X-KEYS programmable pads

[GAU-8]

hey guys, im about to get SAITEKS GAMING KEYBOARD, ya know the one with the "COMMAND PAD" 9 key-18 function accessory.

anyways, i read about X-KEYS a while back in PC PILOT or summat like that. saw a few cockpits in the article set up with it (mostly F-16 variants) and it looks really good. what i like is that the keys have overlays so that you can print out the actual function you want, and slip it between the key and the overlay.

can see many  purposes for that in LO-MAC/ PF/ MSFS2004

although a little on the high side for an " expensive keyboard thats just a different shape!!" as my girfriend calls it

im looking at the "proffesional" with 58 keys

also, if you go to the main site, they have train simulator controls too if thats your cup of tea.

http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys.php


 

[TX-Gunslinger]

Hey GAU.....Texas-Bevo and I both have the 20 key X-Key, pads.  I love them!Main reason is that they are built well and you can place labels underneath the keys so you can actually see what command is mapped to the keypad, 1 color for the first mode and a second color for the second.I recommend them highly.  I think later this year I will go ahead and purchase one of the large pads.One added benefit is that Bevo and I both use the same controllers so when I reprogram my setup (like when PF came out with additional commands), I can send him my setup file.Anyway, I have a Nostromo and was intrested in the Gaming Keyboard, but the ability to put lables beneth the transparant keys was the big seller.I've mapped things there that I don't need on my stick, like the Bombsight commands, but want to have available in an organized fashion that makes sense. Anyway,   good to hear from you.S~Black 2

[TX-Rahman]

Just a question...does the keypad light up??  If not....looks like another mod that I would like to get involved in!!  Would be awesome to have a few white or yellow leds light up the pad from underneath the keys... Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

[TX-EcoDragon]

It doesn't look like you will need to do any mods  on some of them Rah:http://www.xkeys.com/resources/legendmaker.phpBut I don't see the LED backlights listed on the larger ones. . shouldn't be too hard to get them to do it though. actually the mod probably wouldnt be too hard anyway, I guess if you placed some LEDs under the keys that the acrylic key caps would transmit the light through the acrylic and give a nice gentle light.  Use a deep red, or mid range blue green for aviation styled cockpit lighting. S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[GAU-8]

sweeeet.. i didnt even see the backlighing part thanks for posting it.i was curious, on the X-KEYS (the "joystick"/most expensive model) im ondering if you can assign the joystick itself to either the  heat/night vision cameras , or other objects in LO-MAC. me thinks itd be nice to have to aqcuire mud moving targets at night, slewing the ordinance/ camera around

[TX-Gunslinger]

Here is my current xkeys.  Just took a quick picture. This sits right between my joystick and throttle.I put the things I use most on the "Red" layer, and tried to group the Bombsight stuff in some sort of logical arrangment.I think in my next mod I'll move the track playback keys to the "green" layer and add the "gunsight dimmer/KI-43 gunsight cover" command somewhere*** Down below Eco posted the picture for me cause the "paperclip" did'nt show up *****   Black 2

[TX-EcoDragon]

S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-Rahman]

I especially love the "Blow Up Spitfire/P47" button!  lol!Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

[GAU-8]

too funny, .....................so you found the sekret ini konfig. der alliest Uberkamphkablooeyizer.

[TX-EcoDragon]

"I put the things I use most on the "Red" layer"So I take it that you aren't doing too much blowing up the Spitfires or P-47s???    Muahahahahaha                      :-DI added that real quick in photoshop before I uploaded it for him. . . I am not sure he's seen this yet. . . hehe.Say, they also sell the parts. . so doing your own backlighting mod doesn't look too hard. (not real cheap though are they)http://www.xkeys.com/access.php?PHPSESSID=ca09e03f5f4c877785fcc1c5e2e4c223And just for you Zen they have this:Low Profile Tactile Feel SwitchesPerfect for use with the X¨Ckeys Matrix Board. The same low profile switch we use in our X¨Ckeys Stick. DPST Normally Open. Body = 0.47¡å square x 0.15¡å high (12mm x 3.8mm) Accepts our X¨Ckeys Stick Key CapsS!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-Gunslinger]

No see, I try to restrain from using the "SECRET WEAPON" too much for fear of ruining my development.I only save that one for the competitions.  Don't tell anyone, but that works by dimensional shifting.  When the button is depressed, wherever Black 1 is at he is teleported to a position 150 meters behind the offending allied pilot in a Bf-190G10.  You can imagine the rest.  The only glitch is that the Secret Button is in a press-release configuration, so I have to keep holding it down until the offender is vaporized.This is usually not a problem and works without a hitch.  However when I'm flying real early and Eco is sleeping there have been problems while he wakes up!Wow...I'm glad you pointed out the backlighting on the Shuttle/Joystick versions.  I had'nt noticed that.  I was pretty much thinking about the Professional keypad version until....you pointed that out.Hmmmm.  Backlit keys would be really cool and one of these days when I get back into my digital multi-track recording stuff, the Shuttle would be great.Ahhhhhh also......one more slider.  Let's see, I have prop pitch and elevator trim on my two sliders right now.  What could I put on the wheel?Maybe incremental flaps?  Maybe if I ever flew allied enough, aileron trim with rudder on the 2nd mode (green)........Oh crap, here goes another Gunslinger "obsessive purchase".   Let's see, UberIINXT was justified for Xmas, my birthday is June and I don't need a new video card for a while......Hahahaha......just sharing sucessfull domestic "man-scheming" thoughts...maybe it will help others....Happy New Year!Black 2

[GAU-8]

OK ITS NOT THE COOLEST, and takes away a slight bit of the keyboard, but hey. it works.i went to frys lookin for the  saitek GAMING KEYBOARD, but they were out, so i happen to spy this http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PAUK10Unow its not perfect, but you want to have 19 keys available, near your throttle, this was the best solution i could QUICKLY acheive, and not be too spensive. just plug it in, and its basically the numpad section on your keyboard . so you wont have any NEW assignments  extra, but at least you can place this nearby without the bulk of the keyboard...mine is taped up to the flat surface on the X-45 throttle. fits in there perfectly.0-50% throttle, its close enuff for my thumb to hit the keys, without  a problem, anything above 50 percent (to far away from thumb) and ill take hand of throttle, and manually finger peck them in.EDIT: if you guys are familiar with this stuff... how hard would it be to convert this to a recognisable "gamepad/controller" for the computer to know it is  19 key pad, for games, and not just an extension of numpad on keyboard?

[TX-FlightRisk]

Man I use a Nostromo N50 Speedpad but this guy has a sweet setup.http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/howto/hagstrom.htmor this is cool as well.http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/howto/modu/part1.htmS~TX-FlightRisk "If my plane is smoking it can mean one thing...I have been hit in one of my ass cheeks and I am cauterizing my wound....."