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| How is this better than an commercial encoder? |
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| allroy1975:
I should buy some KeyWiz's and sell them with the wires and criping and everything done. Like that one, but with a Keywiz. :) Make a few bux. |
| Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: quarterback on January 20, 2006, 11:31:21 am ---Given, I'd never buy it, but a fully enclosed, pre-wired and pre labeled encoder 'box' that allows people to do a one-stop-purchase and just hook up their controls has some merit, I think. There is no buying rolls of wire from RadioShack, no soldering, no separating all those tiny wires in an IDE cable, no QD orders from Peale, no crimping etc etc etc. --- End quote --- Basically been done already with the Mini-PAC from UltiMarc - http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html (except Andy didn't drop it in a project box, but how hard could that be. And from what I have mostly read on the boards, the $29 basic board has been popular, but the Mini-Pac with harness has not. Also, keep in mind that you are bound to either have some wires too long or too short with this method. [/quote] While this one may or may not be a basic keyboard hack (with any associated problems), I say that the idea is a good one. [/quote] You are missing two key items - Advanced features - Things like shifted inputs, programmability, USB or PS/2 connectivity, pass-thru connections, screw terminals, etc. Support - If I buy from RandyT or Andy, I can be pretty sure that in six months, I can get a replacement if it breaks, or that they will make every attempt to make it right or troubleshoot it if I have a problem initially. If I buy from Kev8556 on E-bay . . . (not that he won't support his products, but that is an unknown. . .) |
| quarterback:
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on January 20, 2006, 11:51:34 am --- --- Quote from: quarterback on January 20, 2006, 11:31:21 am ---Given, I'd never buy it, but a fully enclosed, pre-wired and pre labeled encoder 'box' that allows people to do a one-stop-purchase and just hook up their controls has some merit, I think. There is no buying rolls of wire from RadioShack, no soldering, no separating all those tiny wires in an IDE cable, no QD orders from Peale, no crimping etc etc etc. --- End quote --- Basically been done already with the Mini-PAC from UltiMarc - http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html --- End quote --- and I think the same idea from Ultimarc is a good idea there as well, even if it hasn't sold well. It's sold to people who might not have otherwise connected up any arcade controls at all --- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on January 20, 2006, 11:51:34 am --- --- Quote from: quarterback ---While this one may or may not be a basic keyboard hack (with any associated problems), I say that the idea is a good one. --- End quote --- You are missing two key items - Advanced features - ---snip--- support --- End quote --- I don't think I've missed those key items. The lack of those features/support on this particular item doesn't make the idea of an all-in-one suddenly bad. I'm just saying that the idea of an all-in-one-ready-to-hook-up-solution is a good one, whether it's done by Ultimarc for $46+$13 shipping, or by mister ebay for $44.05 + $10.50 shipping, I like the idea. Perhaps the Ultimarc is a better buy, for you personally, because of additional features that you are interested in, but not everybody necessarily needs those things. And, for me, neither one is a better buy anyway, because I wouldn't pay that kind of money for an pre-wired encoder in the first place (as people might have guessed by my perpetual search for a cheap cocktail-table-glass-clip solution). |
| AndyWarne:
Note that each switch has a pair of wires running into the box, rather than a ground daisy-chain. Indication of a matrix being used. Andy |
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