USB joystick encoder differences ?

[Frogger]

I was looking at ZD USB joystick encoders on ebay & noticed most of the circuit boards themselves look the same, but some have more resistors than others and some have 2 red connectors that others do not.

And there are similar but different descriptions such as
USB Encoder PC To Joystick For MAME JAMMA
Or USB Encoder To PC 5Pin Joystick For MAME+ Push Buttons Cable

Even with the same description some boards are populated differently. The difference is typically the number of resistors populated at the end of the circuit board with the joystick connectors (and opposite the LEDs)

What is the difference between the “stripped down” boards & the more heavily populated ones?

I thought choosing by looking at the photos might be the way to go, but even within the same listing the different photos show different parts. Sometimes the 2 red connectors appear in some of the pictures but not in others.

How do you choose which encoder to order?

[KLRinstinct]

BUMP. I was about to make a similar post to this. Was wondering the same thing and also what's better to get, one that shows in windows as a keyboard or one that shows as a USB joystick/gamepad? Lil help fellas?

[Titchgamer]

Think it depends what you want it for really.

If you are building a PC based system I always use the Ultimarc Ipac boards.
Many people also use Xin Mo which are game controller boards.

Whatever you use plan out what you want it to do first then remember you get what you pay for.

[Frogger]

I'm looking at encoders like these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/No-Delay-Arcade-USB-Encoder-To-PC-5Pin-Joystick-For-MAME-Push-Buttons-Cable-/272332738492?hash=item3f684bcfbc:g:HJIAAOSwaB5XphIX

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zero-Delay-Arcade-USB-Encoder-PC-to-joystick-for-MAME-Fight-Stick-Controls-/351772492929?hash=item51e7464481:g:2C8AAOSwXeJXdcRm

They look almost the same but some circuit boards have empty spots where resistors could go. Sometimes the same listing has several photos but the photos show different looking circuit boards for the same item. IOW you can't go by the pictures.

 How do you choose which item to order?

[Titchgamer]

Like I said its about determining what you want and how you want to use it.

Those encoders are for wiring 1 stick and a few buttons as a game controller.

Personally I use Ultimarc stuff for PC builds and can recomend the minipac:
http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html

Or if you want a game controller style lots of people like the xin mo:
m.ebay.com/itm/Xin-Mo-Arcade-to-USB-controller-2-player-MAME-Multicade-Keyboard-Encoder-/120966915693?hash=item1c2a30a66d%3Am%3AmKlq3rmaMMDiDATrOXZdEuQ&_trkparms=pageci%253Af3918f63-ddc4-11e6-9d9c-74dbd180ea45%257Cparentrq%253Ab37a78bc1590a7884447d813ffb81912%257Ciid%253A1
 

[Frogger]

I just need something very basic for about 6 buttons. I'd hate to presume that any one of these cheap encoders would work because there appears to be differences among them. I had hoped that someone on the forum might have some experience with them.

[Titchgamer]

Never used one sorry.

Ime sure they would work, just a matter of how well.
The thing to remember when building a cab is that the controls are the most important part and with bad controls you will have bad gameplay so its worth investing in quality stuff.

[KLRinstinct]

I'm leaning towards the game controller boards myself. Been reading a bit and I'm seeing various issues popping up here and there with the keyboard encoders. Aside from the always mentioned 'ghosting'. I'll go for 4 of the single gamepad encoders I reckon. I've seen the 2 gamepad in one encoder boards as well but they setup P1 and P2 joysticks as being one 1 gamepad, P1 being left stick and P2 being right stick. I don't like this idea it seems like that's just asking for trouble with compatibility in certain games. Like some games may not want to let you setup P1 and P2 controls on the one gamepad. Also I'm thinking 4 single gamepad boards may be easier to troubleshoot if any buttons or anything stuff up seeing as P1,P2,P3,P4 are all isolated from each other.

The one player boards do 12 buttons and a joystick each. I'm gonna use 8 buttons each for P1 and P2 leaving 4 each free for insert coin/select and start buttons or whatever.
P3 and P4 will only be 4 buttons and 2 for coin/start leaving 6 buttons free on each if you wanna setup some dedicated frontend navigation buttons.

[yotsuya]

I  only use Ultimarc keyboard encoders or MinimusAVRs configured with KADE to be keyboard encoders. Most emulators and FEs were written with keyboards in mind, so why use anything different? I have never had an issue with ghosting.

Then again, I don't build 4 player cabs either.

[Titchgamer]

I  only use Ultimarc keyboard encoders or MinimusAVRs configured with KADE to be keyboard encoders. Most emulators and FEs were written with keyboards in mind, so why use anything different? I have never had an issue with ghosting.

Then again, I don't build 4 player cabs either.

Same, Only ever use MiniPAC's.

Though I do have a old IPAC and a Xin Mo knocking around here somewhere, Thinking I will try the Xin Mo on my new build as a experiement as I have never actually used one.

[yotsuya]

I've always wondered why people go the cheap route when it comes to the encoder. I get that people want to save money, but after the PC, your encoders probably the second most important component. Why wouldn't you want the best possible one?

[Titchgamer]

I've always wondered why people go the cheap route when it comes to the encoder. I get that people want to save money, but after the PC, your encoders probably the second most important component. Why wouldn't you want the best possible one?

Same mate.

Controls are the most important thing in a cab. Any sort of delay will kill the gameplay.

[Automark]

I used one of those cheap chino encoders once, and never again.
The connectors are crap, the cables are crap. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.

You just get what pay for.

[Frogger]

I see all those USB joystick encoders listed and hundreds having been sold & figured someone has to be using them. I'm not trying to go the cheapest route, but my needs are pretty basic. I just don't want to buy a $40 part if a $10 one will do the job.

[yotsuya]

I see all those USB joystick encoders listed and hundreds having been sold & figured someone has to be using them. I'm not trying to go the cheapest route, but my needs are pretty basic. I just don't want to buy a $40 part if a $10 one will do the job.

$5 says a majority of those purchases are by people building cabs for a "client"

[KLRinstinct]

 Been checking out the X-Arcade keyboard encoders they seem pretty good. Going by what they say anyway.

I'm still wondering if these will work with a 4 player cab though. Can you have 2 keyboards (encoders) registered on the pc and both usable?

[Titchgamer]

Been checking out the X-Arcade keyboard encoders they seem pretty good. Going by what they say anyway.

I'm still wondering if these will work with a 4 player cab though. Can you have 2 keyboards (encoders) registered on the pc and both usable?

Ive never used X arcade but I know lots of people tend to change out there parts as they tend to be low quality.
I assume the encoders are ok?

As for more than 2 encoders, Yes you should be able to as long as they are assigned different keys (obv).
But I would go for a Single Ipac4 in this case personally.

www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

[Automark]

What happened to KADE ?

This web page at www. kadevice .com has been reported as a deceptive site and has been blocked based on your security preferences.

[PL1]

What happened to KADE ?

This web page at www. kadevice .com has been reported as a deceptive site and has been blocked based on your security preferences.

I'm not getting any warnings like that.   

Their server host got hacked recently, but it should be fine now.

The KADE Forums are 100% back up and running.

I'm not sure about the North American KADE store -- several posters here mention problems trying to place an order.

For more details, ask Kevin.

BTW, if you're looking for Minimus AVRs to "roll your own", MaxRod has some for sale.


Scott