matrix board for X-keys

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

No I own a HOTAS Warthog so the anything being pressed on the HOTAS has no consequence on the X-Key controller. Everything on the HOTAS is assigned via a game device NOT keyboard. If I sound a little confusing here's what I mean, no button or switch on the HOTAS uses a keyboard command to work. When I press the trigger is doesn't use CTRL+Space to fire it just accesses the trigger command.

 

So what I'm trying to say is in my case the X-Keys card is only being used on panels in my pit. Yes some commands/switches must be held for operation but very few if any have to be held at the same time. In any case I believe the software for the X-Key controllers handles this by sending separate commands.

 

Maybe Cat can explain this better, I'm no engineer and I don't work for X-Keys but I know your suspected issues are not an issue at all. Have you tried asking your questions to a support rep at X-Keys site? You have the wrong idea of how this board works IMHO.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide to use.

[brydling]

No, you don't sound confusing. I understood what you meant the first time, maybe I expressed myself poorly. I am an electronics engineer and have developed both joystick controllers and keyboard emulators, so I know exactly what you mean :-)

 

I agree with you that probably no switches HAVE to be held at the same time. However, since I am a little perfectionist I do not want these flaws. I want to be sure that I can hold a switch for raising my seat or starting an engine or whatever at the same time as pushing a pushbutton elsewhere in the cockpit without the ejection seat going off or any other undesired action :-)

 

Since I have developed my own joystick card I am going to use that. This was more out of curiosity, if someone knows if it is at all possible to get around these issues with a keyboard emulator.

 

/Niclas

Edited August 16, 2011 by brydling

[CAT_101st]

You realy need to look thrue the key command. I have not found the option for the up and down hold state for the cannopy and have not looked at the seat yeat. To open and clost the cannopy using a hold state can only be dun using a mouse to click on the in game switch.

 

I dont't thing that you will ever find your self doing more than one thing at a time in the A-10C. It was a very well thought out pit and I have never had a problem with walking over other commands. I curintly have 72 switches maped thrue the Hagstroms Ke-72.

in the curint build their is a issue with IO card inputs. and I am hopping it will be fixed in the next patch. You need to add a delay in to the macro to prevent the problem you are talking about but that is a DCS problem not the IO card problem. they did this in BS and fixed it. dont forget you can with some IO cards have the DX buttond assined in game to avoid problems as well and that is the best option to me if avalible.

[brydling]

You realy need to look thrue the key command. I have not found the option for the up and down hold state for the cannopy and have not looked at the seat yeat. To open and clost the cannopy using a hold state can only be dun using a mouse to click on the in game switch.

 

I dont't thing that you will ever find your self doing more than one thing at a time in the A-10C.

 

I don't want to limit my interface card to DCS:WH. I want it to be flexible for the future. And like I said, this may be used for custom HOTAS too. In that case it will absolutely be an issue. But in other aircraft I know of situations where it will occur without the HOTAS being involved too.

 

dont forget you can with some IO cards have the DX buttond assined in game to avoid problems as well and that is the best option to me if avalible.

 

Yes, I think that is the best option too. That is what I have been saying all the time :-) I will use such a card.

 

The meaning of my original question was "Is there any way to get around these issues with a keyboard emulator?", not "Will this be an issue?", because I already know it will :-) But like I said, it doesn't really matter since I already have an interface card without these issues. It was just a question out of curiosity, and I thought that if there is a way to get around them that could maybe give me some new possibilities when developing new interfaces in the future.

 

I have already disrupted this thread enough. Thanks for the answers!

 

/Niclas

Edited August 17, 2011 by brydling

[Krebs20]

In DirectX you are limited to 8 axis if I'm not mistaken. How many buttons can windows handle on one joystick? Is there a limit? In a perfect world I could buy a 32, 64, 128, or 256 button card and wire it up from there with no axis on it. The most buttons I ever see is 32+ a hat.

 

I worked on my matrix card last night. 1st batch. It's almost done. Pita little diodes.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Yeah I haven't started mine yet deciding to work on the pit structure first instead. Will be starting sometime soon. I have the first batch card too, already knew the diodes were going to be a pain, glad you can confirm it lol.

[Gadroc]

In DirectX you are limited to 8 axis if I'm not mistaken. How many buttons can windows handle on one joystick? Is there a limit? In a perfect world I could buy a 32, 64, 128, or 256 button card and wire it up from there with no axis on it. The most buttons I ever see is 32+ a hat.

 

I worked on my matrix card last night. 1st batch. It's almost done. Pita little diodes.

 

I'm not sure there is a limit on the buttons now. I know of at least one person who built a custom joystick board and tested it with 128 buttons via helios and it worked fine.

[Krebs20]

I'm not sure there is a limit on the buttons now. I know of at least one person who built a custom joystick board and tested it with 128 buttons via helios and it worked fine.

I would love to see a link to that. I have given up hope for a simple "button" solution.

 

The problem I had at the start of the build was with my tweezers. They somehow picked up a magnetic charge and the diodes would stick to them.

[brydling]

In DirectX you are limited to 8 axis if I'm not mistaken. How many buttons can windows handle on one joystick? Is there a limit? In a perfect world I could buy a 32, 64, 128, or 256 button card and wire it up from there with no axis on it. The most buttons I ever see is 32+ a hat.

 

I worked on my matrix card last night. 1st batch. It's almost done. Pita little diodes.

 

When a game asks for an interface to a game controller with DirectX, it get's 32 buttons by default if it doesn't specify anything (or so I've read somewhere sometime). So that is why some games are limited to 32 buttons from a single game controller. DCS can handle 128 buttons from a single game controller, probably because it specifies that it want to read 128 buttons. I have made a joystick card that has 256 buttons and 13 analog 10-bit inputs. In Windows it shows up as two joysticks, no special drivers needed. DCS can handle all the buttons. I don't know if 8 analog axis is the limit, since my card doesn't violate that limit (8 axis on the first "virtual" joystick and 5 axis on the second)

Edited August 18, 2011 by brydling

[Krebs20]

If its not secret send me a pm on your setup. Details would be very nice.

[CAT_101st]

Ok parts have arived! I will start building the kits tomarow. Can I get a confermation fro the guys that put in the orders pleas. I want to make sure I don't miss anyone.

[walker450]

I just need a cable shipped to 74804. Please let me know how much and I'll PP it to ya.

[CAT_101st]

Have the first 2 boards dun and almost ready to ship out.

[CAT_101st]

DIY= $29 + shiping

built = $36 + shiping

 

Connector cable $8 + shiping

 

Ok guys here is the final price not much changed just uped the DIY $1. I will start geting your shiping cost figured out as soon as I have your shipping locations. I have 3 boards dun and starting on a few cables. Walker I will ship to you as soon as dun with the 3rd one.

[walker450]

Awesome!

 

Has anyone researched buying switches (momentary for me...) in bulk? I know we mentioned this but if we could maybe buy 100 then split them 3 or 4 ways that would be awesome. Hopefully the shipping costs would be low enough to justify splitting them up.

[gcompc]

pm'd you with info although my CP shows no pms sent so my zip is 80207

 

Want to buy finished board and cable.

Thanks

[Krebs20]

I recommend you buy it built gentlemen. It will take a solid 2 hours if your going good. More if you mess up.

[gcompc]

CAT,

 

How do you maintain your sanity building these boards?

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Thats what I want to know? LOL I haven't started building the matrix yet and I have a headache from looking at the pieces!

[walker450]

I think if I tried to build mine, I would have got mad and thrown it at the wall. I'm not too experienced soldering.

 

Thanks Cat for putting it together!!

 

Anyone interested in buying bulk switches? If they are even available cheap somewhere...

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

I might Walker but I have to insure I have funds available first.

[CAT_101st]

Sory guys having some issues with the connecting cable parts. I need to find a new way of putting them together. Also I have ben put on night work witch is also slowing things down.

[walker450]

Totally understand! Thanks for the update! I'd still like a cable when one is available, money is ready to be transferred when you say the word.

 

Thanks Cat!

[Froglips]

Night shift:( Take it easy CAT, we are all patient.

[CAT_101st]

Here is what the board is going to look like. You will notice the extra spacing of the connectors from the older pic's in this thread. I have found a way to make the connector cable with out issue now and am making them up now. I will start sending bills out tomarow guys. PayPal is best..