help with keyboard hack...

[joshbr7257]

i just have 1 question can you use a usb keyboard?

[Q*Bert_OP]

Yes.

[joshbr7257]

are you 100% sure?

[Q*Bert_OP]

Page #188 in th BYOAC book say yes you can use a USB keyboard, but you're usually limited to six key max which is fine for many classic games i.e. Pac Man, Xevious, Galaga, but for fighting games and stuff like Total Carnage and Robotron you will probably be more satisfied with an encoder such as the I-PAC.

[joshbr7257]

but can i use the keyboard hack with a 2 player cp and each player has a 6 buttons a coin button, and a start button, and i want it to hav ec, and enter, will keyboard hack work?

[joshbr7257]

nevermind i just gave up, its way to hard i hate soldering i wasted 2 keyboards

[Q*Bert_OP]

nevermind i just gave up, its way to hard i hate soldering i wasted 2 keyboards

If a 13 year old (that's me)can solder, any body can.

[joshbr7257]

have you done the keyboard hack, i dont see how anyone can i spent like an hour just trying to get one wire to stick

[Q*Bert_OP]

I actually did a sucessful keyboard hack, but it did not work well for Street Fighters because many moves especally with 2 players require 10+ keys at a time, so I bought an I-PAC.

[NoOne=NBA=]

You're wasting your time if you're going to do a 2-Player/6-button setup.
It will not work.
If both players are mashing buttons/swinging sticks like that, you are going to be getting alot of key ghosting.

Get a Key-Wiz Eco solderless, or a Key-Wiz Max, from Groovy Game Gear.
You can mash any/all of the 32 buttons you can connect to it, and you'll only get keycodes for the buttons you push.

[joshbr7257]

what should i get> the I-PAC2 or the KeyWiz max 1.5, im not sure how to set up the key wiz though

[Q*Bert_OP]

definately I-PAC2

I've never had any problems with them, and they're easy to use!

[joshbr7257]

i just ordered one thanks

[NoOne=NBA=]

what should i get> the I-PAC2 or the KeyWiz max 1.5, im not sure how to set up the key wiz though

Either one will work fine.

There really isn't much to set up, and either of them is ALOT less work than a keyboard hack.

[joshbr7257]

but i readthat the key wiz on player 2 only is set up for 4 buttons unlike ipac, also can you sat up the extra I-Pac buttons to do different stuff like buttons 7 and 8 to do esc and enter andtab?

[Q*Bert_OP]

Can you sat up the extra I-Pac buttons to do different stuff like buttons 7 and 8 to do esc and enter andtab?

You can if you bought the I-Pac 2.

I know this works because I have programed mine to do the same.

[NoOne=NBA=]

but i readthat the key wiz on player 2 only is set up for 4 buttons unlike ipac

The KeyWiz actually has MORE available inputs than the I-pac, and they are all user-configurable.
There really aren't "set" player buttons, etc... on either encoder.
The few extra inputs are not a big deal in most cases.
They only come into play if you want to make a 4-player CP, and don't want to spend the extra money for an I-pac4.
You can squeak out a minimalist 4-player CP with the KeyWiz.

also can you sat up the extra I-Pac buttons to do different stuff like buttons 7 and 8 to do esc and enter andtab?

You can set up the buttons to do pretty much anything a keyboard will--on both encoders.
They can both be set up to send the admin functions either directly when a key is pressed, or you can program the shift/shazaam function on them to send the admin keys when activated in combination with another key normally used for player input.

All technical arguing aside, there is no PRACTICAL difference between them for most users.
They can both be set up to do what you need them to.
The actual WAY that they function is a little different, but you'll learn whichever one you get with minimal effort.

[Tiger-Heli]

Trying to clear up some of the remaining misinformation in this thread:

USB Keyboard Hack (from my Keyboard hacks page):  However, do NOT buy a USB keyboard ( as the standard USB interface only supports six simultaneous keypresses (plus any modifier keys such as Alt, Ctrl, Caps Lock, or Shift).  Also, the six-key limit is not merely a keyboard manufacturer

[SirPeale]

Do you actually know how to solder?  If not, practice makes perfect.  Get a scrap PCB and practice on it.

Even if you don't do a hack now, the skills will come in handy later.

[cbmeeks]

That is true.  Soldering is easy.  Just breathe, steady yourself and take your time.

[CJK]

That is true.

[joshbr7257]

Trying to clear up some of the remaining misinformation in this thread:

USB Keyboard Hack (from my Keyboard hacks page):

[NoOne=NBA=]

wait hold up even with the ps/2 I-PAC ( which i just ordered) will not let you press 6 buttons at the same time? please tell me thats not true!

Take a deep breath.

You are fine.

You ordered an I-pac.

Just hook everything up, and it will all work.

Once it's hooked up, you can reprogram MAME to use all the buttons, and will be able to set special combinations to perform all the admin functions.

The only way you can go wrong with an I-pac/KeyWiz is if you don't get one with enough inputs for whatever application you are using it for.
In your case ANY of the I-pac/KeyWiz line is more than enough.

[joshbr7257]

but what about what tiger-heli said even with the ps/2 I-Pac if you press 6 buttons at the same time your computer will go blank?

[CheffoJeffo]

but what about what tiger-heli said even with the ps/2 I-Pac if you press 6 buttons at the same time your computer will go blank?

Wasn't he was talking about USB keyboards (e.g. the Windows USB keyboard driver) ?

Cheers.

[joshbr7257]

is there a site that shows you with pictures howto learnto solder?

[Tiger-Heli]

Trying to clear up some of the remaining misinformation in this thread:

USB Keyboard Hack (from my Keyboard hacks page):  However, do NOT buy a USB keyboard ( as the standard USB interface only supports six simultaneous keypresses (plus any modifier keys such as Alt, Ctrl, Caps Lock, or Shift).  Also, the six-key limit is not merely a keyboard manufacturer