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Tiger-Heli:

Here's a slightly out-of-date rundown by me of the various options: http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm

--- Quote from: Kaytrim on March 14, 2007, 03:15:33 pm ---The above will work for everything except the rotary sticks.  For your rotary joysticks there is only one solution currently, the rotary interface from Ulitmarc.  http://www.ultimarc.com/rotary.html

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I wasn't aware of that one.  The above is true for mechanical rotaries.  For Optical rotaries you need either a second Opti-Wiz or maybe use a DPDT switch to select between them and the spinner or trackball using either a single Opti-Wiz or Opti-Pac.

Kaytrim:


--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on March 14, 2007, 03:29:22 pm ---Here's a slightly out-of-date rundown by me of the various options: http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm

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Very interesting read.  I didn't spend the time needed to go through the entire document nor did I just gloss over it.  You cover all the options and wants for a MAME cab and give the best solution depending on what the purchaser wants.  I would suggest that you keep an eye out for the new GPWiz49 interface and 49-way stick.  Then do a comparison with the Ultimarc U360 and the new GGG 49way joystick and bring the above document up to date with the new interface.

Tiger-Heli:


--- Quote from: Kaytrim on March 14, 2007, 05:10:31 pm ---I would suggest that you keep an eye out for the new GPWiz49 interface and 49-way stick.  Then do a comparison with the Ultimarc U360 and the new GGG 49way joystick and bring the above document up to date with the new interface.

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Thanks Kaytrim, the page has some notable omissions, especially the Opti-Wiz as well as the U360 and the Ultimarc Rotary Encoder that you mention, among a few others.  (The TOKN KB16 has also been revised (diodes are now pre-installed) since I last updated the page, but I still don't consider it a good value compared to the Ultimarc and GGG competing products.)

The biggest problem is I lack the time to properly maintain it, and I am too detail oriented to just slap the new product info up without flowing the data down through all the related paragraphs, and the page is a bit unwieldy as it is.

The other biggest problem is that (as I point out) - I have very little first hand experience with these devices, and don't have the time to wire up and test 15 or more different interfaces.  I have used the available manufacturer's data and user comments on BYOAC to develop my comments, but this approach lends itself to personal biases and some information that is not available until you actually use the product.

For example - The TOKN KB16 that I rip pretty hard in my testing originally got a great review on RetroBlast, and mixed reviews on the forum.  If KevSteele hadn't provided me with a reference board and I had to base all my info on TOKN's literature, the problems would never have been discovered.

I personally use a prototype KeyWiz encoder.  Until I actually got it, I thought Randy's obsession with Microprocessor speed was mostly hype and it wouldn't really be noticeable, but it's response is obviously faster than a standard keyboard would be.  I have little doubt that it is faster than the I-PAC's are also, but since I suspect the I-PAC's are also faster than a standard keyboard, not sure it makes much difference.  (RW example - Would it matter that a Hiyabusha is 5 mph top speed faster than a ZX-12, compared to a Ford Focus when driving at 55 on US freeways?)

Final example - The KeyWiz programming software is fairly slow.  Doesn't make much difference as I have a removable desktop controller so basically always use the default codeset, and usually wouldn't be a big deal on a full standup where it could be programmed at boot-up.  I have heard the Ultimarc software is SIGNIFICANTLY faster, but again, without having actual hardware, it's hard to really quantify any of those statements.

BobA:


--- Quote from: Jeff AMN on March 14, 2007, 02:32:51 pm ---I'm using the MiniPac, but the wiring harness is too short for my panel. I'm going to have to splice in longer wiring to get the project done. Other than that, I love the features of the encoder and all that it supports.

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I thought that that would be a problem but I think I will use terminal blocks or euro blocks as they are sometimes called to terminate the ends of the ribbon cable and extend my wires to the switches.   I think it looks alot neater then having many splices.  I also like the minipac very much.

RandyT:


--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on March 15, 2007, 08:52:33 am ---Final example - The KeyWiz programming software is fairly slow.  Doesn't make much difference as I have a removable desktop controller so basically always use the default codeset, and usually wouldn't be a big deal on a full standup where it could be programmed at boot-up.  I have heard the Ultimarc software is SIGNIFICANTLY faster, but again, without having actual hardware, it's hard to really quantify any of those statements.

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Hey TH!

A new version of the software came out while you were away....things picked up quite a bit in that department, plus no more manual startup configurations.  You can still do it manually if you really want, but it's all "one-click" stuff on the main menu now  :cheers:

You can download the new version for free at the website.

RandyT


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