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TOKN KB16 ENCODERS

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KevSteele:


--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on June 01, 2005, 07:40:01 am ---
--- Quote from: KevSteele on May 31, 2005, 07:59:40 pm ---Is there a major "con" that I'm overlooking?
Kevin

--- End quote ---
Theoretically, there should be a performance hit b/c the microcontroller has to search the matrix rather than having a dedicated input to each switch.
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Tiger-Heli:


--- Quote from: KevSteele on June 01, 2005, 09:22:05 am ---The IPAC VE is included because it's Ultimarc's "economy" keyboard encoder - I was trying to compare apples to apples, i.e. each company's "Economy Encoder". I tend to agree with Randy that the comparison chart should be just keyboard encoders, not a mix of gamepad and keyboard encoders.
Kevin

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Actually (stepping on ice here so I don't touch off a flame war - with anyone).  I think Ultimarc's "economy" keyboard encoder would be the mini-pac at $29 vs. $34 for the VE.  Also a better comparison choice b/c of the IDE header as opposed to screw terminals, but you need to also point out the addition of a trackball and spinner interface for only $5 more than the TOKN KB16.

I think the VE was introduced as a direct response and competitor to the KeyWiz MAX.

BTW, half the time I forget about the mini-pac since it never used to be linked from Ultimarc's home page, but anyway . . .

I still think the GP-Wiz is competitive in this field, but if you and RandyT both disagree, I guess I'm outvoted (not that I could directly change the page anyway).

KevSteele:

Well, considering the MiniPAC is next on my review list, I guess I should have considered it (I'm still not used to it being "officially" available from the main page, either!)

I just consider it a different sort of beast for some reason due to the integrated optical encoders. It's still a keyboard encoder at heart, though. ;)

Kevin

mattp:


--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on June 01, 2005, 07:40:01 am ---
--- Quote from: KevSteele on May 31, 2005, 07:59:40 pm ---Is there a major "con" that I'm overlooking?
Kevin

--- End quote ---
Theoretically, there should be a performance hit b/c the microcontroller has to search the matrix rather than having a dedicated input to each switch.  (But that's in theory, virtually every keyboard uses a matrix based encoder and they've been sucessfully hacked to arcade controls).

Keyboard hacks will have ghosting and blocking issues, but a dedicated encoder can avoid this through diodes.  (I am NOT implying this is a problem with the KB16).

Practically, there is a drawback in that you typically cannot use Perfect 360 joysticks or Druin's rotary interface with non-common ground encoders, but since the KB16 basically uses two grounds, this is probably possible, although you would have to choose which inputs you wired to carefully.

Hope this helps.

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All,
The TOKN KB16 is not implemented in what would be called a traditional keyboard matrix.
There is no row and column scan or search and there are also no ghosting issues. No diodes are needed nor used.
Rather it is a two ground multiplex with high speed interleaved byte latching on a single microcontroller port.
Very effective and very fast for getting port status to the microcontroller and keycodes to your game session.
These are details that the user need not worry about. Its just an implementation detail that is unique to
the TOKN KB16 encoder. Hopefully someone will do some benchmark tests in the near future. Now that would
be interesting. Hey Mr. Kevin Steele, do you own a square wave generator that can simulate some high speed
button mashing?
Cheers,
Matt



mattp:


--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on May 31, 2005, 06:53:10 am ---Thanks all for the vote of confidence!!!

--- Quote from: mattp on May 30, 2005, 09:24:23 pm ---Be aware of slanted emails and postings from competitors, especially ones that contain Tiger in their name.

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MattP is no doubt referrring to my comments in this thread, which he doesn't want you to read: 
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,37064.0.html

I just want to point out that I am not a competitor.  I wrote a web page reviewing different encoder options, was sent the info on the Tokn16 to include (and am in the process of doing so), and apparently Mattp doesn't like my conclusions, but they would have been the same with or without his prior contact.

The TOKN16 isn't a horrible product, but it is more expensive than the KeyWiz ECO for half the number of inputs, no shifted inputs, not programmable from software, etc.

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The KeyWiz ECO isn't a horrible product either, but it doesn't have connectors, you have to solder it, it doesn't have a keyboard passthrough, it doesn't have a diagnostic LED, it doesn't have EEPROM as non-volatile storage of keycodes sets, its not plug and play, and you have to purchase a USB keyboard or else you have to unplug your keyboard every time you plug in your ECO. There goes your cost savings.



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