KeyWiz: Can't change default configuration (ROM)?

[BlackGreen]

Hi:

I am using KeyWiz Max 2.0 with the latest updater software.  I can perform the update to change my configuration, but as soon as I reboot (device loses power), the configuration is reverted to factory settings.

My impression was that I was able to change the "ROM" configuration using the updater "default" choice.  I also tried setting the EEP-ROM but the results were the same.  As soon as the power goes, so do my changes.

I've attached screenshots of the update process.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

[BadMouth]

The Key Wiz doesn't store your updated settings on the device.
The uploader software re-uploads the settings every time the computer is started.

Some people have had issues with it not working.  Possibly because of their OS or hardware.

Is the software automatically connecting to the Key Wiz when the computer boots?

[BlackGreen]

No - my setup involves a linux box and I was under the impression that this hardware works like the ultimarc ultrastik where I can make configuration changes to the stored ROM area which is used as the default "power-on" settings.

My cabinet plans never called for having the updater software run on startup, like many people do.  I'm also not running windows for, either.  I just want to set the default ROM configuration once, then move on and not worry about it anymore.

[BlackGreen]

I assumed this was possible to to what I have read here:
http://www.groovygamegear.com/PDF/KeyWiz_Uploader3_Docs_and_EULA.pdf

Page 4 under "Default Set".

[BadMouth]

Nope.  Not possible with the Key Wiz.
IIRC with the amount of pins on the processor, Randy had a choice of having the settings stored onboard or having two more inputs and chose the latter.

I would have chose the former, but most people probably stick to the MAME defaults, so I understand his logic.

Personally, I don't want anything extra running at startup and I avoid the special keys like CTRL, ALT, etc because they don't work with some other emulators.  I have two key wiz's and just don't use those inputs.  Luckily I need few enough inputs that I can get by like that.

[JDFan]

I assumed this was possible to to what I have read here:
http://www.groovygamegear.com/PDF/KeyWiz_Uploader3_Docs_and_EULA.pdf

Page 4 under "Default Set".

On page 5 of the linked under startup options :

V-EEPROM aka the "Virtual EEPROM Feature" - This option allows your KeyWiz to act
exactly as though it used onboard EEPROM storage for the codeset when used in conjunction
with the KeyWiz Uploader 3 software. That is to say that every time you upload a set of data to
the KeyWiz, it is remembered by the system. The next time the system is started, the same data is
uploaded so the unit is always configured as you last left it, even between re-boots of the system.
This option can be selected at any time.

That is the startup option you want to set it to not the Default startup setting. By setting it to EEPROM instead of DEFAULT it will automatically reupload the previous settings like you are wanting !!

[BlackGreen]

It appears that it is not possible to change the "power-on" configuration of the KeyWiz Max?  Special windows software will always be required to change the key mappings?  Can someone explain the difference between V-EEPROM and "Default Set" please?

Also from Randy via E-Mail:
=================
The KeyWiz does not have EEPROM configuration storage.  It must be configured at boot time, which is what the windows application does automatically.

Redefinition of the outputs is only required under very rare circumstances, as MAME, as well as the vast majority of other applications, can be configured easily to whatever you like.  Do the games/applications you are using not allow for control configuration?

Randy
=================

How does a non-Windows user get persistent configuration changes then?

JDFan> I have tried both the "Default Set" and V-EEPROM uploads.  Once the device loses power, all changes are gone and it reverts to the "stock" key mapping configuration.

Also, if this is really the case, does the I-PAC allow for changing the ROM configuration or any other similar devices?

Thanks.

[severdhed]

ipac saves its config on power loss, keywiz does not....that's all there is to it

[JDFan]

Can someone explain the difference between V-EEPROM and "Default Set" please?

V-EEPROM will store the uploaded custom settings in a windows environment software program so that when the system loses power the settings are stored and retreived from the HDD when power is restored -- Default set loads the default settings when power is restored rather than custom settings. But it seems the V-EEPROM only works in windows so since you are not using windows it is not retreiving those settings for you.


On the Ipac :

Key code Flash ROM  storage. Retains custom settings after power off/on (excluding I-PAC VE)

so yes the Ipac (other than the Value Edition) has flash rom onboard that stores the settings even without any power  -- the Keywiz on the other hand actually uses software (Virtual) emulation  rather than hardware to store the info and the program they use seems to only be windows based so if you are not running windows it will not be stored and reloaded.

[BlackGreen]

Thanks for the info and replies.  Truly unfortunate.  Going to buy an I-PAC.

[RandyT]

The KeyWiz was designed with a different philosophy in mind.

First, as stated earlier, all possible microcontroller inputs were made available to the user for controls, rather than sacrificing some of them for external functions like EEPROM or pass-throughs.  This opened up the first real possibility for a 4-player control panel at a lower cost than ever before, with 40 dedicated inputs available to the user. 

Second, as users pretty much never limit the software selection to only MAME, the user will, without exception and regardless of the interface used, need to do one of two things; alter the input configuration for each game / application they use (which must be done for P2 and up in MAME anyway, as it defaults to joystick controls for many of those), or re-program the controller every time a different game/application is used on the system.  The former makes the most sense, as the KeyWiz comes ready to use with MAME by default with the exception of the aforementioned joystick defaults.  This is the method used by the vast majority of users, as it is no different than mapping any other typical joystick / custom controller to PC applications.  But for those who wish to take the other route, the KeyWiz software takes the approach of storing the configurations in SRAM, which while volatile, does not have the number of write operation limitations inherent to EEPROM storage.  So the Windows software was written to emulate that function, while still preserving the intent to provide the user with the maximum number of inputs available for their controls.

While the software is limited to Windows users, the hardware works very well on any hardware/OS which properly supports a PS/2 keyboard.  Users of other OSes need only to take the most often used (and really, the simplest) approach of defining the inputs for the application to suit the control configuration, which must be done even in MAME, regardless of how the hardware itself is configured.

[BlackGreen]

Randy:

I think the KeyWiz is a great product.  I had no other issues with it.  Everything worked out of the box.

However, I do need an encoder that will take custom mappings that can be retained after loss of power and that is OS independent.

I have already thought of a way to use the KeyWiz in another upcoming project.  For this current project, I will use the I-PAC.

Thanks!