Wireless, battery powered control panel?

[Danny R]

I have a PC hooked to my home entertainment system.  Until now I've just used it to play MP3's and watch the occassional movie.

However sitting on my cushy couch with a control panel in my lap and playing my favorite arcade game would also be nice.  The problem is that my seat is about 15' away from the computer.  And if I wanted to play multiplayer games, it would be nice to have folks not all crowded on the same couch, which means separate remote control panels, all also pretty distant from the PC.

Thus I was wondering if there was a way to have a control panel run wirelessly?  I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to use batteries for the power for each station and even have it so I can plug it in an automatically recharge when not in use.   What I don't know how to do is getting the other signals broadcast over.  Thus I'm hoping for ideas.

The first idea that came to mind is to do the old keyboard/mouse hacks that were available before the i-pac... but use a wireless keyboard or mouse.  However I've yet to find a good one of these that operate reliably at 15 feet.

One possible solution is to have each remote control panel have its own i-pac, etc and this is all plugged into some sort of USB extender that runs wirelessly (if such even exists).  Thus the PC thinks I'm plugging in a standard USB device and no real configuration is needed.

Another solution is to have a single i-pac plugged into the PC, but the signals from all the remote switches are wirelessly broadcast to some sort of adaptor plugged into the i-pac itself.  Again I don't know if such exists of if its easy to implement.

Any other solutions come to mind?

[Goz]

You should be able to use a wireless bluetooth keyboard. They are good for about 30ft and do not require line of sight. It works through walls.. it should work fine.

Microsoft makes a decent one:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=013#


Hope this helps,

-Goz

[Tiger-Heli]

USB keyboard hacks will not work and are a bad idea, I've never heard of a wireless keyboard hack, but since it's newer technology than the USB keyboards, I am somewhat skeptical of the likelihood of success.

[Danny R]

USB keyboard hacks will not work and are a bad idea

I did a search for "USB keyboard hack" but didn't find anything about the problem of using such.  Can you elaborate on why it won't work?

[NoOne=NBA=]

Another option would be to just use a 25' USB cable, and strategically place a rug over it for the traffic area.
That's what I used to do when I'd play on my big screen.

[DrewKaree]

what about WiFi?  Some sort of network setup with each control panel set up as a client?  Mebbe someone else can tell you I'm TOTALLY WACKED, but I thought I'd throw it against the wall and see if it stuck.

Also, ANYTHING battery powered will require you to purchase rechargeables, otherwise you'll end up pissing so much money away on batteries you'll give up and never use them.  

[Tiger-Heli]

USB keyboard hacks will not work and are a bad idea

I did a search for "USB keyboard hack" but didn't find anything about the problem of using such.  Can you elaborate on why it won't work?

"However, do NOT buy a USB keyboard (and do not hook your PS/2 Keyboard up to the USB port) as the standard USB interface only supports six simultaneous keypresses (plus any modifier keys such as Alt, Ctrl, Caps Lock, or Shift).

[DrewKaree]

I know this belongs in the realm of "WTF were you thinking when you spent so much on an ARCADE setup?!" but how 'bout dis:

a CP set up like he wanted, basic laptop controls for couch gaming.  Inside, connect everything to an Ipac, which in turn would connect to an ITX board or even a standard mobo (they aren't THAT big, fer crissakes) and connect all THAT to a WiFi hub.  

Power will HAVE to come from a wall outlet, but cripes man, you wanna game on the couch.  Make the concession of wall power, and you could do it.  

Of course, this would be prohibitively expensive, MY wife would shoot me to get the insurance to recoup the gaming purchases layout, but if you don't have a wife or if she won't care, FIRE AWAY!  

Gotta go now, the voices in my head need me to do something for them..

[SkateDetroit]

Wireless USB Game Pad anyone? I'm using USB game pads hacked for my arcade controls and that is working great for me. Shouldn't it carry over to a wireless version?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051384321356&skuId=4304915&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01063

Highlights of this model are that it's

2.4 GHZ frequency

Up to 50 hours of battery life

Works up to 20 feet away

Logitech makes some pretty good stuff as far as controllers go. Check around and read some reviews on these. All good from what I've read.

           Hope this helps

[Danny R]

While I am really drawn to the idea of each control panel being its own computer with wifi card  ... NOT!!!, I do like this logitech wireless game controller idea.  

A search only brings up 3 hits on the site... none of which detail any hacking info.  

I've placed a bid on ebay for one to try out (username: drouk... please don't overbid me) and will see what I find out and post back here.

Tiger-Heli... do you know of any problems with hacking usb game controllers and keypress limits?

[GamingGreg]

I would second the idea of using a Wireless USB Game Pad.  You should have better success with this than with any keyboard hack, as the electronics and drivers are built for games.   Most likely the drivers will also support multiple pads, so you could build multiple wireless control panels.  As far as keypresses go, most likely you're not limited to six simulaneous keypresses (as it is a gamepad and not keyboard),  but this would be a function of the driver (and possible the electronics) which would be specific to that pad, so I can't definately say.

Don't know if anyone has tried this, but that's the route I'd go if you have to go wireless.  There are latency issues with anything wireless, so by it's nature it's going to be slower. But hopefully the engineers that built the pad, have made it fast and robust enough that that isn't much of a problem.

[cracksloth]

i use logitech's cordless wingmans for my mame setup and i have not experienced any latency issues -- in fact, every input device i have is wireless and i do not experience latency (so there is plenty of noise for it to contend with).

[cracksloth]

i had posted a new thread on this subject but it looks like people like this thread more    anyway, i have taken one of my wireless gamepads apart and it would be relatively easy (assuming good soldering skills) to hook up a four way stick and buttons.  however, i have no idea how to make use of the slider or analog sticks.  hopefully, someone with a better understanding of electronics can help in this area?

[DARRYLICSHON]

I use a sidewinder hack , and a 6 feet Joystick Extension Cable to my cpu and hook another control panel up to the other one thru the sidewinder , which gives room for the other player to sit a few feet away , and have two moniters so we both have our own , but i would love to see how we could go wiesless

[Nightmare03]

I know this belongs in the realm of "WTF were you thinking when you spent so much on an ARCADE setup?!" but how 'bout dis:

a CP set up like he wanted, basic laptop controls for couch gaming.  Inside, connect everything to an Ipac, which in turn would connect to an ITX board or even a standard mobo (they aren't THAT big, fer crissakes) and connect all THAT to a WiFi hub.  

Power will HAVE to come from a wall outlet, but cripes man, you wanna game on the couch.  Make the concession of wall power, and you could do it.  

Of course, this would be prohibitively expensive, MY wife would shoot me to get the insurance to recoup the gaming purchases layout, but if you don't have a wife or if she won't care, FIRE AWAY!  

Gotta go now, the voices in my head need me to do something for them..

Are you stoned?

[cracksloth]

any news?  is anyone still pursuing this?

[DrewKaree]

Are you stoned?

Waddaya talkin' about?!?  That doesn't sound like it KINDA might work?  Just throwin' crap at the wall, seeing what sticks!

I can get all kinds of networking stuff free, but wireless can be had cheap at computer shows around me if you know what you're looking at.....if you are doing a "couple players" setup, you'd really only need an 8-way and 3(?) buttons to play most games.....mebbe go to a micro atx board to save a bit of money....just throw a small 250 watt power suppy in there with a cord coming out the side, plug it in behind a couch....WHAT?

NOW you guys got me wanting to try it just to show you  I can do it   then I'd tell you I did it, post one pic (non-helpful, of course lol), and sell my creative content to the highest bidder (Bill Gates, are you listening? I hate you, but I'd take your money...'s only fair, after you took so much of mine!)

Stoned?  Nah, I was just thinking WAY WAY outside the box.  At least that's what the voices told me to tell you.  

Other than outrageous cost, is there a flaw in the idea I proffered?  If so, someone say what it is so it can be fine-tuned and perfected.

[cracksloth]

well, i meant, has anyone tried hooking up arcade controls to a wireless wingman gamepad...  any news on that front?

[Lilwolf]

Is the question how good will it be?  Or how hard it is to hack?

Buy one, and play with it before hacking... It will only be that good.  If you can feel any pause in motion, its not worth it.

But for hacking.  I don't know, but I would guess it wont be the easiest hack out there.  More electronics usually means smaller boards, and less terminals to access.

You can always go into a best buy with a small screwdriver... and wait for the sales guys to go into another area?

Also (real solution) Best Buy has a good return policy.  Buy one and see if its good enough for you.  Return it if not...Then CAREFULLY open it and check the insides.  If looks to hard to hack?  CAREFULLY reassemble it and return it... Hopefully you aren't breaking any warranties (cough)...

[cracksloth]

it is a good controller.  they are the primary controllers i use with mame (i have 2).  i have also opened one.  it will require fine soldering skills but not impossible.  would there be a way to make use of the analog sticks?  i have seen other analog controllers hacked to work with arcade joysticks.  would such a thing be possible here?  i do not have the electronics experience to do this myself.

[Lilwolf]

you might.  

Find the resistence between the center post of the pot and one of the other sides.  It will change by some range.  

If this is around 5k, your fine.  If its 100k, you might kinda get it to work.  Calibration then see how much detail you lost....  

[vputz]

I actually bought two Logitech Cordless Rumblepads explicitly for an arcade panel (right now my MAME box is on my TV, don't have a spare or the funds for a second monitor/TV).  Ran out of steam when my "dedicated arcade coffee table" idea died (real wood costs a bunch...), but I've restarted the "cheapo MDF control panel in/on a trunk" idea, so maybe I'll have news in a couple weeks or so.

-->VPutz

[cracksloth]

i am glad to see some activity on this...  *please* keep us posted.  i am very busy with wedding plans at the moment or i would try to contribute more.  for those interested, you can pick up these controllers very cheap on ebay.  also, does anyone know of a program which allows the user to define a specified controller button as a shift key.  i actually think the original wingman software that came with the controller allows this but i have never used it.  also, i am sure it would only work with logitech controllers and i am looking for something a little more universal.  are there any performance impact for these software solutions?