Keyboard hack

[Brad]

A quick question just for re-assurance.

I'm in the final stages of building a jukebox. I'm using a keyboard hack for control interfacing. My problem is that my soldering skills are very sub-par =( I've managed to hook the thing up but due to my soldering effort I believe I have more than likely crossed some of the keys on the circuit. I tested all the inputs and on some keys I get multiple characters. However I have completed the matrix and have a total of 32 unique working inputs. This is more than enough for my purposes.

Does anyone see any problem with using this? I have no issues in Windows so is it safe to use this hack until I get around to doing another correct one.

Cheers for any input.

Brad

[spystyle]

I don't think you'll find many keyboard hack enthusiasts these days, but I am one

Though KeyWiz eco weighing in at $20 is hard to beat

Anyway, to answer your question :

When the keyboard hack is plugged in and notepad is open does it produce characters all by itself (as if keys were stuck on a keyboard)

If not, good, try it out on your juke.

If yes, bad, but try it on your juke anyway, it *might* work.

Cheers,
Craig

[Brad]

Oh I agree with the keyboard hack. I'm only using it due to the Happs jukebox keypanel which is matrixed.

I actually have a Minipac I was saving for a rainy day but will instead use that in my next cab conversion which has been collecting dust in the garage for 12 monthe due to low funds.

I tested the board with the above results. No phantom keypresses which is why I think I'll be okay.

$20.00 is $20 U.S. The problem for us Aussies is exchange rates and freight costs. It is usually damn cheap for people in the U.S. but here we pay a premium =(

Cheers,

Brad

[spystyle]

Hi Brad,

Coincidentally, I mail CDs to Australia weekly, it's only about 30% more cost than mailing within my own country (USA).

I bet someone could mail you a keywiz eco for less than $10 US

If you are unable to get one mailed to you feel free to PM me, I would mail one to you.

Cheers,
Craig

[Kremmit]

Nothing wrong with a keyboard hack on a juke.  The problems they present for gaming all revolve around hitting several keys at once, which isn't going to happen much on a juke, and even if it does, how bad can it be?  You get the wrong song, boo-hoo- not like accidentally exiting your world-record game after 6 hours of play time.

Of course, there's the effort vs the cost to consider, but if you've got the time, why not? 

[Brad]

You know I didn't even think of the Keywiz. I've always bought Ultimarc stuff. It's actually a pretty good deal even with exchange markups.

It's funny though, I can mail a CD mailer box with about 6 DVD's in it to the States for $1.00 AUS. Thats $0.75 US. Why is it so much to mail from the U.S to Australia?

I'm definitely interested in getting a Keywiz IF I could hook it up to this panel and other controls easily? Thanks for the offer =)

The thing with using an encoder for this juke is that I'm using a Happs cd keypanel which is already matrixed. I'm unsure how I would go about hooking this up to an encoder rather than  keyboard hack?

http://www.happcontrols.com/gaming/gaming_parts/64005300.htm

Given the small number of buttons required I "should" have no ghosting issues. My other problem is that this juke needs to ready by saturday as we're holding a party. Wife is getting very insecure about my confidence in finishing this project in time.

Cheers,

Brad

[spystyle]

I am not familiar with that device -

but there is no difference between a keyboard hack and a keyboard encoder (other than performance) - they are both keyboards without keys.

Cheers,
Craig

[RandyT]

but there is no difference between a keyboard hack and a keyboard encoder (other than performance) - they are both keyboards without keys.

This is not correct. 

Both keyboards and encoders designed for arcade controls have both an input and an output stage.  The output stage of both are pretty much the same, with the speed advantage to the encoder.  However, the input stage is very different (at least on a good encoder.) 

The keyboard hack is matrixed, will have blocking and / or ghosting issues and possibly simultaneous keypress limitations.

A good encoder will have direct or multiplexed inputs, which are very different from the matrixed ones.  As a result, they won't have the problems associated with matrixed inputs.

Some hardware, like keypads, will require matrixed inputs to be used properly, or will at minimum require modification to be used with an encoder.  So it is very important to understand the requirements of the device you are trying to interface before deciding on the best approach to take.

RandyT

[spystyle]

So he must use a keyboard hack with that device? Conveniently he has one.

Thanks for the explanation :)

Craig

[Chris]

Yeah, jukeboxes are probably the last good place for a keyboard hack since so many of the input options are matrixed.


It does sound like you've bridged a connection somewhere.  It should be fairly easy to trace out; if you can see which inputs give you multiple input, I'll bet they all share one or two common lines on one side of the matrix... that should tell you exactly where your short is.

[Brad]

About having to use a keyboard hack, thats what I'd researched.

As I said though my soldering skills are pretty bad. It's definitely a cross...more like 2 as I have 2 really obvious rows in my mapped matrix.

I could sit down and try to repair it or hack another one as it's not hard, just tedious and I noticed I definitely got better at it towards the end.

Ultimately I got 32 working inputs, given I only need about 18 I'm theorizing that it should still be okay to use. Windows reports no problems and I have no phantom key presses. Eventually I will replace the hack with a better one......well you how those things go, if it's working you normally wouldn't touch it, kind of what happened with my cab. Still no artwork and no plexi on the control panel 

Cheers and thanks for the input.

Brad