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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: brock.sampson on January 16, 2009, 11:43:23 pm

Title: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: brock.sampson on January 16, 2009, 11:43:23 pm

I'm looking at a dell gx280 computer that only has usb connections no ps2.  Are there any usb keyboard encoders out there.  I no there are some limitations on simulatenous key presses etc. but just wondering if someone overcame that.

Title: Re: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: TelcoLou on January 16, 2009, 11:45:23 pm

Sure! The Ipac, which I use, is USB.

Title: Re: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: dkubarek on January 17, 2009, 01:24:07 am

X-arcade has one, too. But many prefer the ipac. Neither supposedly has limitations on keypresses. You can push lots of keys and once, say all of them, and they will all register.

Title: Re: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: fronty on January 17, 2009, 02:03:06 am

.

Title: Re: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: CheffoJeffo on January 17, 2009, 08:53:48 am

USB keyboards have a maximum of 6 simultaneous keypresses (plus modifier keys -- Ctrl, Alt and Shift).

Last I heard, in USB mode, the IPac has a maximum of 16 simultaneous keypresses (plus modifier keys).

USB gamepads have a maximum of 64 simultaneous inputs.

NOTE: The above is my recollection based on the "Great USB vs PS/2 and Keyboard vs Gamepad ThreadWars of 2005"(tm)

For more info, I refer the ambitious reader to TigerHeli's Arcade Interfaces Page (http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm), which includes technical discussions by the major participants of said ThreadWars.

Title: Re: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: stephenp1983 on January 17, 2009, 10:35:07 am

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on January 17, 2009, 08:53:48 am

USB keyboards have a maximum of 6 simultaneous keypresses (plus modifier keys -- Ctrl, Alt and Shift).

Last I heard, in USB mode, the IPac has a maximum of 16 simultaneous keypresses (plus modifier keys).

USB gamepads have a maximum of 64 simultaneous inputs.

NOTE: The above is my recollection based on the "Great USB vs PS/2 and Keyboard vs Gamepad ThreadWars of 2005"(tm)

For more info, I refer the ambitious reader to TigerHeli's Arcade Interfaces Page (http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm), which includes technical discussions by the major participants of said ThreadWars.

Are there any cases where more than that would be needed for a game though?

Title: Re: USB Keyboard Encoders
Post by: Blanka on January 17, 2009, 12:33:42 pm

And BT/Wireless keyboards only handle 4 simultaneous keys. That really sucks. I never run into iPac limitations though. 16 is more than enough for 2 player setups. 5 fingers and 1 joystick means a maximum of 7 keys per player.