keyboard encoder

[matticus66]

i was wondering if anyone has used one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6178640099&rd=1


it seems like they are going for cheap so i wasnt sure if they are
crappy or what. And where would i go about getting the wiring for this?
would i have to find an old floppy drive cable and strip the ends or what?

[AlanS17]

I think they're cheap because they're relatively unknown, unproven, and nobody knows what to do with those pins. A drive cable ought to work fine, though.

I can't speak for its quality because I've never used one or talked with someone that has. That doesn't make it bad, though.

[Tiger-Heli]

I'd save your money.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,34505.0.html

Product page is http://www.tokn.net/

They have a 32-input version on E-bay as well.

Here's a preview from my encoder comparison page:

(12.11)  The TOKN KB16 Encoder is difficult to recommend.  At it's full retail price, it is more expensive than the solderless version of the KeyWiz Eco2, offers half the number of standard inputs, no shifted inputs, the same IDE header connection method, but requires twice as many wires per switch due to the lack of a common ground connection, and cannot load a saved config file nor be programmed interactively without an attached keyboard.  The "advantages" of the device are the use of EEPROM to allow memory retention of an alternate saved codeset and an active keyboard pass-thru which allows daisy-chaining of multiple encoders.  YOU do the math!  Even at the introductory price ($10.50), the device barely fares better (arguably) than a standard keyboard hack.  The introductory price is higher than the cost of a keyboard hack, and the encoder has 16 total inputs, compared to an "effective" 20 active inputs (for a two-joystick panel) and an unlimited (104, 107) number of total inputs which could be used for admin functions for the keyboard hack.  The advantages over a keyboard hack are the lack of soldering, the ablity to program any keystroke to each input, and the presence of the active pass-thru.  Basically the functionality of the device is limited to a small controller for a classics-only cab or CP.  Documentation of the device is mirrored here, here, and here.
(12.12)  The TOKN KB16 is currently (26Apr05) readily available on E-bay for around $10.50, but I am not sure how long this price will be available.
(12.13)  The TOKN KB16 and TOKN KB32 are programmable through an attached keyboard.  No software is required and alternate codesets are retained in memory; however, there is also no way to save multiple codesets or load a different pre-configured codeset.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Get the KeyWiz Eco.
You'll be alot happier in the long run.

[Kremmit]

Better yet, get the KeyWiz Max.  Screw terminals are really nice, especially if you're new at this.  With screw terminals, it's easy to move a wire if you hook something up wrong. 

[Kev-in DFW]

I just ordered the Key Wiz Max Wednesday for the same reasons Kremmit layed out.  I actually acquired a J-PAC with a recent cab acquisition, but the previous owner had completely cleaned everything out of it.  I'll save it for a more intact Jamma cab later that I may want to switch back to original at some time.

The new KeyWiz Max looks like it has it all with the switchable and passthru keyboard inputs.

Good Luck!

Kev~

[Tiger-Heli]

The new KeyWiz Max looks like it has it all with the switchable and passthru keyboard inputs.
Kev~

Ermmm, switchable pass-thru keyboard inputs, and this is a highly over-rated feature, IMHO.  The encoder is great overall, though.

[mattp]

Matticus,
The eBay offering is a marketing promotion, hence the low price.
The TOKNs offer a money back guarantee, even the shipping.
It hasn't happened yet, but if it helps you sleep at night, its guaranteed.
I can assure you that this little encoder kicks some major butt.
That's also why you see a certain competitor slamming it.
Read some of the eBay feedback. TOKN is quickly gaining acceptance
in the MAME community.
Cheers,
Matt

[CheffoJeffo]

mattp -- I have found it very puzzling that you never seem to come out and more directly state your affiliation to the product (a lot of the questions that you are responding to are posted by newbies who might not pick up on the fact that you are the vendor as opposed to an independant evaluator).

That would go a long way towards establishing some sort of credibility, which you honestly lack given the smack you talk about people who don't give your product glowing reviews.

It is always pretty clear whenever other vendors talk about their products ... I would think that you would WANT to be clearer about a product that you're obviously proud of.

Cheers.

[NoOne=NBA=]

That's also why you see a certain competitor slamming it.

I've never seen any of the "competitors" to this product make a single comment about it.

[Tiger-Heli]

That's also why you see a certain competitor slamming it.

I've never seen any of the "competitors" to this product make a single comment about it.

RandyT made some comments in this thread in response to misleading comments by Mattp about the KeyWiz (programmability on the fly is a cover-up for the use of SDRAM, specifically):

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,34505.0.html

[mattp]

That's also why you see a certain competitor slamming it.

I've never seen any of the "competitors" to this product make a single comment about it.

RandyT made some comments in this thread in response to misleading comments by Mattp about the KeyWiz (programmability on the fly is a cover-up for the use of SDRAM, specifically):

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,34505.0.html

Saint,
This group of threads was launched by a registered user of
your forum with the primary intent of denigrating a competitor's
product. This type of sleaze marketing is common and unfortunately
a gross misuse of public domain.

See this link to an internet marketing newletter that summarizes these
practices. http://www.apexpacific.com/newsletters/nl2004apr.html

I'll close by stating that I'm leaving
it up to the mediator of this forum and those involved
to examine the user profile registation dates and thread contents
for signs of this type of abuse.

Thank you and best regards,
Mattp
Tokn Media

[Tiger-Heli]

That's also why you see a certain competitor slamming it.

I've never seen any of the "competitors" to this product make a single comment about it.

RandyT made some comments in this thread in response to misleading comments by Mattp about the KeyWiz (programmability on the fly is a cover-up for the use of SDRAM, specifically):

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,34505.0.html

Saint,
This group of threads was launched by a registered user of
your forum with the primary intent of denigrating a competitor's
product. This type of sleaze marketing is common and unfortunately
a gross misuse of public domain.

See this link to an internet marketing newletter that summarizes these
practices. http://www.apexpacific.com/newsletters/nl2004apr.html

I'll close by stating that I'm leaving
it up to the mediator of this forum and those involved
to examine the user profile registation dates and thread contents
for signs of this type of abuse.

Thank you and best regards,
Mattp
Tokn Media

I responded to this in the other two threads -

Exactly who are you accusing?  I would assume it would either be RandyT or me.

RandyT has a pretty loyal following with the KeyWiz.  It seems unlikely that he would want to post as an anonymous user to draw attention to a competing product, just to point out it's shortcomings.  Most of the regulars on this board can (and have) evaluated it for themselves and made their own conclusions.

More likely that he would prefer to have very little known of the TOKN KB16 than that he would try to generate interest in it.

If you are referring to me, I have an entire webpage at http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm which you are aware of from your E-mail to me dated "30Nov04" stating "Quite the extensive article. Impressive." and your offer of a free KB16 on 1Dec04.  At the time, I replied that I didn't think the unit was cost-competive unless you got lucky on the E-bay auctions.  I agreed to include the encoder on my page once it had either a dedicated following on E-bay or a dedicated web page, and will still do so.

It would be much easier to simply post my updated comparison page and then announce that here, than to "pretend" to ask for infomation about the TOKN16 and then denigrate it, and what would be my benefit? 

[NoOne=NBA=]

Saint,

RandyT didn't make ANY comments in this thread, AT ALL.

Mattp is cross-posting in an attempt to get all the threads with negative information about his product removed.

[saint]

This thread has been locked for posterity. Please feel free to continue this discussion as necessary in a new thread.

--- saint