Main > Main Forum

Cheap encoder for only 8 inputs?

Pages: << < (2/8) > >>

Hiub:

A keyboard hack is much more of a headache than you should go through for 8 inputs. Get a sidewinder, and you will not go wrong. There are points in the pcb ready to solder to and they are even labeled!! Can't get much easier than that! Search around, there are many tutorials on how to do so as well.

Enjoy, Fred.

SirPeale:

He'll need to dig up game port drivers if he doesn't have them already; the keyboard hack doesn't need them.

Keyboard hack, esp for eight inputs, wouldn't be hard at all.  A lot of people  map the entire keyboard, and that's not necessary.

I take the mylar piece and seperate them.  Then take a multimeter (one with continuity testing is  best) and place the lead on which key I want to use.  Then the other lead on the "finger" that connects to the PCB.  In this way I can  map out very quickly just those keys I want to use.  

On my last one it was very easy, since it was all based on a matrix.  I chose one "finger" to use as a "ground" and selected the other inputs based on what worked with that input.  Since my keyboard matrix was based on a 7x16 I based it on the keyboard arrows + a few for buttons, and then another "ground" finger for the coin inputs (since 5 & 6 shared that finger).

I'm making it sound kind of complicated, but it's really easy.

whammoed:

I have a keyboard hack i never used for sale on ebay.  Don't expect it to go for much so it could save you some time:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6126757950&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
Or if you decide to hack your own, let me know.  I have the maps for 9 different keyboards...I may have the one you will be doing.

MonitorGuru:

The problem with hacking a keyboard like Peale describes it is that you are using non standard keys and must therefore remap everything in Mame.  Also, you no longer have stanard mappings for menu programs, e.g. a menu program such as ArcadeOS that assumes cursor key movements for the joystick and p1/p2 start buttons on #1 and #2.

Yes, Peale's method IS the easiest keyboard hack, but be aware of the mapping changes.


For only 8 inputs, I too would go with keyboard hack, or if using windows, I'd hack a Gravis USB gamepad (10 inputs)  But be aware you will need another method of selecting games if your front end doesnt allow you to remap keys to do different functions.

SirPeale:

Well, you can just use the Mame defaults, but you'll have to map more keys.

Pages: << < (2/8) > >>

Go to full version