In a respect of doing things cheap (free if possible), I want to implement an old PS/2 keyboard into an interface for flight sim. What I want to do is edit a driver to recognize the second keyboard as a game controller, so I can build a switch panel.

I would use small solenoids to activate the keyboard keys via power from a 12v transformer (model train set) and toggle switches, or rockers if I can get some.

Basicly, I want each key to be considered a button, programmable in flight sim. Is this possible? If so, how about in WinXP64?

skligmund,

The keyboard output to game controller part of your plan is the issue in my opinion.  "Hacking" keyboards has been done a lot by early pit builders... including the solenoid control bit...... and there are some threads here in this forum that point to info on that subject.  Building that conversion interface I have NOT seen anywhere.

My guess is that you are going to find that even if you have the keyboard... by the time you are done getting all the solenoids and wiring and such... that it would actually be cheaper, faster, and ultimately FAR more functional to just get a Hagstrom KE72 keyboard encoder.

The Hagstrom KE-72 can be programmed to send any key or a macro of keys to the computer.  It can turn a toggle switch input into a "momentary" type output.  It can send one key(s) on press and another on release.  It is VERY flexible... and not that expensive.

The same switches and wires that you would have had to hook to the keyboard you then just hook to the KE72.

If you absolutely NEED game controller button presses.... then the registered version of FSUIPC will allow you to convert keypresses to something seen by Windows as game buttons.

best,

.....................john