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Encoder Help - IPAC/Keywiz + LedWiz...how many?
Neverending Project:
Perhaps some basics will help:
A pushbutton is simply a microswitch. A microswitch has two leads - one connected to a keyboard encoder, and the other is connected together with all the common leads. Therefore, a microswitch takes one input on a keyboard encoder.
An 8-way joystick is simply 4 microswitches, and hence takes 4 inputs on a keyboard encoder.
A lighted pushbutton has an LED in addition to the microswitch. The LED will need to be connected to an LED controller if you want to turn it on and off via software, and like the microswitch will require 1 input per LED.
You are correct in that the UltraStick 360 is a USB device, as are (most likely) the spinner and trackball. These will not require a keyboard encoder input, but may require one or more LED controller inputs.
Now, the most commonly used controllers are from two vendors: Ultimarc and GroovyGameGear. They each offer keyboard encoders, each have an LED controller, and they each offer lighted pushbuttons, spinners and lighted trackballs. Here is a basic comparison of the number of inputs:
UltimarcGGGKeyboard Encoder56 (I-Pac4)32 (Key-Wiz)LED Controller16 (Pac-Drive)32 (LED-Wiz)You can daisy-chain the above devices to double the number of inputs (or more, if needed). Note, GGG also offers a combined game pad encoder/LED controller with 16 inputs of each. The difference between the game pad controller and the keyboard encoder is the gamepad controller sends the button presses as joystick buttons, and the keyboard encoder sends the button presses as keyboard input. MAME can be configured for either.
So all that being said, looking at your sketch it appears that you will need 47 microswitch inputs (39 if you replace two 8-way joysticks with 2 U360s), and 27 LED inputs (you list 24 novagems, plus 3 for the LED).
There is lots of information on this site about the difference between the controllers, and you are free to mix and match. You may find, for example, that the I-PAC4 works great for your buttons, and the LED-Wiz works well for your LED controlling.
And on a final note, you can combine a lot of the functionality of your "admin" buttons, leaving you with fewer needed buttons on your CP, and hence fewer needed keyboard controller inputs. It is a personal preference, and you can find scores of posts here about what buttons people like to leave on their CPs as well.
deepblue:
@ Neverending Project: Thank you!! This clarifies a great deal of what I was asking about....
Just a couple of follow ups:
- When you mention the GGG "combined" product for LED and Gamepad, I'm assuming you meant the LED-Wiz+GP (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=306). Personal preference aside, is there any disadvantage to using gamepad contols for buttons instead of keyboard? Do you solder the gamepad connections to this LED-Wiz+GP (I don't see any screw downs for the gamepad controls)
- Does anyone know how many connections on the LED-Wiz the ICE-T lighted trackball needs?
It looks like the most sensible configuration given the information I've received (and assuming I go with 2 Ultrastiks + 2 competitions (or other less expensive option)):
- 1 LED-Wiz (That accepts 32 Inputs)
- 1 IPAC4 (accepting 56 inputs)
The above would seem to cover my needs plus also leave me with options to use the IPAC4 exclusively for buttons or split up input functionality between the IPAC4 and UltaStik.
Thanks for all the feedback guys.
Stub:
For the Ice ball and any full color led, you need 3 channels, on red one blue one green.
My CP will have 52 rgb LEDs. 156 channels 5 LED-Wiz. It has grown a life of its own...
deepblue:
--- Quote from: Stub on May 08, 2008, 09:42:48 am ---My CP will have 52 rgb LEDs. 156 channels 5 LED-Wiz. It has grown a life of its own...
--- End quote ---
Great Odin's Wrath!
Wow, that's quite a complex (and expensive) setup! I'm assuming the Novagems are fine with the one given they are color specific. Thanks for the info on the Trackball!
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