Ipac or Hagstrom?

[Shieldwolf]

Which one is better? Also which model do i need? Im sure it's personal preference, but as for a model type I assume I don't need the top of the line model.

[SirPoonga]

just for the shift fuinctionality, key wiz ans ipac are MADE for arcade applications.

[REBIRTH]

I have an IPAC and love the thing, so simple to use and works perfectly.  I got the 2 player model since my machine does not have a 4 player setup.  ULTIMARC aslo has also responded very quickly to a few emails I sent them, which is great as well.  I also have the Opti-Pac for the trackball and spinner, which works just as well as the IPAC.

[steve_pss]

i have no benchmark as I only the IPAC--

that being said i cant imagine anythign being simpler to setup, and the support is incredible.

[locash]

I can't make a comparison either, I have only used the IPAC.  I have had mine for over a year now and I can't think of a single complaint.

[Tiger-Heli]

Which one is better? Also which model do i need? Im sure it's personal preference, but as for a model type I assume I don't need the top of the line model.

As SirPoonga said, Hagstrom was the best choice before the I-PAC and KeyWiz were around.  They tend to be overpriced compared to the competition now, unless you can find a used one at a swap meet, E-bay, etc.

The other questions are how many inputs do you need and how much do you want to spend -

The I-PAC has 28 inputs and the KeyWiz (www.groovygamegear.com) has 32 (see Hoagie One's USB or PS/2 thread for more comparisions) for a similar price.

For more inputs, the I-PAC/4 has 56 or the MK64 has 64.  All have excellent customer support.

[jakejake28]

i've used an ipac4 and a ke72, and got pretty much the same in quality of results. i would choose the ipac because for the price, u get: easy to hookup, shift-key, and perfect consumer support.

[skirge66]

Hagstrom is definately not for the person on a tight budget. I have both a KE72, and an ME-4 in mine, easy to setup and more inputs than you will ever need. between the 2 devices I can use 72 inputs, 2 trackballs and a spinner plus have a place to attach a keyboard and a mouse if I so choose. Hagstrom makes a heck of a nice product but keep in mind these 2 boards will cost you about $240. I have never heard a single bad comment (functionally) about any of the products you are looking at...depends how much you want to hook to it hagstrom also makes very nice breakout boards with ribbon cables to plug into the encoder, and have a very simple trackball harness that plugs straight to either the KE-72 or the ME-4 (replaces the existing harness on happs trackballs).

[Shieldwolf]

do both require soldering?

[Apollo]

Why don't you take a look yourself ( no offence dude but the info is all right there ).

IPAC http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

KE72 etc http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/modules.html

KeyWiz http://www.groovygamegear.com/Page4.html

MK64 http://www.arcade66.homestead.com/files/

[jakejake28]

i-pac does not. it has little holes that you screw the wire into. i don't know how to elaborate, but it is very easy. basically, you insert the wire, and screw down a screw. it is idiot-proof.

[Sasquatch!]

I own a KE72-T and it works fine, but if I were to do it all again I'd get an IPAC.  The KE72 is more expensive, and connecting it up is a bit of a pain.

[skirge66]

if you get the breakout boards to go with the KE72 they have ribbon cable that plug to the encoder board then you wire to the breakout boards just like the I-PAC stick the wire in the hole and screww down.  deffinately more expensive...much more expensive, if I had a budget to live by I would not have used it myself

[Kane]

I've got the KeyWiz and I think it's awesome. As a newbie on a tight budget it was the easiest, cheapest solution for me. I had only one small issue (my fault, I failed to read the instructions) and Randy was more the happy to help. I have never used the other encoders so I don't know about them, but for me, when I buy another one, I will be getting another KeyWiz.

[RacerX]

I have a Hagstrom LP24, and I have had no problems with it.  I had a floppy drive go bad on me and wipe every disk that I put into it, and wouldn't you know, the first disk it happened to (before I started testing it with blank ones) was the disk with the LP24Config program on it.  I e-mailed Hagstrom, and they e-mailed me another copy of the LP24Config program within 20-30 minutes.  I just wanted to say that they have excellent customer service, too.

That being said, I also own an Opti-pac, and I couldn't be more please with it.  And if the I-pac would have been around when I bought my LP24, I would have gone with the I-pac because of price.