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First Time Build: Looking for some clarification.

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PL1:

--- Quote from: cdspindle on August 19, 2014, 05:56:30 pm ---If I were to use another controller, would I just need to install drivers on each system I plan to use the arcade stick with?

--- End quote ---
Encoders (IPac, KeyWiz, KADE, etc.) don't require drivers, but you might need to change some MAME settings on your friend's system.

You will want to choose wisely between keyboard-style and gamepad-style encoders. (the wiki gamepad encoder page is rather out-of-date :embarassed:)

If your friend has a keyboard-style encoder and you use a gamepad-style encoder, the MAME defaults will see both controllers as controlling Player 1. (P1 button 1 = both left-ctrl and Joy1 Btn0)

KADE has a keyboard-style MAME multi-mode firmware described here that allows you to switch keymaps between P1/P2/P3/P4 with the touch of the HWB button.

That firmware was designed for portable controllers like you're describing -- maximum compatibility with other encoders (IPac, KeyWiz, etc.) and minimum MAME re-mapping.   :cheers:

KADE is a standard USB HID keyboard (or USB HID gamepad if you load that firmware) and has been tested on a large number of different computer systems and consoles.

You might have a problem if you are running Win98 or earlier and need a "boot protocol" keyboard, but shouldn't have a problem with any modern OS AFAIK.


Scott
EDIT: Somewhat updated all 5 wiki encoder pages.

cdspindle:
I apologize, I have been calling encoders, such as the ipac, "controllers."

As for the xin-mo, I'm going to take Slippyblade's word for it. It's more like a xin-NO ha ha ha....  :404 ...yeah...

The Kade device looks like a great place to start! I'll have to do more research for myself to see the pros and cons of the different encoders, along with the compatibility for different Linux distributions. I'm not too worried about it working with Windows.

Also, thanks PL1 for the information regarding keyboard-style and gamepad-style encoders.

Thank you all for the clarification regarding the drivers and such.

Another thought came to mind.
For my first build I want to build a controller with the raspberry pi inside it. I would very much like to make a second controller, but still use the raspberry pi and arcade encoder in the other controller. Would it be wise to make the second controller and wire it into the first controller? I would like the wires from the second controller to be detachable. Is there such thing as a "patch panel" for these wires? I don't want to make a single two player controller (for now... I had another idea to make a modular 2 player controller that can be detached from a bartop cabinet and hooked up to a pc via usb, but that is for another time).

dkersten:
If you go with 2 small and inexpensive "encoders", you could just have the second controller use a single USB to plug into the one with the Rpi.  Plus then your second controller could be used standalone to plug into any other computer and use as a single player controller.

cdspindle:
Yes, this very much may be the way that I will have to go, especially if I go with the Kade device, it is built for only one controller.

Final questions for this topic:
Wires. Will any wires be fine (such as the wires inside a cat5 ethernet cable), or would it be wise to purchase other insulated wire?

Do the joystick and button eswitches require a specific size for the female quick disconnects? I would like to use those if I am making my own wiring.

PL1:

--- Quote from: cdspindle on August 25, 2014, 10:28:17 am ---Yes, this very much may be the way that I will have to go, especially if I go with the Kade device, it is built for only one controller.

--- End quote ---
It can easily handle a 2P joy+6 buttons setup using either shifted functions or extended mode.

Extended mode firmware allows 26 un-shifted outputs with 20 inputs. (up to 20 more outputs if you use HWB for shifted functions)

26 outputs = (Joy + 6 player buttons + Coin + Start) for P1 and P2 plus Pause and Exit.


--- Quote from: cdspindle on August 25, 2014, 10:28:17 am ---Final questions for this topic:
Wires. Will any wires be fine (such as the wires inside a cat5 ethernet cable), or would it be wise to purchase other insulated wire?

--- End quote ---
People have used cat5, but crimping wire that small can be a challenge.

Paradise Arcade Shop has a great selection of inexpensive prefab wiring, ESPECIALLY their daisy chain grounds.

When working with non-prefab wiring, I prefer to work with 22AWG stranded or 24 AWG stranded.  YMMV.

If you decide to use solid core wire, QDs won't crimp properly (no strand compression to provide tension) so you will also want to solder the wire to the QD.


--- Quote from: cdspindle on August 25, 2014, 10:28:17 am ---Do the joystick and button eswitches require a specific size for the female quick disconnects? I would like to use those if I am making my own wiring.

--- End quote ---

http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Basic_wiring


Scott

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