The problems is.....


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Posted by JimK on 31, 2000 at 12:24 AM:

In Reply to: How to: Hack(Videotape) posted by Darren Harris on 30, 2000 at 10:36 PM:

: Has anyone ever thought to create a visual aid(videotape) showing a step-by-step keyboard or mouse hack? Or anything under the subject of building a control panel?(Or cabinet for that matter).

: The reason I ask is because the author of every single site/page that shows "detailed" hacks, always assumes that certain things or words are already known by everyone reading that site/page. I understand that most of the regulars at this site have some sort of technical background(going by the "So, what do you do for a living?" poll a few days ago), but there are newbies who don't know squat about anything electronic.(I'm trying to crawl out of that category myself).

: Wouldn't it be great if a variety of experts on the various aspects of control panel or cabinet building collaborated or taped their respective projects from beginning to end?(I could use a "keyboard hack" tape). :-)

: And please don't say, buy an MK40(or other encoder). If that was an all encompassing solution, then many of the pages on this site could be deleted because the info contained therein would no longer be needed. Remember the "BUILD" in "Build your own arcade controls" header on the front page. :-)

: What do you guys think?

: Darren Harris

: Searcher7@mail.con2.com

Great idea Darren but the main problem with a keyboard hack is the video would be different with every model keyboard. So video is a bit impractical with a keyboard hack. I personally have done 2 keyboard hacks with the same Mitsumi keyboard with the same model number and the guts on both were different... but maybe with parts that stay static like a sidewinder or power ramp joystick hack, video would be a neat idea. Or even a "how to wire a keyboard encoder" video. I also think that maybe converting the tape to mpg and making a "how to" cd might be cheaper and easier to distribute. I'm game with helping you with this idea but I don't have the video equipment to do it.

As far as the keyboard encoder goes, I think it is the all encompassing solution. I've tried keyboard hacks (2), a sidewinder hack, and an encoder and the encoder is the best of all of these options. I think that is why people have been saying to buy and encoder. Because we have tried them all and the encoder is the best. The reason all those pages of other options are here is because this hobby is always changing. At one time, hacking was the ONLY way to go. Now there are many. It is kind of like a journal of Dr. Frankenstein on his path to create his monster..muhahaha.. Maybe someday we will have a new fangled technology for controls and we will wonder why we ever bothered with those pesky encoders.

Done rambling now... Get back to me on the video thing... I will help ya anyway I can.

Jim K.


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