Is this keyboard encoder good?

[nes_gamer]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6193555423&category=13718&rd=1

[monkeybomb]

Short answer:  No, not at all!


But it may work for your project if it's small enough and may be worth it if it's REALLY cheap.  What do you want to do.  You probably want the keywiz eco no solder if you were considering the TOKN 16.  Theres a few threads and some great testing by tiger-heli.  Also check out Retroblast.

Edit: saw this a few threads down.

http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/tokn16/

[nes_gamer]

I plan on making a mini arcade machine with only a few buttons and 1 maybe 2 4-8 way joysticks.

[monkeybomb]

I plan on making a mini arcade machine with only a few buttons and 1 maybe 2 4-8 way joysticks.

I have one that I plan on using for a project that will have one joystick and 3 buttons.  I am going to follow tigers instructions and I don't expect a problem.   Sounds like your project is similar.

I reccomend checking out the keywiz eco and deciding what price difference makes the TOKN the better choice for you.  I got mine for 12 bucks.  For the project and the price I think it will work out great.

[nes_gamer]

I'm only considering this encoder because of the price on ebay

[pointdablame]

The reviews on the boards here have been pretty brutal regarding the TOKN encoders.  Tiger-Heli has said that you could avoid all ghosting with about $2 worth of diodes, but its a lot of extra work that you shouldn't have to do IMHO.

Unless you can get the thing for under $10 shipped, I'd just get a $20 KeyWiz Eco.  Even if you COULD get it for $10.... I'd probably still recommend the Eco.

[CJK]

You'll have to decide whether the $2 worth of diodes and the extra time and annoyance of dealing with the TOKN encoder's deficiencies (see the link that monkeybomb posted for a thorough review of the TOKN16 by our own Tiger-Heli) is worth the few bucks (probably less than $10) you'll save over the KeyWiz.

-- Chris

[jjd]

I plan on making a mini arcade machine with only a few buttons and 1 maybe 2 4-8 way joysticks.

It would be fine for that.  And I believe he is now shipping the diodes with the encoder, so you won't have to worry about buying those.

[Havok]

Yeah, he does ship the diodes now, but I think the Keywiz is a better choice anyways...

[Stingray]

I'm sure the Keywiz is a better encoder, but for just a few inputs, the TOKN would probably get the job done. If I were building a one player classics cab with only a small number of buttons, I'd probably use one.

-S