Keyboard and Mouse controls on your driving cabinet?

[Fursphere]

As much as we'd like our front end programs and key mappings to cover everything, sooner or later you're going to have to deal with Windows, or a menu, or something (the menu's in Burnout Paradise are worst I've seen so far.  game is great, menu's are horrible).

On the driving cabinet, I don't really have room for it.  I'm using a wired mini-keyboard and trackball that I put in my lap when I have to deal with it, then set them on top of the computer case while I'm driving. 

Most of the newer PC games require keyboard / mouse interaction at some point.  (username / password, clicking some stupid button that doesn't have a gamepad input option, etc).

How do you guys deal with this?  On my upright MAME cabinet, I've got a keyboard / mouse drawer that rolls out, very easy, almost invisible. 

[BadMouth]

So far, I just don't play the games that require them. 
Occasionally, I'll plug in a wireless keyboard mouse combo, but nothing permanent.

I tried a 2.4Ghz Lenovo mini keyboard/mouse, but it doesn't work unless I unplug all the other 2.4Ghz devices in the area. 
Not recommended!

[drventure]

Grab one of these. You won't be sad. Great battery life, works seemlessly. Includes the touchpad for mouse stuff (it's a touchpad, but hey, you won't be programming on the thing right?). For major surgery, i remote into my cab wirelessly.



http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-touch-keyboard-k400r?crid=26

[Fursphere]

2.4ghz is officially on my sh!t list.  I've got some high end Motorola baby monitors in my house - they're only on when the kids are sleeping.  When the camera in my 1 year old's room turns on (the monitor rotates between the two cameras every 15 seconds or something) it straight up DESTROYS everything else in the house using 2.4ghz. 

I actually had a fancy wireless card that showed the signal in wave form with a utility, I was watching the monitor flip back and forth between cameras, and the signal on my wifi go from 100% - 0%.  It was sad.  That's the day I ran a 100ft RJ45 cable to my front room to ditch the wifi. 

5ghz is A LOT better - for now....   unfortunately I've still got crap on 2.4ghz, so I'm stuck there.  In a few years 5ghz will be the norm, and it'll get flooded too.  Then they'll be something new to replace it, and we'll start all over...  /sigh

But ya, it sounds like you've got the same problems I do with the keyboard situation. 

[BadMouth]

2.4ghz is officially on my sh!t list.  I've got some high end Motorola baby monitors in my house - they're only on when the kids are sleeping.  When the camera in my 1 year old's room turns on (the monitor rotates between the two cameras every 15 seconds or something) it straight up DESTROYS everything else in the house using 2.4ghz. 

I actually had a fancy wireless card that showed the signal in wave form with a utility, I was watching the monitor flip back and forth between cameras, and the signal on my wifi go from 100% - 0%.  It was sad.  That's the day I ran a 100ft RJ45 cable to my front room to ditch the wifi. 

5ghz is A LOT better - for now....   unfortunately I've still got crap on 2.4ghz, so I'm stuck there.  In a few years 5ghz will be the norm, and it'll get flooded too.  Then they'll be something new to replace it, and we'll start all over...  /sigh

But ya, it sounds like you've got the same problems I do with the keyboard situation. 

Funny thing is that the full size wireless keyboard and mouse that I use are also 2.4Ghz, but they work just fine.
Perhaps it's a brand/protocol thing.  It works on my standup cab if I unplug a nearby Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse.
But it also refuses to work on my jukebox which is right next to a 2.4Ghz router.

[Malenko]

keyboard sits on top of the PC inside the cab, mouse right next to it. Mouse is wireless , and when in use the KB and mouse usually sit on the control panel shroud....one of the benefits of using a converted pole position.

[Brandon_Roth]

This is good and awesome!!! Its work to much smoothly .

[SegaOutrun]

Grab one of these. You won't be sad. Great battery life, works seemlessly. Includes the touchpad for mouse stuff (it's a touchpad, but hey, you won't be programming on the thing right?). For major surgery, i remote into my cab wirelessly.



http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-touch-keyboard-k400r?crid=26

This what i use. a fantastic keyboard and smallish. i bought it for $35 at walmart.



another option is just adding some hidden buttons. I have an 8 way shifter and most of my games are 4-speed games so i use 7th gear as enter and 8th gear as esc.  you can do the same with just arcade buttons that out of sight.

[BadMouth]

another option is just adding some hidden buttons. I have an 8 way shifter and most of my games are 4-speed games so i use 7th gear as enter and 8th gear as esc.  you can do the same with just arcade buttons that out of sight.

My start button is enter, my exit button is escape, & the four view buttons have arrow labels on them and post as the direction keys.
It works great for most games.  All the SimBin "games" still require a mouse to navigate menus.  Big thumb down for that.

I use an autohotkey script to make the radio button post Q for the old Need For Speed games.
Outrun 2006 requires F2, but I never got around to making a script for it.

[SegaOutrun]

Grab one of these. You won't be sad. Great battery life, works seemlessly. Includes the touchpad for mouse stuff (it's a touchpad, but hey, you won't be programming on the thing right?). For major surgery, i remote into my cab wirelessly.



http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-touch-keyboard-k400r?crid=26

the logitech k400 is on sale today for $22 in case anyone is interested

http://www.dailysteals.com/heist/12465/Logitech-K400-Wireless-Touch?utm_source=DailySteals.com+-+Deal+of+the+Day&utm_campaign=0817b07312-09_18_13_PC_Acc&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_df9b59ce87-0817b07312-30099581