Wireless keyboard/mouse/remote for cabinets

[Frostillicus]

EDIT: I wrote up a small review of this further down the thread...

Anyone have this and maybe comment on pros/cons?  I just ordered one from Tigerdirect.com  - $59.99 after $20 mail in rebate (expires end of June I believe).

The Interlink VersaPoint Communicator
It's a wireless optical mouse, keyboard, and remote (900Mhz kind) and tiny USB receiver.
Direct Link to Data Sheet PDF

Yes I know there are other wireless keyboards around, but this one is USB, the mouse is optical, and comes with a cool little remote. If it works at all then it could be a good option for running PC games in a cab(like entering name in GTG).   And if the remote is programmable it could be a killer volume/jukebox control  

[SirPoonga]

my sister has a logitech one from walmart for $60 that is awesome.  It;s usb and optical mouse.  It;s pretty cool.

[AlanS17]

As nice as Logitech may be, I've found that lots of times the keyboard disconnects and has to be reset. Oddly it works better with the older models.

Also, the Logitech keyboard is huge. It sort of defeats the idea of a portable device (IMHO).

I like the idea of the remote, though, with that package. If it connects well it's probably worth the money. I'd be more interested if I weren't so broke. I don't care if it's USB or not, though.

Would there be a conflict with a USB keyboard and a PS2 keyboard encoder hooked up to the same machine? I'm tempted to say no, but then again I wouldn't know for sure.

[RandyT]

....

Would there be a conflict with a USB keyboard and a PS2 keyboard encoder hooked up to the same machine? I'm tempted to say no, but then again I wouldn't know for sure.

No conflicts.   At least that's what my testing and incoming reports indicate .


RandyT

[Smack]

I've got a Logitech wireless USB keyboard for use with my cocktail cab.

Works mint for me!

Smack

[Brad Lee]

Ive got the one in this auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2730382627&category=4706
and it works great.. Ive got the receiver mounted above the monitor, behind the tinted bezel so its completely stealhed

Range is about 75', of course it IS line of sight(IR)

Im completely happy with it

[Frostillicus]

OK so I got this thing in the mail - it's nice and slim.  The mouse is rather small - almost like those laptop mice - but I got used to it.   Oh yeah - its RF not IR.  And it came with all batteries needed, which was nice.

My cab is in the living room - the reciever is about 2" long and plugs right into the USB port, where the computer is hidden inside the bottom of the cab.  All doors closed.  

It says it has a 30' range.  I go into my bedroom where I can just glimpse my cab through the door - sit down on my bed - and start a game of pacman from over 30' away through walls and such.  The mute button on the keyboard is especially handy.  There is a volume control, mute, standard internet hot-keys, and music buttons (play, pause, etc).    All work very nicely.

The remote isn't bad - it's very tiny.  It's got 5 buttons, only 4 of which work.   ESC on top doesn't do anything that I've found yet.  Even in powerpoint, which it was designed for.

The bad thing - and it's a big bad thing - is that I can't seem to find any programming software for anything.    I will find back from tech support hopefully tomorrow.  Mostly to change the buttons on the remote - but it's looking unlikely.  Worst case scenario is I'll have to change the controls for whatever MP3 software I'll end up using to match the remote.

The pluses for me are:
Black, sleek, small (easily hideable stuff).  comes with a remote.  Oh, and wireless  Good range, small reciever, optical mouse, USB, no driver install.
Minus is: not programmable(that i've found so far).  

I needed a USB keyboard and mouse in my cab because I can't run anymore wires out of the whole rotating part, and I can't use a ps2 wireless keyboard because I have an Ipac taking that slot.  And all the ps2 wireless stuff I found were pretty much one reciever with 2 ps/2 connections (mouse and keyboard) coming off it.  So this was the best USB I could find for the money (59 after rebate).  

It's a good solution, and a good way to play Half-life from the coffeetable

[mccall]

I can't use a ps2 wireless keyboard because I have an Ipac taking that slot

Doesn't the Ipac have a pass through? Couldn't you just connect the wireless receiver to the pass through or is the problem the cable length? If the problem is cable length you can purchase a ps2 Y splitter and connect both your Ipac and wireless combo to the splitter and have them share the port.

The Logitech Cordless Elite Duo (which I have) has both a ps2 and USB connector.  It has an optical mouse and volume controls, but doesn't have a remote control. It sells for around $100 but you can find them on sale for about $50 or for that price after rebate.

[Frostillicus]

I can't use a ps2 wireless keyboard because I have an Ipac taking that slot

Doesn't the Ipac have a pass through? Couldn't you just connect the wireless receiver to the pass through or is the problem the cable length? If the problem is cable length you can purchase a ps2 Y splitter and connect both your Ipac and wireless combo to the splitter and have them share the port.

The Logitech Cordless Elite Duo (which I have) has both a ps2 and USB connector.  It has an optical mouse and volume controls, but doesn't have a remote control. It sells for around $100 but you can find them on sale for about $50 or for that price after rebate.

I thought about using the pass-through, but there are a number of problems there:
1- how much current is actually available for the reciever after the IPAC and OPTIPAC take their power? My understanding is that the PS/2 port isn't really strong in that department.
2 - cable length isn't really an issue - its any cable at all that's the issue.  I only routed enough room out from the sides for my current cables, and don't have anyroom left over for another ps/2 cable.  I have a setup's like 1UP, so it's not like just drilling a hole in the bottom of the CP and running a wire down there  
Basically I wanted to avoid all the hassles and so USB is the best solution for me.  
That logitech sounds like the same kind of thing I got - I can't get over how lazy this keyboard/mouse makes me

[mccall]

I didn't even think of the power issue.

I don't know if that would be a problem. I've done POS (point of sale) installs where they have a mouse and a bar code scanner running off one ps2 port with no problems. I would imagine that a bar code scanner would draw as much if not more power than a wireless receiver.

I guess I'll find out soon enough. As we speak I'm installing the software on the computer that will power my soon-to-be-built cab. I was hoping to be done with the construction by now but it's been raining here for what seems like a week now, and since I have no garage the MDF has to be cut and painted outside. Rain = no construction.

I plan on having the wireless KB share the port with the Ipac. If they draw too much power I'll have to make other arrangements.

[Frostillicus]

About programming the buttons- tech support got back to me and this was their response:

The VersaPoint Communicator uses the standard USB HID device drivers, no other software is available. The remote cannot be changed or programmed. The hot buttons are the standard buttons used by Windows. If you have an older version of Windows, not all buttons will work.

 (I'm using XP pro)
So no programming    Though if it uses 'standard' drivers does anyone know of any program/new driver that would allow for this type of thing?   I'm guessing not, but I really don't know how the software bit of these things work.

[mccall]

You could try a driver for other RF wireless combos to see if that would work with the one you have. The Logitech iTouch drivers allows remapping of hot keys, how many I'm not sure since I haven't installed it yet. I also don't know if it can do macros. You could give that driver and software a try and see. It's available for download on the Logitech site.

[Frostillicus]

I found a great solution to my woes!  It's called Macro Express 3.  It has to be the most functional macro program I've ever seen.  I even have the remote buttons doing different things depending on what's running and what's not running.  They always send either a PAGEUP, PAGEDOWN, or F5 when pressed.  There's also one that sends the letter 'B', but I don't really need that one.  I now have full volume control with the 2 side arrow buttons, and the center one launches digital jukebox when it's not running, and then controls the 'remove song from queue' function so I can sit back and just let the random feature play if I want  - I can nix a song if I don't like it.  
Pretty neat.    

EDIT: After a little tinkering, I am now able to double click the bottom button to toggle audio mute on and off.  It works great now.