[l008com]

OK I plan on putting a 6500 in my truck, and while I plan on initially controlling it with a keyspan remote, i eventually plan on adding an screen, and it makes sense with the setup I have in mind, to have buttons on/around/near the screen for doing other sorts of things, where as the remote would be basically just for controlling the MP3's. So basically, I need a way to create my own custom USB hardware, or i need existing USB hardware that is Ripe for modification... This is sorta what I have in mind...



I don't need any sort of custom input sprokets, all the buttons have to do is emulate keyboard buttons, meaning each button only has to be a key, like 'A'. I'm writing the program myself, so I can make it work with that. Anyone have any Insight?

[RoofusPennymore]

Seems like you could take a USB keyboard and just use the buttons you want from that. Cut it up and hook it up to your own buttons.

There is also ActiveWire: http://www.activewireinc.com

[l008com]

Hey that active wire is some cool looking shït!! But as fas as taking apart a reugalr USB keybaord, aren't keybaords giant circuit boards with contacts for each key, which would make it pretty much impossible to cut it into the shape and size i need.

[Woggle]

Hmmm, if you don't mind the keyboard being seperate, have you looked at Pi engineering's X-Keys? They're USB programmable keyboards of 20 or 58 keys(Club Mac nos. P5501001 and P5501002 respectively).These might meet your needs.

[l008com]

Uunless they can be modified to fit in the picture above, they won't work for me

[Woggle]

Hmmm, exactly like that, no, but you could create a bezel putting the keyboard above, below or beside the screen.

[RoofusPennymore]

Originally posted by l008com:
<STRONG>Hey that active wire is some cool looking shït!! But as fas as taking apart a reugalr USB keybaord, aren't keybaords giant circuit boards with contacts for each key, which would make it pretty much impossible to cut it into the shape and size i need.</STRONG>

There is usally wires going from the controller board the the main keyboard circuit panel. Figure out which keys you want to use and either trace them back to those wires or use a meter. Then rewire it to some different buttons.

edit: You will probably want to wire them up to something like CMD-OPT-F1, etc. else when you hook up a real keyboard it might get confused with the keys on it.

I am also curious on how you are getting the fiberglass panel made? I'm considering a similar project.

[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: RoofusPennymore ]

[l008com]

I know several people that do fiberglass work. I plan on having them assist me. From what they tell me, its not very hard. You just use a soft piece, use a form to get it to the size/shape you want, then apply some stuff to it and it hardens.

[l008com]

Oh yeah, and so WHO makes THE cheapest USB keyboard? I don't wanna spend $60 on an apple one, since i'm jsut goona chop it, especially if it ends up not working. Although after seeing that other USB piece, i'm probably leaning towards just making my own, since I can go through a Tech-AM like catalogue and get any kinds of buttons I want!

[waffffffle]

I had similar plans in the past. I wanted to make an mp3 player out of a PowerBook 5300ce but one of the important things that I wanted to do (use my stock radio) isn't possible in the way that I had originally planned. The only way I can do it is to disable the CD player, which I don't want to do.

However, does anyone know how to make custom ADB controllers? I would be very interested in that. I have this old ADB number pad that I'm ready to bust open and see what I can do with it.

[RoofusPennymore]

Originally posted by l008com:
<STRONG>Oh yeah, and so WHO makes THE cheapest USB keyboard? I don't wanna spend $60 on an apple one, since i'm jsut goona chop it, especially if it ends up not working. Although after seeing that other USB piece, i'm probably leaning towards just making my own, since I can go through a Tech-AM like catalogue and get any kinds of buttons I want!</STRONG>

Look around for a broken one. I have one (sorry, i'm using it for my project) form a grape iMac that had soda spilled on it. Dispite my best efforts I could never get it cleaned up good enough. So it gets taken apart. You could also use PC keyboards that might be cheap too.

[l008com]

I think i'm going to use that active wire and try to send the autio through that as well, that way if i decide I can only fit this computer in a box in the back of my truck, it will be much easier to remove. And if i don't, it will still be less wires and therefore easier.

[COmie JOe]

I would sell you a old apple USB Keyboard that works for $20
E-mail me: Protolite@home.com

[Loz]

My brother made an upright arcade type machine from a PC, old 19" monitor and a bunch of buttons he got from the USA somewhere.

Each button has a different keyboard function and some have multiple comands (ie CTRL, ALT, DEL to restart). He also uses it as an MP3 player and has it in my parents garage where him and his mates hang out and drink beer (doesn't sound so bad I guess )

I'll head round there tonight and find out where he got the buttons from (ordered on line) and post some pics too (it really is quite cool).

Although he made and arcade machine, these buttons could be used in the project you are planning.

Alternatively, if you just want an MP3 player, you could look at the new Alpine model (www.alpine1.com) which will read CD-R and CD-RW's (I think Kenwood has one too).

[l008com]

I have already considered every other MP3 alternative, and none of them are good enough, as good as having a Macintosh in there. The buttons really aren't a problem, i have old Tech-Am's filled with them, it was jsut, before the activewire thign, i wasn't sure how to hook them up.

Originally posted by l008com:
<STRONG>I have already considered every other MP3 alternative, and none of them are good enough, as good as having a Macintosh in there. The buttons really aren't a problem, i have old Tech-Am's filled with them, it was jsut, before the activewire thign, i wasn't sure how to hook them up.</STRONG>

Hey check this out!
http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/Destin/home.html

[superlarry]

Originally posted by &lt;netgo&gt;:
<STRONG>

Hey check this out!
http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/Destin/home.html</STRONG>

ohhhhhhhhhhh my
that's all i can say

[RoofusPennymore]

Just thought I would share this link for hacking keyboards, in case you decide to go this route. http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade...l#KeyboardPort