Hi,

I found this switch on Enablemart its called USB Penta switch Penta Switch link I was wondering is there is a was to change the USB connector to a handphone jack. to plug into a switch interface. So I can reprogram the buttons the way I want? any other Idea's would be great too.

You cannot reprogram that switch by changing the connection (at least I don't think so). What you can do is use a program to intercept the up, down, left, right keys and translate it to the keys you want. carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie

is the Penta switch used for the up, down ,left ,right keys on the keyboard. I talked with a guy from enable mart and he had no clue what the switch was used for. I thought it was for mouse control. If it is for the keyboard functions that would be wonderful. By chance do you know of a company that makes muscule twitch switches that can be set to what ever key on the keyboard you need.

Jason-

$190! Are you kidding? I also says, "Not meant for harsh or rugged environments." for $190 it should be able to take a nuke head on and still do whatever it is we are not sure it does.

yea I agree do you know any switches like that switch that has 5 buttons on it.

"Four directional control with a center switch for mouse click." To me this means up, down, left, right and left mouse button click. There's a muscle twitch switch but the price is ridiculous. www.ablenetinc.com/Default.aspx?tabid=361

Try not to hurt yourself laughing hahahah

OMG $2,100 for that yea they can keep dreaming.

Yes.

I think the picture on that page is wrong, as it says that it is a USB Penta Switch, but the connector in the photo is the 9-pin Atari style connector. Regardless, there is also a 9-pin Penta Switch, which is generally used for wheelchair control.

Of those nine pins, five represent the five buttons of the penta switch, and when each button is pressed, that pin is connected to ground. They are just switch closures.

So yes, there should be an adapter (often called a "squid") that splits that plug out to five 1/8" jacks, for switches. I *think* that they exist. I would go dig around in our power wheelchair lab, but it is in use at the moment. I will try to look later. If it doesn't exist, it can certainly be made by someone with some soldering skills.


I don't know if that would be the easiest solution, and you might be better off going with a different controller, or using something like Joy2Key to see if you can re-bind the buttons, but what you asked should be possible.

I looked online for the squid thing you talked about. Never could find one.

Does anyone know anything about the Dual Sensor Switches for Eyebrow,Jaw,Muscle Twitch,Touch, ressure,slight Joint Movement switches that GimpGear sells and if it can be pluged into a switch interface to be used for games.

Okay, I think I found it. I went digging around in the power wheelchair lab, and found a few that are made for connecting older power chairs to switch interfaces for computer access.

AbleNet/Tash, who sell the Penta Switch, also sell a "CA 6 Connector Adapter," which is supposed to do exactly what you want. From their website's description: "Allows you to use one multiple switch with five devices that are each operated by a single switch." (And they list the Penta Switch in a section called multiple switches.)

store.ablenetinc.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=43540



Unfortunately, it looks like it sells for around $90. If you or a friend can solder a few wires, you can probably make one yourself for around $10 worth of parts from Radio Shack.

thank you so much. I love all the help you get from people on here.