Couple of quick questions about encoders and control panels

[Jgel]

HI everyone,

I have been working on a huge cab for the past month or so.  Last weekend I got my control panel built.  Now I am working on connections.  Here is what I have and am dealing with...

4 player with 8 way joysticks and 6 buttons each
1 four way with 2 buttons next to it
1 spinner
1 trackball
4 coin buttons and 4 (player 1-4) buttons

I am now starting the wiring and I have a question.  I have a KeyWiz 40-ST and a Opti-wiz for my encoders.  After looking at the specs, will the KeyWiz work?  It looks like I don't have enough inputs for all I am trying to do here.  Is there a way to make this work or am I going to have to get an I-Pac 4?  Any help would be great.  Thanks in advance.   

[Nephasth]

I would recommend the Lono² from Paradise Arcade Shop. Great for 4 player setups and TONS of inputs. You'll still need an optical interface for your trackball and spinner, unless you get a USB trackball and spinner (then no interface is needed).

[Jgel]

Thank you for the reply.  I already have everything above.  Is it not possible to do what I want with the KeyWiz and the Opti-Wiz?  If not I will have to look into the Paradise Arcade Shop product.  I have not heard of it before.  Can I use that in conjunction with the Opti-Wiz?  Thanks again for the reply.  Anyone else?

[BadMouth]

I don't see a way to make it work.
The 6 buttons for player 3 and 4 put you over the limit.  

You have 40 inputs on the key-wiz and 3 on the optiwiz to work with.  43 total

Most people link the 4-way stick and 2 buttons to the player 1 controls to cut down on the number of inputs needed.
That would put you at 48 inputs needed.  Still 5 short.

Is there a particular console emulator that you need 6 buttons on player 3 and 4 for?
Three buttons is enough for all the 4 player arcade games but one (guilty gear isuka)

Is it too late to modify the CP?

[Jgel]

It is too late to modify the CP    That being said, I don't have to hook up all of the buttons either if they won't be used.  I didn't even think about it until you said that.     So I could go forward as is if I didn't wire two buttons on player 3 and 4??  Or am I still one short?  Damn me for not thinking this through all the way through    Thanks for your help though.

[BadMouth]

Personally, I'd only have 3 buttons for player 3 and 4.
That would give you 1 leftover input for an "exit" button.

Keep in mind that two of the buttons you are using will be seen as mouse buttons.
Don't hook them up to a button that's used while in the frontend.  It will work fine while in MAME.  Might not work in other emulators.
EDIT: If you don't need an exit button, make the one unused input the right mouse button.  

Couple other ideas, less than optimal, but they'd work:

Map the start button to both coin and start. or...
Require the player to hold a button and press start to insert a coin.

....or just get another encoder.

[Jgel]

Another question.  I also have a spare I-pac laying around.   Can I use a KeyWiz and an I-Pac at the same time.  Although as I am typing this I think they are both PS2.... 

[BadMouth]

Another question.  I also have a spare I-pac laying around.   Can I use a KeyWiz and an I-Pac at the same time.  Although as I am typing this I think they are both PS2....  

Sure.  
Get a PS2 to USB adapter.  Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a mouse that comes with the adapter.  
The Big Lots store near where I live sells an old style ball mouse that comes with the adapter for $5.
It will just show up as Keyboard 2 (or 3) in MAME.  I'm not sure how it will affect other emulators.

[AndyWarne]

Another question.  I also have a spare I-pac laying around.   Can I use a KeyWiz and an I-Pac at the same time.  Although as I am typing this I think they are both PS2.... 

All I-PACs are USB devices. They will switch into PS/2 if connected to a PS/2 port though. So if you have the PS/2 cable with it, you would need either the USB cable we sell or an adaptor. Make sure its an adaptor which only changes the connector type. Dont use a converter which will cause the I-PAC to run in PS/2 mode then convert the protocol to USB as these converters dont work adequately for gaming.

[MTPPC]

I think you are using too many buttons. BTW, you could stack leaf switches under some of the buttons and wire the first leaf to "shift" and tie the second leaf to other buttons if you are simply trying to avoid holding a shift button. From my perspective, the shift button is a much better option than all those extra buttons no one will ever be able to figure out anyway... Your buttons on the four way will just be tied to the P1 buttons. I use Shift P1B1 for coin 1 and Shift P1B2 for coin2.. etc so just the player 1 has to to the coin ups. You don't want more than one person having access to the shift. In fact, my shift button is an extra under the control panel. I didn't want to have it be the traditional P1 Start because kids are mashing the buttons all the time and I don't like having to answer why the game "broke".

[Jgel]

Thank you everyone for your replies.   

SO, I have a player 1 2 3 4 button and a player 1 2 3 4 coin button.  Am I to understand that I don't need this?  I can just run the Player 1, 3 coin to the same pin on the encoder as well as player 2, 4 coin to the same area? 

Also, it sounds like I can run the 4 way up/down/L/R to the same spots as the 8 way up/down/L/R?

[MTPPC]

Thank you everyone for your replies.  

SO, I have a player 1 2 3 4 button and a player 1 2 3 4 coin button.  Am I to understand that I don't need this?  I can just run the Player 1, 3 coin to the same pin on the encoder as well as player 2, 4 coin to the same area?  

The only game I know of that requires specific coin-ups for players 3 and 4 is gauntlet (not gauntlet II). I like to run the coin mech switches to the encoder so the machine works when quarters are dropped into it. Then I use a shift key (the default is Player 1 Start) and Player 1 buttons for coin 1 and coin 2. For a 4 player game, you could just assign two more shifted P1 buttons. You need to understand this software so you can program your i-pac to fit your custom controls: http://www.ultimarc.com/download.html I'm not familiar with keywiz, but it may be similar.

Also, it sounds like I can run the 4 way up/down/L/R to the same spots as the 8 way up/down/L/R?

Exactly.