WTB: keyboard Ecoder, Or another way to enable alot of KEYS? 40-50+ [US-FL]

[Otraotaku]

I am trying to come up with a new Control panel design and would like to know what is the Cheapest, Efficient  way to put 40-60 Buttons on my Older Computer, and dont have crap to spend... but i would like to set up the PC to play n' stuff before i get started on my Control panel.

Any kind of tips would be great... (atleast new ones) lol

[pcates]

What are you doing that you need that many buttons??? Ipac and keywiz can do that if you use the shift/shazamm keys. That should handle whatever you need, because I do not know of any fast pace games that use more than the standard layout on either encoder.

I know this is nothing new, but I hope it helps....
Patrick

[NY_in_TX]

I would highly suggest AGAINST using a keyboard hack for that many inputs.  that's got ghosting issues written all over it.

cheapest would be a keywiz.  32 inputs and you can shazzam 24 more. 


I'd be interested to see what all those inputs are for, seems like you might have some redundant inputs.  remember you can hook multiple controls onto one input (like player 1 can have a 4 way and an 8 way hooked up to the player one input) 


good luck

ny

[Hoagie_one]

lpt switch

[Otraotaku]

where could i get my hands on something like that? cause either way i look at it im prolly gonna end up having a 3 player cab at 11-14 a person, thats 42 in all i have to cover... has anyone (from experience) built a 3-4 player cabinet with so many? the least i could manage with would possibly be 36?  + hacked keyboard for computer functions...

[Otraotaku]

I would highly suggest AGAINST using a keyboard hack for that many inputs.  that's got ghosting issues written all over it.

cheapest would be a keywiz.  32 inputs and you can shazzam 24 more. 


I'd be interested to see what all those inputs are for, seems like you might have some redundant inputs.  remember you can hook multiple controls onto one input (like player 1 can have a 4 way and an 8 way hooked up to the player one input) 


good luck

ny

btw, whats Shazzam? and an LPT swictch?

[NY_in_TX]

Shazzam let's you change the input on the keywiz.  for instance you could have player one start "shazzam" into coin1 by holding another button. 

LPT switch lets you switch from different inputs.  (It's a printer cable switch box)


considering what your doing.  take my advice...go get an IPAC4 and be done with it.  It's more money, but the stability and easy of install and use are worth every penny. 

A keyboard hack for more than 1 player is just a pain to deal with.  Not impossible....just a pain.

good luck!

ny

[brained]

LPT switch lets you switch from different inputs. (It's a printer cable switch box)

Totally wrong!!!
LPT Switch is a joystick interface made up by a Printer cable and a bunch of diodes. I've built one myself and it works like a charm!!

If you search the forums you'll see what i'm talking about. This thing handles 60 inputs and it's dirt cheap, you just need some patience and soldering skills!.

LPT Switch rulez...

[Otraotaku]

mmm.... (stuck in confusion)   Ipac4 (Great, expensieve?).... LPT (60, cheap).... Keywiz (no clue) .... Which one should i get and where?

I dont wanna have to go into shazzaming or whatever, thats just like shifting keys... >.< i want to make it atleast decently authentic as an arcade..

[NY_in_TX]

LPT switch lets you switch from different inputs. (It's a printer cable switch box)

Totally wrong!!!
LPT Switch is a joystick interface made up by a Printer cable and a bunch of diodes. I've built one myself and it works like a charm!!

my bad.  I was wondering WTF he was gonna do with that.

well, printer cable,  a bunch of diodes and your time  vs IPAC4

[AceTKK]

You want it to have 60 buttons and still be authentic to an arcade? 

Why would you want/need 11-14 buttons per player?  that's just silly. 

[brained]

You want it to have 60 buttons and still be authentic to an arcade? 

LOL

[Dave_K.]

Why would you want/need 11-14 buttons per player?  that's just silly. 

Duh, he means 11-14 inputs per player.  4 for joystick, 6 for buttons, 1 for start and you are already up to 11.  Whats so silly about that?  Some Neo-Geo fighters now use 7 buttons too.  Anyway a 4 player panel with this config and you are up to 44-48.  Sounds like a valid inquiry to me.

Otraotaku, have you thought about hacking 4 PSOne DS pads and use 2 PS->USB converters?  Used pads are $4.99 each at gamestop/ebx, and two dual-input PS2->USB converters would run you about $10 each, so you are talking $40 total and you would have the ability to hookup 48 inputs (56 if you hack the L3+R3 switches).

[Hoagie_one]

I still have my 60 input LPT switch if you want it.

I originally had it for sale here

Instructions on how to wire it up

Its alot more wiring than your standard keywiz or ipac, so you know.

If still interested, I'll take $30 shipped for it.

If you want to build your own, I can get you the diagrams if you like.

[Otraotaku]

Why would you want/need 11-14 buttons per player?  that's just silly. 

Duh, he means 11-14 inputs per player.  4 for joystick, 6 for buttons, 1 for start and you are already up to 11.  Whats so silly about that?  Some Neo-Geo fighters now use 7 buttons too.  Anyway a 4 player panel with this config and you are up to 44-48.  Sounds like a valid inquiry to me.

Otraotaku, have you thought about hacking 4 PSOne DS pads and use 2 PS->USB converters?  Used pads are $4.99 each at gamestop/ebx, and two dual-input PS2->USB converters would run you about $10 each, so you are talking $40 total and you would have the ability to hookup 48 inputs (56 if you hack the L3+R3 switches).

Thanks for explainning why it isnt so silly, lol but no, i havent thought about that, but i have a very bad experience with hacked pads.. >.< (DreamCast errrr....)

[Otraotaku]

I still have my 60 input LPT switch if you want it.

I originally had it for sale here

Instructions on how to wire it up

Its alot more wiring than your standard keywiz or ipac, so you know.

If still interested, I'll take $30 shipped for it.

If you want to build your own, I can get you the diagrams if you like.

 im interested i guess... ^.^ but im even more interested in how it works?

[AceTKK]

Why would you want/need 11-14 buttons per player?  that's just silly. 

Duh, he means 11-14 inputs per player.  4 for joystick, 6 for buttons, 1 for start and you are already up to 11.  Whats so silly about that?  Some Neo-Geo fighters now use 7 buttons too.  Anyway a 4 player panel with this config and you are up to 44-48.  Sounds like a valid inquiry to me.

Otraotaku, have you thought about hacking 4 PSOne DS pads and use 2 PS->USB converters?  Used pads are $4.99 each at gamestop/ebx, and two dual-input PS2->USB converters would run you about $10 each, so you are talking $40 total and you would have the ability to hookup 48 inputs (56 if you hack the L3+R3 switches).

Oh right, lol.  I watn't thinking about the joystick inputs.  The idea of 60 buttons on a CP kind of threw me for a loop. 

I really think your best bet would be an IPAC4: http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

[Hoagie_one]

here is teh original thread where we talked about teh LPT Switch

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=29299.msg245548#msg245548

[Otraotaku]

i read pretty much the whole thread, but im not sure if itll still do what i would like it to eventually do, can you use it for a  3-4 player setup with 14-16 buttons each? and what about computer programmable buttons, like one for a media player? (play) (skip) (stop) type buttons?

[Hoagie_one]

the program that controls the LPT switches registers them all as joypad inputs.  You will have to assign those inputs to any computer functions yourself.  But youd have to do that with any encoder youchoose

[brained]

the software that comes with the lpt switch is pretty good... so I think there's no hazzle. You can configure them keys any way you want...

[Otraotaku]

ill have to sleep on i, i was going to buy gozurs ipac ( i think it was an IPAC?), but i think he sold it by now... im not really sure