Home Simulator - DIY Button box for (almost) free with up to 100 buttons

In this video I show you how you can create a cheap button box with lots of buttons possible, without the need to purchase a USB controller board like Arduino® or Bodnar®
The base is a keyboard, can be old and broken, as long as the controller works, all fine. You can use USB or PS/2 keybord and almost any kind of push buttons. You’ll get easily keyboards for free.
Hope, it’s the key to your DIY home simulator improvement.

[@santiagoluib3]

This is a clever idea, but still has the same problem - your simulator has to be in "focus" (active window/app) all the time for this to work. For instance, if you are running Flight Sim, and you are currently in a browser window looking at nav charts and you forget to click on the sim main screen, these "keys" will be interpreted by the browser.

[@dark666razor]

You can easily fix that with one of the 100 buttons and autohotkey. :P

[@billygames7107]

More projects like this please! Subbed!

[@krizos21]

There is also even easier and cheaper way - buy used numpad keyboard only, change the case, print stickers on the buttons representing vehicle control icons such as lights, horn, emergency lights etc. Put it into a box, that looks fancy and done! And there are bluetooth numpads too, so chance for wireless buttonbox aswell!

[@mariachi127]

Hi, yes, possible. But If you build a cockpit for flying, trucking, driving or whatever, the numpad/keyboard-style might bei not your favorite layout.

[@mrazor]

This idea is brilliant, but the problem is that you have to map keys in the game to a keyboard rather than a game controller unless you can change this keyboard controller into a game controller. During the gaming session we still need to use the keyboard occasionally. Anyway thanks for your sharing.

[@MikinoYelocity]

For future, if you clean contacts on pcb you can solder it :)

[@mariachi127]

Hi, I tried, but without success. Please be so keen and make a how-to video. Appreciate

[@G_de_Coligny]

@@mariachi127 scratch off the green varnish on top of the traces. Softly, flat narrow screedriver.

[@mynameisprivate158]

I would rather spend the $8 and buy a nice keyboard encoder already soldered.

excellent video, any link to that matrix document?

[@mariachi127]

Hi, sorry for the late reply, I haven't recognized your comment/question. Thanks for liking the video. If you like, I can give/send you mine. Not sure if it will help you with your keyboard chip. Just let me know how. Cheers Michael

[@cmdrschime4840]

well have to say.... one thing, if you use that button box for some simulation games, if u make mistake to connect button A to be an A its not important coz games using keybindings whatever letters they was before ;)

[@INLAVIKPRO091804]

Well done

[@mariachi127]

Thanks

[@TospolFoto]

Good idea ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍

[@mariachi127]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@smallign]

Really love the hot glue concept. Lost a lot of time and effort trying to solder these thin leafs but no succes. Pity i found your idea after wasting one module :(

[@mariachi127]

Glad I could help

[@MaciejSwic]

Almost free. If you don't value your time :)

[@mariachi127]

It's even satisfying if you enjoy creating something with your own hands. 😉

[@MaciejSwic]

@@mariachi127 Absolutely, i just think its wrong calling it almost free, that's all.

[@mariachi127]

@@MaciejSwic That's why I used the term "almost"

[@tomaszwota1465]

This is cool and all, but unless you have a keyboard that can have all the buttons pressed and registered as pressed separately at the same time, it's not really that robust of a solution for anybody using toggle switches.

[@acromatic0189]

Still, for something like an MFD it would be almost perfect

[@tomaszwota1465]

@@acromatic0189 yep, for something like that, it's not bad at all. Just need to be aware of the limitations and you're good to go.

[@suddanks5136]

Ok this is what im wanting to do. Button box with 34 switches 13 push buttons,11 on off toggles and switches and 10 3 way switches "on/off/on." I am not electronically savy. Maybe enuff to get me in trouble. Haha. My box is for truckin sim. Your idea looks to be the best that ive seen for what i think will work for my needs. Is there anything else i need to know keeping in mind ive never tried anything like this before. Dont think me trying to write code for an aduino is much of an option

[@mariachi127]

Glad you like the idea. Just go for it, there's not much risk in term of cost. People are throwing their old keyboards away. It will cost mlstly just your time. If it's working, let me know.. Cheers

[@agusprayogo7932]

it thought you gonna hack the keyboard so it would detected as another type of input device but not a keyboard. but nonetheless, this is great

[@picure]

You can always use UCR+vJoy to turn ur 2nd keyboard to a virtual joystick with no axis and 104 buttons. Thats what I use for my flight simulation being that my 104 button button box is a keyboard 😂

[@mattivirta]

lot better have use arduino leonardo and have usb hid can use all analog,digitals,encoders,buttons,switch,and output leds, same board only.

[@Scoobydcs]

How?

[@mattivirta]

@@Scoobydcs look first mobilight software whit arduino mega board, can build simple easy all radio panel 7-segment displays and all switch and buttons very easy. then looking teensy board made analog input system, flight sim easy connect and setting all.

[@CaptainDoofy]

Mans made a keyboard out of a keyboard

[@mariachi127]

You are right, but sometimes a way cooler one... ;) Just think about a truck simulator rig with working window regulator buttons you've got for free from a scrap yard. But only DIYers might understand that... Cheers Michael

[@CaptainDoofy]

@@mariachi127 I recently built a button box. Super easy. Just ended up spending more than I anticipated lmao

[@mariachi127]

Well, spending more... I know what you mean...happens way to often (to me)... *lol* but at the end, as long the fun is with you. All good. Isn't it?

[@CaptainDoofy]

@@mariachi127 lol! I mean I started out with just wanting a button box, then I found that I could make functional gauges... and then found lcd screens. It just keeps increasing in size and complexity!

[@mariachi127]

Well know problem - my idea was to reduce wobbling of my purchased 4DOF. It ended (not really) with a newly build from scatch 4DOF, full aluminum. Even had to purchase a WIG welder for that...

[@JarppaGuru]

allmost free need arduino buttons and wire. solder kit. not free even you allready have them

[@mattivirta]

my first flight sim switch panel i made old used keyboard but have 30 year before, today all use teensy or arduino leonardo board and make code and adding realistic similar same switch and puttons and wheels what plane have. i have made my totally realistic cessna all parts at wood and plastic and metal easy diy cocpit, old crashed cessna cocpit has cheap and panel at plywood and all gauges 3D printer and pc monitor backside panel. and mobiflight and arduino mega haver all radio,totally true reali8stic all working sure,radio,navicator,autopilot,easy made mobiflight software, only analog input ,youke,trottle,trim,some other input need use arduino leonardo or teensy board.

[@jayparmar7603]

how many buttons can we utilize ?

[@mariachi127]

Generally speaking that depends on the keyboard (PCB and chip) you use. If it is a 102 key, you can get 102 with single switches. But if you use double pole switches that have a slight delay between the cirquits (i.e.shift signal is requierd prior the "main one"), you may be able to get even more out. You then utilize case sensitive outputs. Theoretically this would even work for n-key outputs. I never did it for multiple ones ,.but if you build one, let me know

[@jayparmar7603]

@@mariachi127 hey man thanks for your reply i m definitely going to do it but i have some doubts can you please figure it out for me

[@mariachi127]

Long time ago I've planned to build a Dash 8-300 cockpit with that button box appraoch, but since I use VR, there is nor more motivation for me to finalize it. The single pole version works fine, only to test if the buttons you want to use are electronically working with your keyboard PCB / chip. If you like to use rocker switches, that gives a signal wenn switching from A-B or B-A, you need to use MMB ones. And you can use button switches in parallel to the toggle switches, if on startup the toggle is on the wrong position (push button gives the same signal than the rocker, so you can allign Software and rocker) I know it's possible to use 2 pole switches, but I do not know any game that uses case sensitive inputs.

[@mattivirta]

arduino can handle traight input maximum how many input have, and sift register can handle 124 button max. i not remeber how many input arduino mega have 54 about ? this is maximum what can use traight. if use sift register can use more.

[@jayparmar7603]

@@mattivirta I can't get it properly

[@OkieDokieSmokie]

I’ll just go to work bro

[@Yelnats101]

why???

[@mariachi127]

Why not?

[@Yelnats101]

@@mariachi127 I guess your right in a way. It’s just easier to buy. But it’s also fun to build I guess.

[@mariachi127]

It's easier to buy, you are right. On the other hand, this solution works with any game and you have a ton of buttons options possible. A keyboard with your required layout, i.e. diy home cockpit projects

[@kasper3355]

для чего это нужно???!!!

[@mariachi127]

Для подключения переключателей и кнопок к компьютеру при создании авиасимуляторов, симуляторов вождения или гоночных симуляторов. Вы можете использовать его, чтобы построить кабину самолета и использовать кнопки для управления симулятором полета.