KeyBoard Encoders

[ted9999]

HI I am planning on starting a mame cabinet and i am having trouble picking a encoder. I have been looking a keywiz 1.5 or an i-pac but I just want to get some opinions on this subject. I want to have two joysticks and 18 buttons, the trackball will be usb and if i have room left on the encoder a spinner.

[Thenasty]

trackball and spinner don't use Keyboard Encoders.

Each Joystick uses 4 inputs.
decide how many buttons you want and count them, then decide which one of the encoder supports tehe total inputs you need. Don't forget to count the Start buttons and Coin Inputs.

[Oddfeld]

If you're looking to support a trackball/spinner in additional to digital controls like joysticks and buttons, you'll need some optical interface that looks to the PC like a mouse (in the same sense that an IPAC or Keywiz is pretending to be a keyboard). So in addition to an IPAC, say, you'd need an OptiPAC to plug the trackball and spinner into.

You may save a bit of money by getting an integrated keyboard encoder/optical interface such as the Ultimarc MiniPAC:

http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html

[Will]

one other option for the spinner and trackball interface is to go the route I did buy the happ usb spinner and pair it with a usb spinner of your choice,no interfacing needed.Regarding the encoder thats kinda personal preference but I really like my I-pac 4 and its ease of use and software for programming made it an easy choice for me.

[missioncontrol]

well after a very unsuccessfull keyboard hack (I know I should've listened to everybody else about hacking a keyboard vs. getting an encoder) I'm also in the market for a keyboard encoder can someone who's used both the keywiz and ipac list some pro's and con's of both.......

thanks.....

[GGKoul]

I would suggest a IPAC/ Ultimarc product because of the ease of use and great support from Andy. 

Trackball, for ease of use, I would get a Happ USB Trackball.  Very easy to hook up and doesn't require an encoder.