Double up IPAC encoders?

[daveg2000]

Im planning a panel that will need about 52 buttons on it.

I have a older 28-input IPac already in a different machine.

Do I have to go out and by a IPac4? (w/56 inputs)

Or can I get away with buying another IPac2 or a KeyWiz
and use them together in the new control panel?

[Silver]

Hmmm not sure - if you have a PS2 ipac I'm sure you could add an extra USB ipac/keywiz - although you would have to reprogram all the inputs on the second one so they don't clash with the first.

You can't have 2 ps/2 ones that I am aware of. I would guess 2xusb ipacs would work but I would email Andy at Ultimarc to check.

[cholin]

Best thing to do with any Ultimarc product is to simply email Andy.  He will most likely answer your question before the lot of us here go try it.

[Grasshopper]

You can definitely daisy-chain two (and perhaps more) Ipacs together in ps/2 mode. However, I'm not sure whether you would pay a price for this arrangement in terms of performance. I think it's unlikely but it might be worth checking with Ultimarc first.

[cholin]

It seems logical because you need to think of how the input works.  When you connect a keyboard, it does not pass through the encoder at all, so its just a direct connection to the PC because the keyboard is already encoded.  Therefore, if you connect another iPac through the KBD port, it wont be double encoded, which is good   Seems logical that you can.

[_Iz-]

You can daisy chain 2 ps/2 i-pacs. You could also use one if the i-pacs in USB mode or get one randy's new USB encoders. If it were me, I think I'd get the usb encoder from randy to use with the existing i-pac.

[JODY]

You may run one IPAC on the keyboard interface and one via USB leaving no doubt there would not be a performance penalty.

Note, I asked Andy about a year ago if I could run 2 IPACs and he said yes.

[daveg2000]

what do you think about a keywiz?

If I can save money, why not....?

My original Ipac2 is a USB input...

[JODY]

My Keywiz has worked fine.  Using it in a prototype control panel right now.

My kids have pressed the button that allows the joystick to be moved to change the key mappings at times by mistakes.  Mainly my 2 year olds.  In a cab I'd put this button in a place to make it harder to get at.

No support for lighted buttons like some of the IPAC units.  Depends on if you need it...

Would prefer no keyboard switch to toggle between keyboard and Keywiz.  Setup in a cab properly so keyboard isn't needed and it won't be an issue very often.

Other threads on here have noted that keyboard units are less likely to miss button presses than USB units.

[Hoagie_one]

I have a 60 input LPT switch I'll sell you if your interested.

See this thread

[Goz]

52 Buttons? You have to post pics of this when you are done

                     

-Goz

[JODY]

52 buttons...

6 player?
8 buttons each for the 1st 4 players?
49-way controllers mapped to buttons for raw input (only uses 8 buttons per stick)?
rotary sticks (2 buttons per stick)
all control options supported? e.g. pause, setup

all of the above?

[daveg2000]

4 players (joysticks) = 16
2 extra joys for P1 P2 (Dual Stick games) = 8
6 buttons for P1 P2 = 12
4 buttons for P3 P4 = 8
Coin & Start for P1 P2 P3 P4 = 8
=52 so far....

[JODY]

4 players (joysticks) = 16
2 extra joys for P1 P2 (Dual Stick games) = 8

You may wire the 2nd joysticks for players 1 and 2 to the same inputs as joysticks 3 and 4.

[daveg2000]

Good idea JODY.  That makes sense.
I'll still have to get a larger encoder it looks like...
(might as well have lots of extra inputs available if needed)


My wife gave me the thumbs up to keep the old arcade
machine along with the new... so I wont be pulling my
old IPac out to re-use...

I'll just have to get a new one anyway.
(or keywiz encoder)....

[Lilwolf]

You CAN daisy chain them

But I don't believe you can configure the one farthest away from the keyboard.

This isn't a big deal unless your going hotswappable or something similar. 

Also.  Consider selling the IPac2.  You might be able to get 1/2 of the price of a ipac4 (haven't looked at prices recently).  The resale value of them are usually VERY good.  5-10 bucks cheaper then new + shipping costs and it will probably go in a day on the buyselltrade board.

[cholin]

Hes keeping the iPac2 because hes keeping his old arcade machine too.  I dont know if its possible to program the second one, that brings up a good point.  Doesnt seem like you would.

[microwrx]

You can program as many as you like and probably connect several (ie. more than 1) as well.  As long as you only have the one your programming plugged in at the time so it's the only one that get's uploaded to.  I have a J-PAC set to MAME defaults and a Mini-PAC daisy chained to it set to ALT and programmed (with a keyboard hanging off the Mini-PAC) and this works fine.  I therefore suspect it would work just as well with 2 I-PACs.

[daveg2000]

I'm about 90% sure that I'll just get an IPac4.
Since I'm going to be keeping my original machine.

I dont like to gamble on hearing words like 'probably' or 'should'....
It just makes me uncomfortable... haha

anyhoo....

Im kind of steering away from the keywiz because of it showing
up as a joystick & not keyboard keys.

I'm sure it works fine in mame, but am concerned with
other emulators, and I NEED to make sure that the encoder
works with everything I'm planning on using....

like I said before.. I dont feel like taking any chances and
being out a hand full of cash.

[GGKoul]

52 Buttons? You have to post pics of this when you are done

Here you go...

[unclet]

Ok .... I actually laughed out loud seeing that photo ......

[daveg2000]

I almost popped a nut!!  ROFL

 

[RandyT]

Im kind of steering away from the keywiz because of it showing
up as a joystick & not keyboard keys.

Just a quick correction so that others don't get confused:

KeyWiz = Keyboard encoder line - Shows up as keyboard

GP-Wiz = Gamepad/Joystick encoder line. - Shows up as Gamepad/Joystick


Thanks,
RandyT

[daveg2000]

Sorry Randy.

My mis-understanding...