X-Keys Pro PS2 or USB?

[Xar]

Right now dual-boxing with 2 ok systems, able to run 3 accounts smoothly (most of the time). Can run all 5 as long as I don't go into lagshire or storm lag with them all at once. Since I don't want to put a half-assed upgrade together, I'm going to wait till next month or even April if I have to (all this talk around here of quad-core + 8gb ram + 8800's are making me drool, lol). In the mean time I want to order an X-keys Monday and start using it with my dual-system setup.

I was using synergy to control the second box, just mousing over to the other box, now I'm using 2 keyclones. I want to keep my options open to hardware multi-box in the future in case Blizz changes their mind about software multiplexing. Do you hardware multi-boxers that use X-keys use a ps2 or usb version of X-keys?

[Xzin]

For hardware boxing, use PS/2. You can't really easily multicast USB.

[elo]

Zin is the authority on this, so if you don't get any other replies that's why.

GLHF

[Quix]

I shamelessly followed Xzin's writeup & have a Hardware setup.

I have had no issues with the PS2 X-Keys. Does exactly what its supposed to, with no hassles.

If you have a computer that has only USB ports, simply get a PS2>USB converter cable for around 6bucks.

[Nisch]

I have both the 4 port usb and 8 port PS2 vetra broadcaster as well as both USB XKeys and PS2 Xkeys (both Pros). The USB version DOES work through broadcasting, but is very buggy and not reliable at all. I emailed Vetra and they said that this is an issue with their USB unit and all computers ideally should be 100% identical, or you can run into issues with the USB unit. I went to the PS2 version and it's been much better. Plus the software programming is cumbersome when you have to program it on all the computers where the PS2 version programs the unit itself and broadcasts to all computers flawlessly.

I now use the USB for mouse broadcasting and the PS2 for my XKeys and Happy Hacking 2 Lite keybaord broadcasting and it works great.

[Xzin]

Clarification: you can multicast USB mice. Just not USB X-keys, even with the Vetra box (unless they improve it in the future).

[Nisch]

Well actually I did get it working, but not working well. it even triggered the on screen interface on all of the computers when I flipped the programming switch. However, if I booted the computers in the wrong order or looked at them cross-eyed, they would flip out on me. Then maybe only 2 computers would work, the rest wouldn't, and so on. They're close..........but not there yet.

[Xzin]

Until Vetra's solution works 100% of the time, it doesn't work at all as far as I am concerned.

[Nisch]

Until Vetra's solution works 100% of the time, it doesn't work at all as far as I am concerned.Well, according to Vetra, if all 5 computers were hardware and software identicals, then it would work..........which is the only reason I mentioned it. Some people have that type of setup.

[Xzin]

I love Vetra and I have identical hardware but I remain wary about their USB solution. It's just.... still too hacked together to be reliable in my opinion.

[Ziran]

USB trackball multicasting with Vetra USB multicaster has been 100% reliable for me. I am using their PS2 models for XKey multicasting and keyboard switching and that too is 100% reliable.

I have also tried hooking up the XKey PS2 model to the PS2 to USB monoprice converter and then hooking that up to the vetra USB multicaster and that works reliably too. I imagine the problems with USB XKey broadcasting all relate to the programming over USB aspect.

Ziran

[Xar]

Thanks everyone, I have additional questions...weighing the costs of single boxing 5 compared to doing it the hardware way and I'm kind of leaning towards doing a single box or 2-box with 2/3 or 3/2. Is anyone doing this and have good frame rate in pvp? I'm talking quad core + 8gb and 2 8800's + Vista. I currently have a Gateway 24" main display and am considering using either 2 20" or 22" side monitors for the other 4 slaves.

Getting back to the X-keys pro...I'm dying to order one so I can start using it with my dual-system I have now but still undecided which way to go.

Can you chain a ps2/x-keys pro and an x-keys 20 key pad together and use a main usb keyboard for the system?

Oh also, are the x-keys modifiable at input time meaning if I press shift or control or alt on my main keyboard and press an x-key (say it is just a plain "a" for example), will the final input on the computer be an "A" if I'm pressing shift? I tested this with my n52 by making one button an "a" then pressed shift on my G15 keyboard while pressing the n52 button and it did modify the n52 input so I got an "A" instead.

Does the ps/2 x-keys & pro work ok with with keyclone?

Does anyone know if the USB x-keys can be programmed with multi-lingual keys by using a ps/2 multi-lingual keyboard? I found one relatively cheap on-line and I like the idea of using keys I normally don't type to program into the x-keys units.

Anyone use the USB x-keys in resident memory mode so you don't have to have the software running after it's programmed?

I wanted to stay open to use hardware multi-boxing but looking at the costs I'm figuring now if down the line I spend a few thousand on 4 additional systems + all the connecting peripherals, what's another $170 for a PS/2 x-keys pro? So that's why I'm still kinda stuck thinking about the usb x-keys because it seems easier to program without additional purchase of that PS/2 Recorder.

Thanks in advance!

[Nitro]

I have alot of gear, 11 PC's now and I have tried both ways. By far I prefer multiboxing on a single beefy pc with keyclone then using multiple pc's. It just feels so much more seemless and less spread out.

[Xar]

Well I finally did it, I ordered the X-Keys Pro + desktop, both PS/2 after talking with one of the techs there at P.I. Engineering. The tech was very helpful and courteous and even went and tested a condition based on my question while I was on hold. Now that's service! I'd mention his name but not sure if it's acceptable or not. Really looking forward to getting the units and trying them out.

[Xzin]

Can you chain a ps2/x-keys pro and an x-keys 20 key pad together and use a main usb keyboard for the system? Yes. I have chained 5 X-keys together on a single PS/2 port and they all still work.

Oh also, are the x-keys modifiable at input time meaning if I press shift or control or alt on my main keyboard and press an x-key (say it is just a plain "a" for example), will the final input on the computer be an "A" if I'm pressing shift? I tested this with my n52 by making one button an "a" then pressed shift on my G15 keyboard while pressing the n52 button and it did modify the n52 input so I got an "A" instead.
I THINK so yes but have never tested it.


Does the ps/2 x-keys & pro work ok with with keyclone? I don't see why not.


Does anyone know if the USB x-keys can be programmed with multi-lingual keys by using a ps/2 multi-lingual keyboard? I found one relatively cheap on-line and I like the idea of using keys I normally don't type to program into the x-keys units. If you find out, let me know. You SHOULD be able to though. Not sure you can program a PS/2 with foreign keys though. I fiddled around with it around the time I stopped playing.

[Xar]

Thanks Xzin, one further question, were you able to simultaneously press different keys on different X-keys and have them register properly?

While I was on hold the tech tested using shift on a usb keyboard and ps/2 x-keys and it properly upcased a regular character so I was pretty happy about that. I use a lot of shift/control/alt combos all the time.

Regarding multi-lingual programming to the x-keys...the tech had to check. When he came back on the phone he said the ps/2 works great but they are having issues on the usb model. He didn't say exactly which issues. I found I could not get multi-lingual keys into my n52 at all, it always wanted to put ctrl + my numpad key #'s into the programming window. Right now I only have a G15 keyboard but am going to order a multi-lingual keyboard so I can easily program my X-keys.

I was blown away the tech was so helpful, usually you don't see that much customer service anymore.

[Xzin]

Thanks Xzin, one further question, were you able to simultaneously press different keys on different X-keys and have them register properly? Yes I was. It acted just as if it was one HUGE keyboard (with, I think about 220ish keys if you count the PS/2 keyboard, the two Pro's, the stick, the 2 desktops).

If I were to continue my setup, I would program the PS/2 X-keys with foreign characters and use left/right shift/control/alt to control everything. When I was playing, there was no distinction between left and right modifier keys. That helps quite a bit but still, I don't want to accidentally hit keys typing with say, shift held down. I posted about this before, I am sure you could find it on a search. I know I talk about it briefly in my 10 boxing guide.

My difficulty with programming them is the PS/2 needs a pass through device to record off of. I tried using a barcode scanner but barcodes are, by their nature, limited to normal keysets to avoid confusion or errors. My next step was to buy a cheap foreign keyboard or even use a computer to output PS/2 scan codes but I never got there before I stopped playing.