Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: sewerrat on December 28, 2006, 04:50:03 pm

Title: Multiple Keyboards, trackballs, etc
Post by: sewerrat on December 28, 2006, 04:50:03 pm
Forgive me, as I'm new here  :cheers:  I'm sure this is a basic question.

I've cruised these forums for awhile and see a lot of talk about slide out keyboard trays, etc.  But haven't seen anybody mention using a wireless USB keybord.

I'd like to have a USB wireless keyboard, a USB trackball, and a USB IPAC.  Will this cause any conflicts or will the computer "throw up" seeing the IPAC as a keyboard and the wireless keyboard as a keyboard?

The USB wireless keyboard would be for PC maintenance, configuration, etc.
Also, do most have internet connections to their MAME machines?

Hasta for now.
Title: Re: Multiple Keyboards, trackballs, etc
Post by: Kaytrim on December 28, 2006, 05:38:07 pm
There are several people that use a wireless keyboard for their cabs.  Windows doesn't throw a fit either when several keyboards are connected.
Title: Re: Multiple Keyboards, trackballs, etc
Post by: u_rebelscum on December 28, 2006, 05:48:09 pm
Lots of people here have done what you're thinking of doing without much problem.  Multiple keyboards aren't a problem (except mame can't tell which keyboard the keypress came from).  OTOH, mame does see each trackball seperately, so what used to be mouse 1 (default mapped to player 1) might be moved to mouse 2 when you add another mouse device.  This has been asked a few times here; the way around that is to remap your TB/spinner back to player 1 (tab, "input (general)", player 1, trackball or dial or lightgun or ad stick, "analog" port, enter, spin TB/spinner quickly, repeat for each one you want to remap).

Windows itself doesn't care (and can't even tell if there's more than one on most levels) if there's one or half a dozen keyboards or mice.  (FWIW, I've hooked up 8 mouse devices at the same time before without problems.)