Encoder Comparison Pages Back Online

[shadowdrak]

I am not saying that USB is not an essential development for the future; I am saying that USB is given far too much credit where none is due.  And if this is off topic, it is because you drove it off topic earlier by arguing that USB is superior to a PS/2 style keyboard port.  That is -- to use a cliche -- like comparing apples to oranges.  The pc keyboard port was designed to accomplish one thing, accept input from keyboards.  It does it's job quite sufficiently.  Why use anything but a "keyboard" port for connecting keyboard like devices if that is all that is needed (the logic is definitely simpler).

USB on the otherhand was designed to accept basically any device that can speak its protocol.  It also does its job pretty well(i.e. connecting misc. devices), but using USB to interface devices which can be faithfully executed by classic data ports is like shooting a mosquito with a cannonball (more complexity invariably means more bugs to deal with).

I can say I resent the comment about devices obtained in a cereal box because all of my experiences relate to well respected, well known brands: HP, canon, sony, logitech, microsoft(oops   bad example).  I can say truthfully that i never had problems with mice or keyboards besides stuck keys or over-use before USB,  and any problems with a new interface casts a doubt over that new interface.

I know there are hobby kits availabe for USB, but they cost extra money.  If a hobbiest wants to make a USB device they not only have to have all the components of a serial or ps/2 devices, but now you have to add in a usb controller at extra cost to you.  It is true that a proper hobbiest likes a challenge, but I would also argue that a smart hobbiest doesn't put up unecessary barriers to the completion of a project.

The point I was making in my original post, which you obviously failed to notice, was that we should make full use of what is available and not arbitrarily chose a protocol because it is the most popular.  Different things are better for different things.  If you don't believe me, then why do engineers make DSPs for specific task?  Or why isn't all internet traffic done over FTP?  A lot of things can technically accomplish the same goals, but which is better?  The one that is optimized for that purpose.

[patrickl]

This discussion was (sort of) held before. I see your point, but I don't see why it should be a point. It's just like saying we should hace sticked with ISA for expansion boards that can do fine with ISA. Cost is just a matter of scale and new standards need to replace the older standards (over time) or we end up with having a mess.

You don't buy extra kit for USB. You buy different kit. You can buy a microcontroller with USB built in or instead of a serial transceiver you buy a USB chipset. These sets might still more expensive yes, but that will change if their use gets more common.

Basically I don't see why supporting 3 serial protocols on one computer is better than just having one.

[Tiger-Heli]

Could someone test the following:

Start Tiger-Heli in MAME using a standard keyboard and hold down the fire key.  The heli should fire 1-2 shots per second at a constant rate.

Now try it with the two-bit encoder.  Does the heli behave the same way, or does it only fire one shot and no additional ones.

Thanks for helping out.

ok, i did the following test on my win98se pII laptop.  i believe i was running an older version of mame (v0.66 dos pentium optimized i think).  ran tigerhb1.
started the game using my usb keyboard.  held down L Ctrl for a few seconds and proceded to blow up some stuff.  Then I pressed P to pause, while holding L Ctrl.  i released the fire key when the game paused.
i wired CNx7-5 on the Two Bit encoder to ground.  this input corresponds to L Ctrl.  i dont have buttons yet so i just jumpered it to ground using my screw terminals.  Pressed P on my usb keybaord to unpause the game.  the heli kept shooting at the same rate.  i paused again and unhooked the wire.  it stopped shooting.  i held L Ctrl on my usb keyboard one more time to double check and proceded to fire at the same rate again.

bottom line:  works as normal so far..

Exactly the data I was looking for.  Thanks for testing!

[DarkKobold]

  Normal keys on a keyboard generate 3 bytes of data, 1 at depress and 2 at release.  So even if it were possible to press and release 454 buttons within the time frame of 1 second, the PS/2 bus should still be able to handle the traffic.

Until now!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA