Are there any wireless keyboard encoders?

[mark shaker]

Are there any wireless keyboard encoders out there?

Is not, is it possible to hack one together?

I have a pedestal control panel that I push aside when it's not in use. It sure would be cool if I didn't have to deal with the USB cable.

I *assume* that hacking a wireless keyboard would have ghosting issues and (perhaps) lag issues.

   - Mark

[shardian]

You could wire it to wireless pc gamepads. Much easier hack than a keyboard.

[mark shaker]

The wireless game pads are a good suggestion.

I should have mentioned: My pedestal is a 4 player with 7 buttons each for players 1 & 2 and 4 buttons each for players 3 & 4.  With the joysticks, coin-up and start buttons that's 46 inputs.

What game pads would you recommend?

Other suggestions?

   - Mark

[shardian]

I have no experience with them myself. I just knew they existed.

[shorthair]

There seem to be a few to several people round the same time asking the same question, not knowing each is doing so. Also, I'm surprised there aren't wiki entries for wiring and key code mapping.

[RandyT]

How popular is the idea of needing batteries in your CP or gamepads in order to use them?  I made a prediction the first day I saw one of the wireless Ms-Pacman stand alones that they would very quickly go the way of the dodo.  Not too long ago, I passed up a chance to buy one for $5 when they closed them out.  I now see that they have gone back to the wired versions and have since come out with an adapter pack for the original "battery only" units.

I mean, it sounds cool and everything, but when the wallet starts barking or you want to use your panel and don't have fresh batteries available, the cool factor wanes pretty quickly.

Just my .02

RandyT

[mark shaker]

How popular is the idea of needing batteries in your CP or gamepads in order to use them?  I made a prediction the first day I saw one of the wireless Ms-Pacman stand alones that they would very quickly go the way of the dodo.  Not too long ago, I passed up a chance to buy one for $5 when they closed them out.  I now see that they have gone back to the wired versions and have since come out with an adapter pack for the original "battery only" units.

I mean, it sounds cool and everything, but when the wallet starts barking or you want to use your panel and don't have fresh batteries available, the cool factor wanes pretty quickly.

Just my .02

RandyT

I'm not saying that it's for everyone, just that it's for me. (I'm getting tired of my friends tripping over that dang USB cable. )

I've got wireless keyboards on 3 of my MAME cabinets, I don't mind changing the batteries on each every 6 months or so.

Over the past decade, I've probably spent $25,000 in pinballs, original arcade video games and MAME cabinets. I'm not worried about a few batteries.

   - Mark

[SavannahLion]

I'm in Mark Shakers camp, but I don't really have $25,000 to spend....

But I digress, The days of sitting within a few feet of the console, for quick game changes, and close enough to the T.V. to cause cancer in my eyeballs are long gone. Every modern console in the household sports wireless controllers. Half the PC's in this house have something wireless about them. Hell, my laptop is probably more "wired" than my GF's desktop.

Don't get me wrong, I think a wireless arcade CP is a little weird. The appeal about arcades for me is standing in front of a 300lb wood box trying to knock it around in an effort to get that high score. I also refuse to give up my trusty wired Logitech NewTouch keyboard with keys so well used, they've gone beyond "polished" and are losing the character silkscreening.

But when you throw in three cats, four dogs, a six year old and a GF who all have a nasty habit of finding the most inconvient times to socialize and the first (and last time) your console makes the trip from the Entertainment Center shelf to the floor accelerating at 32.174ft/s, you begin to appreciate what good wireless controllers have to offer.

Hey, if a guy is willing to shell out $25,000 on arcade stuff and he wants to have something wireless, why not? 

[Zebidee]

Over the past decade, I've probably spent $25,000 in pinballs, original arcade video games and MAME cabinets. I'm not worried about a few batteries.

In that case, maybe you won't blink at $200 for a Belkin 4-port wireless USB hub:

http://www.nextag.com/Belkin-Wireless-4-Port-529123278/prices-html?nxtg=8ded0a1c0506-547785994E2CEA4C[quote

 

[mark shaker]

Over the past decade, I've probably spent $25,000 in pinballs, original arcade video games and MAME cabinets. I'm not worried about a few batteries.

In that case, maybe you won't blink at $200 for a Belkin 4-port wireless USB hub:

http://www.nextag.com/Belkin-Wireless-4-Port-529123278/prices-html?nxtg=8ded0a1c0506-547785994E2CEA4C[quote

 

It's not wireless, as it requires a power supply. Also, it's had terrible reviews.

   - Mark

P.S. I never planned to spend that kind of cash. It just happend! It seems that every year, right around the time I get my tax refund, I find a machine that I can't do without. This year it was an Addams Family pinball.

[mark shaker]

Don't get me wrong, I think a wireless arcade CP is a little weird.

For me this hobby all started with a HanaHo HotRod Joystick, which I still use.

I've always wished it was wireless, as I don't have the space on my desk to keep it out all the time. It would be great to just grab it from the shelf and start playing. 

I know I'm talking about a very trivial inconvenience, but I seem to be getting lazier as the years go on.  :-)

   - Mark

[vrf]

My friend's XBOX 360 controllers seem to last a long time before a recharge. And they have a Windows version, too. Works very well.

I think wireless within a cab is silly, but if you just want a decent arcade controller for sitting on the couch and using with a media PC, hacking a gamepad seems to be a great solution. Search the PA forum for a few examples.

[Tahnok]

How popular is the idea of needing batteries in your CP or gamepads in order to use them?  I made a prediction the first day I saw one of the wireless Ms-Pacman stand alones that they would very quickly go the way of the dodo.  Not too long ago, I passed up a chance to buy one for $5 when they closed them out.  I now see that they have gone back to the wired versions and have since come out with an adapter pack for the original "battery only" units.
[...]

I made a small wireless CP out of one of those with good results. I used one of these $15 rechargeable batteries:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103201&cp=2032056.2032147&parentPage=family

The panel has some pretty good power saving functions, which I noted in this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=46074.0

On that cheap battery, the panel will run for at least 15 hours, most likely more since it goes to sleep when there's no activity.

Also, the battery just sits inside the panel on it's charger. There's no need to even take it out; the panel just plugs into the wall for charging. The whole thing makes for a pretty slick wireless panel.

[shorthair]

I like being back a few feet from a 27" monitor - more if larger - and like to sit underneath my panel. And though I could use longer cables and one of those floor hiders like you see in an office, I'm interested in the CP being untied.

Tahnok: did you use the control stick on that unit, or just hack the interface?