Which is better for me: iPac4 USB or iPac4 PS2?

[DeLuSioNal29]

I know I'm opening Pandora's Box by asking, but...

Which version of the iPac4 is better for MY purposes:  USB or PS2?
I will be building a 4 player panel (virtual mockup pic below)

My main concerns:
-  I heard that the USB version cannot have as many SIMULTANEOUS button presses as the PS2 version.  Is this true?  Should I go with the PS2 version since I have a quad panel?
-  If I get the PS2 version:  Can I still use my keyboard that I stash away on the inside of the cabinet?  (Is there a pass through connector?)  Is performance affected with the keyboard plugged in?

Last but not least... Is there anyone out there besides Ultimarc who sells the iPac4?  I'd rather order it from someone who is in the US so that shipping will be cheaper.  Ultimarc is based in the UK.

Thanks in advance!

~ DeLuSioNaL

[surface tension]

The USB and PS/2 IPACs have the same functionality.

From Ultimarc.com
"I-PAC is the ONLY keyboard encoder which emulates a USB keyboard (and PS/2) and yet breaks through the USB simultaneously-pressed-switch limit of 6 switches (plus ctrl,alt,shift) which afflicts all USB keyboard devices. This is beacuse it has inbuilt full native USB support, and does not rely on an add-on adaptor."

I use USB Mini-pacs and from using WinIPAC, you can see this working.

Also, the PS/2 version has a pass-through connector on-board.

I can't advise on where you can get these in the states... though I know someone on the board sells them.

[Hoopz]

Contact Divemaster in B/S/T.  His link is stickied. 

[patrickl]

BTW you can use one of those PS/2 USB adapters on the iPAC. I'm talking about one of those tiny adapters that were suplied with computer mice a few years ago. I don't think nowadays they come with these since current computers don't have PS/2 anymore.

So if you get one cable and you don't like it (or you buy a new PC and lose PS/2 support), you can always change it with one of those.

:edit: changed the word "converter" into "adapter"

[Hoopz]

Actually, Andy advises people NOT to use the PS/2 - USB convertor.:

This is a subject that has been mentioned before but it came up again on another current thread and I have had 2 emails about it this week so I thought would re-visit.
A PS/2-only keyboard encoder cannot be used with a USB converter module. The reason is this:
Most PS/2 keyboards once in a while miss the sending of  "key-release" signals. This does not cause any problem with PS/2 but if a USB converter is used, it would cause a stuck key in USB. As key-repeat is done in the USB driver in Windows, this results on an ever-repeating key. To avoid this, the converter designers clear out all held-down keys on the USB side of the converter every few seconds. This means the device is useless for game play.
Several times I have come across people using converters with an I-PAC which makes me despair since the I-PAC is a USB device in itself and can auto-switch to either PS/2 or USB without a converter (the cable is different of course).
Andy

[Popcorrin]

Hoopz is right, you don't want to use a ps/2 to usb adapter which would be pointless since the ipac already is usb capable.

I think it's okay though if you have the usb cable for the ipac and you use one of those usb to ps/2 adapters so that you can use the ps/2 port on your computer.
Then again, I could be wrong.

[vidmouse]

-  If I get the PS2 version:  Can I still use my keyboard that I stash away on the inside of the cabinet?  (Is there a pass through connector?)  Is performance affected with the keyboard plugged in?

I have a IPAC4 PS/2 version, haven't noticed any issues.
I use my keyboard stashed away from time-to-time.

Last but not least... Is there anyone out there besides Ultimarc who sells the iPac4?  I'd rather order it from someone who is in the US so that shipping will be cheaper.  Ultimarc is based in the UK.

You could always try resells on ebay or something..

Re:  your mockup pic looks like you are trying to do too many
inputs even for an IPAC 4.  The IPAC4 is designed for 4 joysticks,
8 buttons each with 2 more additional inputs each for player coin
and player start.   Having mulitple joys for P1 and P2, plus the
dedicated sticks you have... I counted about 65 inputs, not including
your topfire button stick and some of the admin buttons I can't see
too well.

Maybe not a problem if you're planning on connecting two inputs to
the same input on IPAC or using more than one IPAC, but I would
think there's a keyboard limit too...

[DeLuSioNal29]

I'm leaning towards the PS2 version, to save a USB port.  However, is there a pass through?  That is... If I connect the ipac to the PS2 port, can I connect a keyboard to the ipac?  Are there any performance losses?

[patrickl]

Hoopz is right, you don't want to use a ps/2 to usb adapter which would be pointless since the ipac already is usb capable.

I think it's okay though if you have the usb cable for the ipac and you use one of those usb to ps/2 adapters so that you can use the ps/2 port on your computer.
Then again, I could be wrong.

Well I was obviously talking about these "adapters" (the little green things that came with a mouse), and yes Andy himself said these work. It sure does on mine and some other people have tried it too.

[patrickl]

I'm leaning towards the PS2 version, to save a USB port.  However, is there a pass through?  That is... If I connect the ipac to the PS2 port, can I connect a keyboard to the ipac? 

Of course you can. Look at the picture of the board and see the connector labeled "KBD Passthru".

Are there any performance losses?

I guess not. Why would there be performance losses?

[DeLuSioNal29]

Your mockup pic looks like you are trying to do too many
inputs even for an IPAC 4.  The IPAC4 is designed for 4 joysticks,
8 buttons each with 2 more additional inputs each for player coin
and player start.   Having mulitple joys for P1 and P2, plus the
dedicated sticks you have... I counted about 65 inputs, not including
your topfire button stick and some of the admin buttons I can't see
too well.

Maybe not a problem if you're planning on connecting two inputs to
the same input on IPAC or using more than one IPAC, but I would
think there's a keyboard limit too...

Yes, I plan on Making the right joystick for Player 1 & 2 share the same inputs for the 3 & 4 players.  Most dual joystick games, like smash TV for example, are only for 2 players so 3 & 4 would never be used with those type of games.
As for the 4 player games:  Most 4 player games will use the left joysticks only so it should not be a problem that the right joystick are mapped the same.
The dedicated 4 way would also share the inputs for the player 1 joystick.  The buttons next to the 4 way would match the player 1 buttons (1 & 2).  (The ones on the left of the 4 way will be mirror/shared with the ones on the right of the 4 way - This is for righty/lefty players to use what they prefer)
The black pause buttons would also share the same input.
The Asteroid layout would double as a menu navigation system and as mouse buttons for windows use.
The Spinner is USB and has it's own high res interface board as does the Trackball.  No inputs taken up there.

I counted exactly 56 inputs!  Just squeeked by since I planned it out perfectly.  No worries!

[vidmouse]

What, no pinball buttons?   

Keep in mind also that the IPAC's have shift-button capability
to serve as admin buttons... that's how I got away with
so few buttons on my control panel top (and make up for
it with lots of pinball buttons on the sides)

[DeLuSioNal29]

What, no pinball buttons?   

Keep in mind also that the IPAC's have shift-button capability
to serve as admin buttons... that's how I got away with
so few buttons on my control panel top (and make up for
it with lots of pinball buttons on the sides)

Yes, that what I had planned for the admin buttons.  Otherwise when you played Asteroids using the top buttons it would enter the menu's!   

As far as the pinball buttons, yes, I do have 4 on each side, but it's assumed that they will share inputs with other buttons on the panel (probably player 1).

[Popcorrin]

Hoopz is right, you don't want to use a ps/2 to usb adapter which would be pointless since the ipac already is usb capable.

I think it's okay though if you have the usb cable for the ipac and you use one of those usb to ps/2 adapters so that you can use the ps/2 port on your computer.
Then again, I could be wrong.

Well I was obviously talking about these "adapters" (the little green things that came with a mouse), and yes Andy himself said these work. It sure does on mine and some other people have tried it too.

I figured that was what you meant.  Didn't mean to create any confusion.