Anyone ever put a phone keypad on their MAME cabinet like Raw Thrills games?

[marioxb]

If so, how did you do it, and what did you use? A real phone booth keypad?

[PL1]

If so, how did you do it, and what did you use? A real phone booth keypad?

Tony.silveira did.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,121193.0.html

The easiest way is to use a USB number pad.
- For some games, you may need to use AHK as suggested in this thread.

If you want something closer to a phone, there are a wide variety of keypad styles, usually in a 3x4 or 4x4 layout.
   


Keypads usually use a row/column matrix setup so you'll need a matrix encoder.
Arduino is your friend -- lots of tutorials like this one to choose from.
https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-keypad


If you don't want to use a matrix encoder, you can make a keypad using mechanical keyboard switches and keycaps with a 3d printed housing.  You can use a wire wrap tool and 30 AWG wire on the switch leads then add a touch of solder to keep it secure.   


Scott

[marioxb]

That's awesome. Thanks!

[PL1]

Glad to assist.   

LMK if you want to go the 3d printed + mechanical keyboard switch/keycap route.

I've been working on a parametric model for that type of setup -- would be easy to custom remix it for you.


Scott

[Fursphere]

I wonder if it would make more sense to use an Elgato Stream Deck for this.

[PL1]

I wonder if it would make more sense to use an Elgato Stream Deck for this.

How did that work on your Twin Cabinet Build?

Looks like Tony tried one too.  No idea how well it worked for him -- only found one post where he mentioned it.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,165098.0.html

TapeWormInYourGut ran into problems with using his in many emulators.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,168180.msg1772075.html#msg1772075

Howard mentioned a potential problem using it with MAME and nexusmtz provided a possible workaround.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,160059.msg1684108.html#msg1684108

Looks like a Stream Deck could be a viable option if your system, desired use case, emulator program(s), and wallet can support it.   


Scott

[Fursphere]

Honestly, I have never used the keypad functions of the raw thrills games.   Never really crossed my mind. 

I have the 6-button Stream Decks on my Twin, and they work good enough for the original intent.  They're currently used for front end navigation / cabinet controls. 

[PL1]

I have the 6-button Stream Decks on my Twin, and they work good enough for the original intent.  They're currently used for front end navigation / cabinet controls.

If that's what you're using it for, it can be great like gildahl's arcadeEIP.




Scott

[m64mrk]

I had to hunt around a little bit. I wanted something that was more commercial grade like an arcade part. I was able to find this one (got the one with USB and LED backlight) last year before the prices went up on AliExpress - you can find it on ebay but it's $20 more and probably from the same seller.

[buttersoft]

I don't hate that. It looks solid, and not like you've gored the cab to shoehorn in extra controls. More like it was meant to be there. Somehow not looking like any arcade controls makes it look more authentic, here

[connormmii]

I had to hunt around a little bit. I wanted something that was more commercial grade like an arcade part. I was able to find this one (got the one with USB and LED backlight) last year before the prices went up on AliExpress - you can find it on ebay but it's $20 more and probably from the same seller.

Do you have a link for the keypad it looks great?

[m64mrk]

AliExpress:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPAl21R
Have to select your options. I got Star & Hash, led backlit, usb connection.

eBay: (probably same seller from CN but more expensive):
https://ebay.us/m/ZUs1gw

[marioxb]

I had to hunt around a little bit. I wanted something that was more commercial grade like an arcade part. I was able to find this one (got the one with USB and LED backlight) last year before the prices went up on AliExpress - you can find it on ebay but it's $20 more and probably from the same seller.

Yes that's awesome. That's exactly what I was looking for!

[purbeast]

I am working on converting my Rush 2049 cabinets into emulation cabinets with a PC in them and I just got the keypad working.  It shows up as 12 raw inputs, raw 17 - raw 28. 

For each game I want to use it in I'll have to map it to specific buttons/keys for that game.

In this video below I am running Project R and have mapped the buttons to the numbers, numpad multiply for the *, and Enter for the # key.