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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: fribse on February 22, 2004, 02:05:43 pm

Title: Splitting a Wireless Logitech keyboard for MAME
Post by: fribse on February 22, 2004, 02:05:43 pm

Hi All

I've bought a cordless desktop for use with my MAME emulator in my HTPC box. The idea is to build a hotrod-alike just wireless, maybe even include a trackball (due to the wireless mouse also being included).

The keyboard has the usual little board with a row of connectors from the keyboard to the board.
I was wondering if anyone has made a matix overview for the connector on a Logitech keyboard?

/Fribse

Title: Re:Splitting a Wireless Logitech keyboard for MAME
Post by: alepus on February 22, 2004, 07:33:24 pm

all keyboards are different.. just map out the matrix yourself.. it really isnt hard.. its about 140 keys.. each one will take you about 10 sec if you're slow.. =)

(140x10)/60= aprox 23 min.

and make sure to use Switch diodes. so you wont get masking/ghosting.

check out this page for more help about this:
http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/

i dont know about the mouse and TB interface though.. it will work if the mouse and tb have the same optical range.
check out this page about the optical range thingy:
http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/trackball.html

i used a microsoft intellimouse (old one without scroll) and it works PERFECT. both at slow and high speed.. no backrolling at high speeds.


good luck with your project.

Title: Re:Splitting a Wireless Logitech keyboard for MAME
Post by: fribse on February 27, 2004, 05:51:38 am

Hi Alepus

Ok, I'll try and see if I can make it work.
I can see that the suggestions for mapping a keyboard is done in a matrix, and it doesn't look too tricky, I guess I'll make a small PCB with some sort of 'diodes-on-a-chip' so I don't have to have 50 single diodes to do this anti-ghosting.

Now I need to find some money to get the HAPP controls :-)

Title: Re:Splitting a Wireless Logitech keyboard for MAME
Post by: 2slk on February 27, 2004, 11:55:01 pm

Fribse,

 I would advise caution in doing this, as it seems you may have incurred some expense in obtaining the wireless products. I am a pretty intense gamer and I find that wireless keyboard/mouse products often have a latency that can mess up your playing pretty quick. I've given up on wireless totally for quick FPS type game play. I would advise that you do some experiments before tearing your wireless components apart and end up unhappy with the performance. At least that way you could Ebay the stuff if you have no other use for it. In any case, good luck.

Title: Re:Splitting a Wireless Logitech keyboard for MAME
Post by: fribse on February 28, 2004, 05:47:08 am

Hi 2slk

Thanks for the advice. I'm using a wireless keyboard as it is, and I'm quite happy with it, I guess I'm not that hardcorea gamer  ;D

They keyboards weren't too expensive, so I'll still try and have a go with them, I don't need to trash them to make this work, a bit of carefull dissasembly is needed, and if I'm not satisfied with the result, I can still put it all back together again.

/fribse