined: 11 Feb 2004
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| 1587. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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| If i were to buy a cobalt flux pad for 340 dollars(shipping and everything) would i be able to use it for DDR and pump it up. I see that it has 9 arrows, up, left, right, and down for DDR . diagonals and center for pump it up. is it made for both or what? i mean ddr does not use middle, or down/right~down/left arrows. can i make this pad work with my prex3 pc game? and stepmania? and is it xbox compatible? |
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vsamaco
Trick Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
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| 1588. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Jopo wrote: | | If i were to buy a cobalt flux pad for 340 dollars(shipping and everything) would i be able to use it for DDR and pump it up. I see that it has 9 arrows, up, left, right, and down for DDR . diagonals and center for pump it up. is it made for both or what? i mean ddr does not use middle, or down/right~down/left arrows. can i make this pad work with my prex3 pc game? and stepmania? and is it xbox compatible? |
Yes it works for both
| CF-forums wrote: |
The CF works with PIU (Pump It Up) but you must unscrew the panels on the Up-Right and Up-Left arrows and take out the cardboard between the Metal and the Lexan (From what I know) then they will activate.
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As long as you have a compatible ps->usb adapter, it will work for stepmania (look on their website for adapters). I'm not sure what prex3 but I think it'll work for it too. Same goes for the xbox, compatible adapter. |
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Jopo
Basic Member
Joined: 11 Feb 2004
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| 1589. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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ok cool, prex3 is just the 2nd to latest version of pump it up for pc. but thanks for the help  |
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Shadow_Dragonz
Trick Member
Joined: 16 Mar 2003
Location: California |
| 1590. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
Here's a weird question. I'm wondering about the dimentions on the metal dance pads. Do any of them have the same dimentions as the arcade metal dance pads? I'm curious because from what I've heard, the metal dance pads that are used at home are a little off than the ones at the arcades.
thanks 
Shadow_Dragonz
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Skez_Hollis-NH
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Joined: 17 Jul 2004
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| 1591. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks vsamaco, and also, is there any way to get a bigger copper grid? goto a hardware store and solder it on? please replay! Thanks. |
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DX Manaic
Trick Member
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Location: Outer Limits |
| 1592. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Where can I find a guide to cleaning a RedOctane metal pad?
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vsamaco
Trick Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
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| 1593. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Skez_Hollis-NH wrote: | | thanks vsamaco, and also, is there any way to get a bigger copper grid? goto a hardware store and solder it on? please replay! Thanks. |
I'm not sure if you can buy copper grid locally, go check though. Here is a guide to mod for greater sensitivity but it has the grid taken out. You can probably adapt something similar.
| DX Manaic wrote: |
Where can I find a guide to cleaning a RedOctane metal pad?
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No liquids. Use a dry terry-cloth to wipe the surface of the arrows. Use a dry brillo or steel pads to brush the copper grid and surface under the arrow (given thats its there is a panel rather than foil) to rid of any excess fragments and dullness. Thats the extent of cleaning I do for my pad.
Last edited by vsamaco on Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:35 pm, edited 1 time in total |
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vsamaco
Trick Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
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| 1594. Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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match_head_
Basic Member
Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Location: Albuquerque, NM |
| 1595. Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:20 am Post subject: |
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I got two RO metal pads last week... Shipped out fast, recieved them in 4 days... total cost: $460.
I'd have to say that for $200 each, they suck. They take about 30 lbs to set off a sensor. The sensors are only about 4x6 inches, so you have to step directly in the middle of the sensor to get a response.
By far, the worst part part about them are the metal brackets. The brackets are made out of thin sheet metal, so they bend, and the edges are sharp. I was playing doubles and my shoe got caught on one of the brackets. I stumbled and twisted my ankle. Now my ankle hurts like a mother and makes a sickening popping noise whenever I move it.
I sent RO some angry E-mails on Friday and still have not gotten a response.
I also tried calling them, and left them a few voicemails, still no response.
Their online return authorization form doesn't work either.
Should I try to return the pads?
It looks like I'll have to pay for shipping... $80 and they also charge a 15% restocking fee... $60 and they won't refund the shipping... $60, so it will cost me $200 to get back my $400.
Or.... can I mod they somehow to make them more responsive, and get rid of those EVIL brackets?
By the way... RO pads do not feel like arcade pads. I bought them because they claimed that they were replicas of the arcade pads, but the buttons are not sunk like they are in the arcade. The surface is mostly flat except for the freakin' brackets and screws.
I say avoid RO metal pads because they suck and there is no customer service. |
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cata-tonic
Trick Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2004
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| 1596. Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| Sorry you are dissatisfied with your RO pads, I absolutely love mine. I have no sensitivity problems with my buttons, maybe you need to take the buttons off and make sure nothing is blocking the contacts (like the plastic wrap it comes packaged in. I don't have any complaints about the brackets, they seem strong enough, and I never get caught up in them, I guess you are keeping your feet to close to the surface of the pad when you move. And as for RO customer service, I have had great response time from them via email and phone. If you sent them a nasty email, dont' expect to get a fast reply. Just telling them their product sucks isn't going to get good results. |
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Jediboy
Trick Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2004
Location: PLAINfield, IL |
| 1597. Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:56 am Post subject: |
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| match_head_ wrote: | ...I sent RO some angry E-mails on Friday and still have not gotten a response. I also tried calling them, and left them a few voicemails, still no response. Their online return authorization form doesn't work either. Should I try to return the pads? ...
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Good luck with the return. I returned a soft pad over 2 months ago and still do not have a replacement. I've contacted them twice, and each time they told me they were sending out the replacement that day and I would get an email with a tracking number. I'm still waiting for that email. I was getting pretty good response at first, but it seems like their whole office is on vacation or something. The last reply I got was 3 weeks ago. I have left a few voice mails and sent a few emails but get no replys. Their online support chat has also been unavailable for a few weeks. |
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match_head_
Basic Member
Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Location: Albuquerque, NM |
| 1598. Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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| cata-tonic wrote: | | Sorry you are dissatisfied with your RO pads, I absolutely love mine. I have no sensitivity problems with my buttons, maybe you need to take the buttons off and make sure nothing is blocking the contacts (like the plastic wrap it comes packaged in. |
Did you have to "break in" your pads to get this good response or did your's work well right when you got them? Mine don't even hold freezes some of the time, and I'm not exactly a lightweight either; I weigh 280 lbs. |
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cata-tonic
Trick Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2004
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| 1599. Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| My buttons worked fine "right out of the box" (I didn't have to break them in). One thing I did notice is that when my foot lands half on the metal and half on the button it usually doesn't register, but when I land directly on the button, I barely have to press it for it to register. Have you taken your buttons apart to see if they are making good contact with the metal contacts? |
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