MY KEYWIZ ISN'T working...HEEEELP

[GroovyTuesdaY]

I've already sent an email to randy, but since its late, i thought i would pop the question here too.

I have gotten my panel all wired up and was hooking it up to my pc and when i started the KEYWIZ software, it keeps failing saying it cant find the keywiz.    I have tried every possible connection and variation that i can think of and it still continues to not find the keywiz hardware.  My question is, is there something i might have missed???  From what i gather its pretty straight forward.  Even if my wiring is goofy, shouldn't the keywiz hardware still be able to be recongised?   If anyone who owns one of these keywix encoders has any ideas, i would love to hear them, because im getting p.o.'ed here. GRRRRRRRR   lol

Thanks,
groovY~

[paigeoliver]

Um, this might be a silly question/comment.

But you do realize that

#1. the keywhiz software is not required (I tossed my disk in the trash).

#2. Have you actually tested the controls you wired to see if THEY work?

#3. Seems like there has always beem problems with encoder software. Too many different motherboards, windows versions, and such. My I-Pac has never successfully programmed.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

yea, i tried using notepad.  Nothing.      I  wasn't sure what to do, since the software didn't recognise the keywiz, so i tried using notepad to see if it would even recognise any button pushes, but it didn't.   Yea, i knew i didn't "need" it, but the software should work. As if it didn't i would want my money back, because it would be useless to me otherwise.           The keywiz seems solid enough in theory, but in my oppinion, there should be at the very least some better instructions and descriptions available online for viewing or downloading. And some  trouble shooting tips would be nice.
I'm hoping that maybe people in the future will be able to benefit from this thread when they get stuck.   My experience thus far hasn't shown this to be a hassle free experience.  I'm not a total noob,as i have worked with several i-pacs and they seem like they were easier to work with for some reason. Its probably just me.  I think if the documentation would be addressed a little better, it might have not left feeling like i was confused.  

thanks for checking though paigeoliver, sometimes the easiest and most obvious stuff is the ones you over look.  

groovY~

[paigeoliver]

Ok, then my FIRST plan of action (assuming you DON'T have the soldering type of keywhiz), would be to do this.

Unhook all the wires from it.

Hook up ONE wire to the ground.

Start up the comp.

Start up notepad.

Touch this wire to each position in turn (except of course the +5 V) to verify that your keywhiz does indeed function.

If it works that way, then go ahead and try the software for it.

I suggest this because you may have a short in your wiring resulting in a stuck key (or 10) that is making your computer not even recognize the fact that you have a "keyboard" hooked up.

[Tiger-Heli]

Dumb Question #1 - What position is the Keyboard pass-thru switch in?  Are you using a USB keyboard?  Reason I ask is many times if enough inputs are stuck that the PC won't recognize it as a keyboard, then it won't boot either.

DumbQuestion #2 - Is the KeyWiz cable plugged into the KeyWiz PC and not the Pass-thru port?  Is the other end plugged into the PC keyboard and not the mouse PS/2 port?

I know this is basic, but ya gotta cover everything.

I'm not a total noob,as i have worked with several i-pacs and they seem like they were easier to work with for some reason.

Well, since I haven't used either of them first hand, I can't comment, but this post puzzles me a little bit.

You run Wire 1 from I-PAC terminal 1SW1 to the NO contact of P1B1 and Wire 2 from the COMMON terminal of P1B1 back to the I-PAC GND terminal.  You connect the PC cable to the PS/2 (keyboard) port.

or,

You run Wire 1 from KeyWiz terminal A to the NO contact of P1B1 and Wire 2 from the COMMON terminal of P1B1 back to the KeyWiz GND terminal.  You connect the PC cable to the PS/2 (keyboard) port.

They're pretty similar . . .  Apart from this, the KeyWiz has that switch to enable the pass-thru keyboard port, and the I-PAC has a jumper to enable programming, and (I think) a jumper to enable USB.

I can't see how either one is easier than the other.

[RandyT]

I've already sent an email to randy, but since its late, i thought i would pop the question here too.

I haven't seen 5am since military service  

I sent you an email with a list of things to do, and the guys here are giving you some good advice (except for tossing my software in the trash! Heheh )

If it turns out that there is some oddball hardware or software thing with your system that keeps you from having success, a return is no problem.  But I'd like to try to get you up and running before it comes to that.  An incompatibility issue is always a possibility in the PC world, having even seen keyboards that wouldn't work with some motherboards.  

Fortunately, the KeyWiz has shown a 99%+ compatibility so unless you are in that <1% we should be able to figure this one out (as long as you answer my e-mails and follow the instructions in them ).

As I wrote in my e-mail, each KeyWiz is personally tested by me before being shipped.  So barring unfortunate shipping incidents (pretty unlikely) you should be able to assume that the hardware is in good working order.  Now it's just a matter of "going through the paces".

RandyT

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Here is the email RANDYT sent to help me remedy the problem. Hopefully someone else can use this in the future to get them out of a jam quickly.   Ended up i believe my problem was my logitech WIRELESS MX DUO software. Soon as i uninstalled it, it the encoder was recognized and works fine now.  So, your millage may vary here. lol.
At anyrate, here are the tips randy gave me enjoy :

groovy~

 
The first thing you need to do is disconnect all the wires from the board, except for a single 6inch wire from one of the ground connections.  Make sure the other end is stripped about 1/16th inch and that it isn't near the board.
 
If the board is mounted, un-mount it and lay it on piece of white paper.
 
If there are ANY weird keyboard drivers, I.e. multimedia button oddities or the like, un-install them.  If you have a USB Keyboard attached, pull that too for the time being.  These might not be a problem, but at this stage it's the only way to be sure.
 
Turn off the computer, plug the cable into the purple socket and a PS/2 Keyboard into the green one.  Make sure the switch is to the right when looking down on the KeyWiz (in the KW position).  Do not use any types of splitters or extension cables.
 
Turn the computer on.  Does it complain about no keyboard being attached when booting?
 
When the system boots, install Ghostkey and run it (attached)
 
Take the loose end of the wire and touch it to the screws on any of the inputs (watch out for the +5! )  Does anything happen on the screen?
 

[paigeoliver]

I sent you an email with a list of things to do, and the guys here are giving you some good advice (except for tossing my software in the trash! Heheh )

I did that because I was building a simple "closed box" style cabinet for someone. I chose your encoder but did not need the software, and didn't want to give the disk to the guy for fear he might try to somehow use it and hork over a perfectly good configuration that didn't need it.

[RandyT]

I feel the need to make a statement at the end of this one.

It's important to note here that not all problems one could encounter will have the same solutions.  In fact, of the few cases actually requiring support, most are simple user error.  It's also important to note that very few have any problems whatsoever, let alone problems that require measures this extreme to solve.  

While posting this info might seem like a useful resource, I shudder at the thought of someone un-wiring their entire control panel and un-installing their software, when all they really needed to do was change one wire around. Of course, they probably wouldn't realize that unless they contacted me first.

Random tips are not my idea of quality technical support, and I'm sure you have all been subjected to the "less skilled" on the other end of the line making you go through useless steps that have nothing to do with your problem.  Posting long lists of "things to try" can, in my opinion, be more detrimental to the customer's situation both in time and frustration.

I think the "one-on-one" approach to problem solving is the best possible method and I do everything I can to accomplish this in a timely manner.  The support is part of the product, so I encourage those requiring it to contact me.  

RandyT

BTW -  Paige, I was just having a little fun  Lots of people never find the need to use the software.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

True , so true about the one on one tech help!  Randy was speedy to reply and was awesome in his support for his product!  Wish all tech support were this easy to get ahold of lol.

Thanks again randy for your help!  The keywiz is a great product and i wouldn't hesistate to buy another one!  

groovY~

[Gamecab]

I really like the KeyWiz myself.  It was the first encoder I ever purchased and I installed it in the very first GameCab Mini that I ever shipped (about a year ago).  UPS then decided that an 85 LB box was just too much to haul around so they dropped it about 5 or six fime (Everything was smashed and splintered and wires were all over the place).  Long story short - When I got the remains of the cabinet back the Key Wiz still worked!!!  How is that for a product!!.  I still have the KeyWiz and it's installed in a Mini in my basement (STILL WORKS JUST AS GREAT AS IT DID ON DAY ONE!!).

Just figured I should mention that.  

Charlie