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TOKN KB32 Testing

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jjd:
I have completed the preliminary testing on the TOKN KB32 keyboard encoder in order to confirm/supplement the testing that was done on the 16 input version (KB16).

1) Keyboard passthrough:  When the unit is connected, both the CP and the keyboard are recognized by the computer.  You can type with the keyboard.  You can't type well with the keyboard, but it does send signals to the computer.  I tried to type this review last night through the keyboard passthrough, but after about 10 minutes of typing gibberish I gave up.  Maybe 4 out of 5 keypresses were recognized and some keys (the period in particular) were not usable.   Either nothing happened when the key was pressed or the key acted as though the shift key were pressed.  While the keyboard passthrough is a nice feature, at least with the keyboard I was using it did not work well enough to make it a functional feature.

2) LED and programming.  Yep the LED lights up and you can reprogram the unit using the instructions from the TOKN website.  They aren't clear, but they do the trick.

3) Keyboard encoder.  The KB32 appears to be 2 KB16s put together on one board.  There are 3 32 pin connectors running parallel to each other.  The default setup has one set as the player 1 controls and the 2nd set as the player 2 controls.   

I tested one fully connected set of controls hooked first to the player 1 pin bank and then to the player 2 pin bank. The connections were made exactly as shown on the TOKN documentation.  The results were very, very disappointing.

The CP I used for testing had one 8 way joystick with 6 action buttons, 1P start, 1 coin, and 3 admin buttons (I did not reprogram these and left them set up as buttons 7,8, and 9?? per the default).

I tested the KB32 using Ghostkey.  All inputs generated the proper signal to the computer when used one at a time.  All inputs also worked properly when 2 inputs were used in tandem.  When any combination of 3 or more inputs were used, additional input signals were sent to the computer in a very consistent and predictable manner. 

One shining example was when the joystick was moved up and right, and buttons 1 and 2 were pressed, the encoder sent all of those signals plus an extra down and left signal.  While play testing the encoder in a fighting game, this particular ghosting made the game nearly unplayable. 

Ghosting is a major issue any time more than 2 inputs are entered at the same time.  These results match those that Tiger-Heli reported almost identically. 

While Tiger-Heli's suggestions for rearranging the inputs may be helpful, the functionality of this unit is not up to par for more than simple one or two button games. 

I have not had a chance to connect a full 2nd set of inputs, but I can only imagine what the results will be.  My plan is to test the full 2nd set, but I am leaving for vacation tomorrow and will not have time to complete the test. 

I will be requesting a full refund from TOKN media  as the product sold to me does not function as advertised (2 of 3 major functions).  I wonder if it was even tested prior to sale?

pointdablame:
Yikes... I can appreciate the fact that both you and Tiger got it "working" and there seems to be some workarounds to get it to function properly... but damn..... I'm staying farrrrr away from these things, especially at their price point.

Why would you go through this trouble when you can get a KeyWiz for essentially the same price...... very disappointing.

Hoopz:
Odds of getting your money back?  25%?

I really hope you do.  And I am still interested to see if Mattp is going to respond to any of the threads regarding his product(s).

pointdablame:

--- Quote from: HooPZ on June 12, 2005, 12:59:37 pm --- And I am still interested to see if Mattp is going to respond to any of the threads regarding his product(s).

--- End quote ---


haha.  Good one ;)

jjd:

--- Quote from: HooPZ on June 12, 2005, 12:59:37 pm ---Odds of getting your money back?  25%?

I really hope you do.  And I am still interested to see if Mattp is going to respond to any of the threads regarding his product(s).

--- End quote ---

Actually, Mattp has agreed to a full refund.  I have been very impressed  with the customer service from TOKN and wish them all the luck in getting the bugs worked out of thier product. 

I'm sure it will be an uphilll battle for them, but I think they will eventually put together a working and tested model of the KB16 and/or 32. 

The KB32 or 16 both seem to be functional for smaller scale applications.  Unfortunately for me I am building a 30 input CP on which I would like to play more than the one or two button classics. 

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