Hacking multiple keyboards together?

[Stabface]

Why not take 2 (or more!) identical keyboards, and connect one membrane to all the encoder circuits? It may require some additional passive components to limit the voltage/current, but I can't see any good reason why it wouldn't work.

Very cheap multicast keyboard solution? Can't find that this has been done anywhere...

Here's an image I found, to give you a better idea of what I'm talking about. Basically disconnect input set X and Y on all the keyboards, then connect up all the encoders to just 1 key membrane.

http://www.mattkicks.com/blog/images/keyboard1.jpg

[Xzin]

Or just buy wireless kbs? $10 - $15 each or so.

[Stabface]

I tried out a 3 receiver -> 1 wireless keyboard back in DAoC and had problems with missed keystrokes, I think maybe it was interference but I'm a bit leery of wireless since then. :?

[Xzin]

Put them closer together. Like inches. That should fix it.

[mmcookies]

I wish the KVM and multicasters aren't so expensive...
They're almost as much as my (planned) computers XD

[MrLonghair]

I was thinking about that, with all the spare keyboards I have (tens! I go through them fast, typing like a pianist), but I quite like being able to toggle key-casting on and off.

On the other hand, that could be fixed with a little switch. Okay I'll break out the soldering iron when I can put down my dual-boxing for a few hours.

[Xzin]

What the heck are you guys doing to your keyboards? I use the same one for years and years and they never break down on me.

[Bradster]

I wish the KVM and multicasters aren't so expensive...
They're almost as much as my (planned) computers XD

I know what you mean, I had to purchase the new 8 port one. Only thing you can do is bend over and take it like a man. Not like you'd find something like that on ebay :evil: .

In regards to the OP thinking. The Multiplexer has to be a simple circuit. Really if you think about it you could take a single PS2 keyboard. Cut the PS2 connection off it. Get 4 PS2 keyboard wires, cut the one end of and splice them together. Of course there may be impendence mismatches, which over time could do damage to the board. Doing it that way would look like a rat nest of wires, which brings us back to wireless keyboards.

A skilled electronic technician could most likely build a Multiplexer or copy it, simple as the circuit is. Then just make their own version for ¼ cost in a ghetto radio shack project box. Just check to see if they have a patent on the Multiplexer. Small as the place is I bet they didn’t shell out the 12k patent fee. Long as it’s not Exactly the same you can build them to your hearts content. But if you use this idea I want 10% :lol:

[Bradster]

What the heck are you guys doing to your keyboards? I use the same one for years and years and they never break down on me.

I replace mine often. Some times a couple a year. I smoke, eat,drink at the computer. Carful as I am, ash somehow makes it down in there. It gets out of control over time.

[mmcookies]

Smoking tends to be very bad for keyboards... and everything else

I hope you clean the insides of your computer regularly... that tar build up can make it impossible to clean after a while >_<

[Xzin]

Sure, I clean my computers and keyboards every year or two but still....

The Vetra boxes are actually a bit more difficult to make than one might realize. I actually thought about building my own for a period of time. Turns out to have just been easier to buy one than engineer one from scratch.

[MrLonghair]

I've never had a keyboard that cost less than $15. Maybe it's my violent viking fingers, but I find the print on the keys (usually burnt in by a laser) wears off really fast. Had my current keyboard for two months and it's basically a DAS Keyboard now.

(edit) Okay it must be said that this will be a bastard to do with cheap $5 keyboards. Look for something with a decently large keyboard controller like the threadstarter demonstrated instead. Just opened up a cheap one and I think that one might just go to the trash instead.

[keyclone]

instead of going through the trouble of wiring keyboards together, which takes a while and is a bit messy, might i suggest keyclone? that's one of the main things it does... broadcasting the keys from one window to other machines.

here's one user's account:
http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=636

[JesDyr]

I was looking into this exact same thing. Only I wanted to do it with nostromo n52s (much harder). I never got to the actual testing of it, but it should be possible.

At this point I am waiting for the USB multiplexer to be released. :)


The reason keystroke broadcasters are not "the best" solution is they can lag. It might not be an issue with WoW, but I play EQ2 which LOVEs to eat up as much of the CPU as it can, this seems to bottleneck slower PCs and will cause a large amount of lag in the keystrokes.

[Xzin]

You mean software ones. Hardware ones just plain work. All the time. No lag, except a small amount of constant latancy (50 ms or less) due to the way PS/2 works.

[JesDyr]

You mean software ones. Hardware ones just plain work. All the time. No lag, except a small amount of constant latancy (50 ms or less) due to the way PS/2 works.

Yes I was talking about software broadcasting. :)