Surprisingly good website

[JDFan]

So I am interested in these but a bit of a noob.  1 per controller right?  Do they show up as gamepads or a keyboard in windows?  Anything else I need to know?

Depends -- One is actually enough for 2 players in many cases -- depends on the setup you will be using (ie. how many buttons per person) - They can be programmed to show up as either a gamepad or Keyboard encoder depending on what software you load (very simple to program using the Kade Loader software which is free to download) For example the MAME extended mapping configuration can support 2 joysticks and 6 buttons per player ( 20 inputs) and with a bit of wiring correctly 6 dedicated admin buttons (ie. Joy1 up and Joy1 down at same time = 1 admin button input - since you cant physically press a joystick up and down at the same time you can wire 1 button to input both directions on  a press which can be set as an admin button press. Same for Joy 1 Left and right, Joy2 up and down , Joy2 Left and right, and then 2 buttons as all 4 inputs (up down left and right) from a Joystick at the same time giving you 6 admin buttons as well on the CP.

Also you should realize that with these units some soldering will be required (either to solder the wires directly to the unit or to solder connectors to the unit to attach the wires) They are not completely setup and ready to use when you get them (for that you would want to purchase one of the KADE devices not a minimus) - So these are a cheaper alternative because some assembly will be required.

[yotsuya]

So I am interested in these but a bit of a noob.  1 per controller right?  Do they show up as gamepads or a keyboard in windows?  Anything else I need to know?

To piggyback off what Lilshawn said, you'd program these with the KADE firmware to show up as a gamepad or keyboard. I learned to hack keyboard if I only needed a couple of keypresses, but now it's straight KADE. I've bought 8 of these through this deal. Thanks for the link, Slippy! 

[lilshawn]

They can be programmed to show up as either a gamepad or Keyboard encoder depending on what software you load (very simple to program using the Kade Loader software which is free to download)

you'd program these with the KADE firmware to show up as a gamepad or keyboard.

yes! this!

I couldn't for the life of me remember what the program was called. 

[PL1]

So I am interested in these but a bit of a noob.  1 per controller right?  Do they show up as gamepads or a keyboard in windows?  Anything else I need to know?

There are several KADE firmwares to choose from -- some are keyboard-style and some are gamepad-style.

Check out the KADE Quick Start guide here.

If you want to run a keyboard-style 2 player panel off one KADE, either the HWB input can be used for shifted functions or there is an Extended Mode firmware that uses a wiring trick to get 26 outputs from 20 inputs by using "impossible" combinations.

Details here.


Scott

[pbj]

Or do like I did and program them to be original Xbox controllers, use the PC drivers, and then Joy2key to emulate keypresses on your computer.

Yes, it's ridiculous.  And works fine.

 

[jugger18]

Thanks.  No problem with the soldering here.  I might just grab a few of these for my next project

[Howard_Casto]

Or do like I did and program them to be original Xbox controllers, use the PC drivers, and then Joy2key to emulate keypresses on your computer.

Yes, it's ridiculous.  And works fine.

 

To be fair it isn't ridiculous if you also want to use an xbox. 

[VoltaTom]

Picked mine up from the boarder today.

Well packaged and overkill (bag in a box in a bag) but I'll take it over underkill.

Also came with a little case I wasn't expecting. Might need to modify them to fit the pins if I use the cases at all.

[Howard_Casto]

I think that might be why they are giving away the cases for free.  It seems like a good idea until you realize you'd have to hack it up to even get to the I/O pins. 

[JDFan]

I think that might be why they are giving away the cases for free.  It seems like a good idea until you realize you'd have to hack it up to even get to the I/O pins.

That and\or since they mainly cater to PS3 modders the case comes in handy when using the Minimus to jailbreak the PS3 as it provides some extra protection while it is in the PS3 USB drive and doesn't need any of the io pins. 

[jugger18]

Just got my 4 delivered today.  Also bag in a box in a bag.  Kade loader is dead simple.  Now I just need to buy some blocks

[Skinnysloth]

The sale is still on if anyone is interested.  I just bought 6 of them.  Big thanks to Slippyblade for the link.  Also, thanks to JDFan for the link for the screw terminals.

[JDFan]

The sale is still on if anyone is interested.  I just bought 6 of them.  Big thanks to Slippyblade for the link.  Also, thanks to JDFan for the link for the screw terminals.

Guess the Weekly special is a little longer than a week 

[sin360]

Does anyone know a USA seller that sells the screw terminals in 2.54 mm or something similar I can use. I had 30 pcs ordered from Amazon and then I realized I needed a smaller pitch when I got my boards today. I know digikey and the sorts sale them, but they want way too much. I have everything else coming in this week so I don't want to wait a month for some terminals from China.
Thanks

[xefned]

Yeah I misread the thread before - thought I missed the $5 deal and was bummed looking for an alternative. Somehow I re-read it correctly today (thanks for bumping it) and realized the discount only shows when you get all the way to CHECKOUT. 

Create an account - get to payment info, then suddenly $20 for 2 jumps to $10 for 2, plus $5 shipping.

I bought 2 and felt proud of my restraint. 3 is the perfect deal point with $5 shipping. But I know realistically, I'll use 2, and the other will sit there tempting me with its potential energy for years before I move on to the next great deal.

Bartop encoders purchased! This is going to be the CHEAPEST BARCADE EVER since I just bought an LCD 4:3 for $25. ArrowDirect's 50% off monitors is back in full effect with code RMN50 (but their stock is running low and seem heavy on monitors that do not include an AC adapter.)

[JDFan]

Does anyone know a USA seller that sells the screw terminals in 2.54 mm or something similar I can use. I had 30 pcs ordered from Amazon and then I realized I needed a smaller pitch when I got my boards today. I know digikey and the sorts sale them, but they want way too much. I have everything else coming in this week so I don't want to wait a month for some terminals from China.
Thanks

I ordered the ones I posted earlier in the thread from CHINA off Ebay ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/111323143255?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT ) and they got here faster than the boards (mainly becase the boards were delayed a bit since they didn't accept papal or AMEX - so I had to send them a money order and wait for them to get it before they shipped) but the CHINA order only took about 10 - 12 days and the price was good !

[PL1]

A less expensive way to add screw terminals is to solder wires to the AVR and connect them to two of the euro-style terminal strips. (one per side)



Both the AVR and the strips have a total of 24 positions.   


Scott

[DeLuSioNal29]

Update:  I FINALLY received my screw block from the vendor linked above (from China). The first package got lost. Took 2 months total!

That said, the blocks fit nice and snug to the AVR, so it was easy to solder. It got easier by the fourth one.

Bonus!  When I was done, I was able to still fit the front piece of the case on, but not the back. Then it got me thinking...  Why not modify the plastic back cover with a Dremel?  I had nothing to lose, I was going to toss the covers anyway. So I used a cutting disc attachment and 5 minutes later...  Voila!  Perfect little case. It can now easily Velcro to my projects if needed on the "XL" lettering part. (see last pic of final product).

Pics below. Enjoy!

DeLuSioNaL29

[yotsuya]

I just bought two more this week! Thanks for the link, Slippy!

[VoltaTom]

Sorry to bump an old topic (hey, they are still $5 each!) but I finally got around to making mine into a detachable encoder and thought I would share. 

I did it this way so it will be easy to mount and can be easily removed for programming. The hardest part was modding the case to fit the pins - broke an x-acto blade in the process.

[pbj]

Nice work.  I experimented with similar ideas but these things are so cheap they're borderline disposable.

[Slippyblade]

That's a cool mod, very useful design.

[JDFan]

Looks like they finally changed the weekly sale -- It's now different items and 25% off but luckily they went ahead and lowered the price for these to the same $5 price as they were during the sale so still just $5 per minimus.

Here's a curent link directly to them ( http://www.xconsoles.com/products/MINIMUS_32_AVR_ATMEL_ATMEGA32U2_USB_DEV_BOARD.html )

[yotsuya]

Looks like they're all gone.