Advice on PS/2 Scan Codes

[penelopepug]

Thanks Luciano. I've seen that Packard Bell remote before. That remote is IR, not RF howerver I could likely adapt it However, vertually every remote I have encountered has a very slow command repeat rate for some reason. Do you know if this remote is capable of trasmitting 50 to 100 commands per second? I see the software allows you to set how many times the command is repeated but I wonder about the repeat rate. The other thing I wanted to avoid is having lots buttons that are not used (like the mouse and curser buttons) and buttons whose native funtions are mapped for something else. Currently, my remote (although not exactly pretty) has 13 dedicated buttons for the following commands or macro commands;

Volume Up (Keypad 8) - Fast Repeat Rate Required
Volume Down (Keypad 2) - Fast Repeat Rate Required
Scroll Up (Up Arrow) - Fast Repeat Rate Required
Scroll Down (Down Arrow) - Fast Repeat Rate Required
Queue Track (Q)
Play/Select (Enter)
Play Previous Track (Z)
Play Next Track (B)
Pause (C)
Toggle Shuffle Mode (S)
Sort Playlist By Title (CTRL + ShIFT + 1)
Randomize Playlist (CTRL + SHIFT + R)
Reverse Playlist (CTRL + R)

[Luciano]

Hi,

Maybe I have a solution, but what's wrong with your current
keyboard encoder? Why do you want to replace it?

Best regards,

Luciano

[penelopepug]

Hi Luciano. The use of the encoder was a work-around because I did not have a solution to feed data directly into a USB port. What I have done works perfectly, but it is a crude solution and I want to do this the best way possible. The keyboard encoder was meant to have various arcade buttons connected to it. My pics' software receives serial commands then translates those to simulate buttons being pressed by lowering various port pins connected to the button inputs of the keyboard encoder. I beleive there are serial keyboard encoders ICs but I would like a solution that feeds the commands directly into a USB port if possible. I need to understand a lot more about PC architecture I guess.

[Luciano]

Hi,

See this link.

Human Interface Device (HID) class
http://www.lvr.com/hidpage.htm

Best regards,

Luciano

[penelopepug]

Thanks Luciano. I shall dive in.

[Luciano]

Hi,

Windows XP will let you connect a PS2 and a USB keyboard at the same time.
Connect a sandard PS2 keyboard and connect your device as USB keyboard.
(XP will see them as one keyboard).

There is no need to write special software on the PC
if Windows XP sees your device as USB keyboard.

See this link:
http://www.mecanique.co.uk/products/usb/easyhid.html

* * *

Also possible with Windows XP

SerialKeys: Use an Alternative Input Device Instead of a Keyboard or Mouse

SerialKeys is accessibility feature designed for people who have difficulty using the computer's standard keyboard or mouse. SerialKeys provides support so that alternative input devices, such as single switch or puff and sip devices can be plugged into the computer's serial port.

https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...erialkeys.mspx

How to Set Up and Use SerialKeys in Windows:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=260517

Best regards,

Luciano

[penelopepug]

Wow, that appears to be exactly what I was looking for. Although my music server is running Windows 98, I plan to replace the PC soon. We have another PC running XP in our den that I can test things on anyway. I'm surprised that XP has such a facility (serial keys). It can't get any easier than that. And I'll definately check out the HID application. These potentially make possible (for me) all kinds of interesting projects. Thanks again for all of your help.

I did complete my Winamp RF Remote last night. Although the receiver is somewhat crude with respect to the hardware I used, the result is a high performance MP3 remote. It's very fast and easy to use.

What you provided me will hopefully allow me to develope something that requires a lot less hardware and construction time so that I can build some more of these for freinds and family.