DeenOX’s massive PXN-86133 Android controller review

This was just too good - I had to reprint!

Review PXN-86133 Command (Android & PC Compatible

Thanks

My thanks to the people of Willgoo I have paid attention and have taken the trouble to go personally to the various stores I've been researching, and performing test patterns that I designed to get results from existing alternatives. All this has not been easy, because in general the Asian vendors are not very predisposed to cooperate for testing, and not give much information about their products (which basically do not know its features and functions). For all these reasons, and for putting up with (I've been very heavy with the issue) reiterate my thanks, willingness and patience of the store.

And the fruit of this research is the product of this review, PXN-86133 command sent to me to perform my tests and presented below.

I hope you find it useful this article.

Use of this review

It enables this review, either by copying or referenciándola link to anyone who wants it, the only condition that remains the author and a link to the original source of this review, and cited in the following section .

Source and update the information in this article

The original article is on my blog.
An updated version in Spanish is in http://www.gp32spain.com and http://www.elotrolado.net
Generated translations have also been found at the following sites:
English: http://forum.openhandhelds.net
Portuguese: http://dingoobr.forumeiros.com/

For updates on this article, I suggest visiting one of the links mentioned above (mainly in Spanish, which is where most often update)

Introduction

As some already know, I have been for some time researching the different options in the market for Chinese manufacturers to find a practical alternative to a wireless controller that can connect to Android devices that do not have bluetooth.

It is worth commenting that the search has been quite long and complicated (basically, because I had to make much use of Chinese translators), and that becomes very difficult to investigate characteristics without being "in situ" and in this willgoo point people have assisted me in everything they could.

One of the premises had to find a solution like this, was that the command should operate on at least android 2.x, since many alternative tablets and android-based consoles come with the operating system.

The command shown in this review, the PXN-86133, is not intended to be the first of its kind, is more in the Asian market there are many alternatives with similar features, although not working correctly with Android (some require drivers in Windows to "interpret" in command), but it will be the first command that is confirmed working on Android 2.x, and actually work with any device (Android, Windows, Mac, Windows Mobile, Smart TV, Set Top Box / Android TV, etc, etc.) that would connect a keyboard through a USB port.

I know many are waiting for the arrival of a device of this kind and I hope this review will enable them to meet and decide to buy this command, for the price you have is as convenient as I've seen.

What gives this command

From here, and unless otherwise comment, I will refer to the Android operating system as an objective of the tests in this review.

The quick description of this command would be more or less which is a wireless controller, USB receiver and works in several ways:

Normal Mode for PC joystick compatible with PS3
Multimedia remote control mode
Mode keyboard / mouse

As most people know, android 2.x does not have native support for drives (or USB, or Bluetooth) and the only way to add this functionality is compiling specific modules for each device.

Therefore, we know that the joystick so this command does not work on a tablet, and therefore only the way we are remote and keyboard / mouse.

The remote control mode works like a traditional media keyboard was connected to the device. command has the common controls to control the players:

Android perfectly recognizes each of these functions / keys and responds according to them, so you can connect a tablet to a TV (via HDMI) and use the remote as a remote control for media playback.

Finally we have a profile, and will pay the most interest, since it transforms the entire command on a standard keyboard with mouse support included.

Why it is so interesting keyboard mode

In this mode, each of the buttons on the remote control has an associated keystroke (or action of mouse), and this can be used in, for example, emulators or in any application that supports keyboard use to interact with it.

In the case of the analog sticks, the left does mousestick function (move your mouse on the screen), and the right is a wheel / scroll / tilt. L2 and R2 and "12" are the mouse buttons, but these functions can be set at ease. (The 12 control buttons can be configured)

The D-PAD is a standard command and corresponds to the arrow keys on a keyboard. These functions can be configured.

Therefore, and if not clear, use the command mode Keyboard / Mouse is ideal for playing with a wireless controller, using our device Android 2.x console mode.

But, what happens in android 4.x

4.x Android has native support for USB controllers, so just put the stick in normal mode, and have a fully functional command (analog included) to play.

The truth is that as I write this review, I have not found any application / game that makes use of analog controls, so I'm out to prove this part.

Unboxing

The controller is protected by a plastic structure (typical of such products), reducing the impact that may occur during transport.

Package contents

Command
USB Receiver
CD with configuration software (not shown here)
User manual (in Chinese. Not shown in picture)
modes and indicators:

The LED indicators are:

P = Power (Power). if fixed, then the battery is charging and enables the vibrating. Blinking is not optimal battery charging, so you disable controller vibration function to save power.

K = Keyboard (Keyboard). When flashing, the controller works as a multimedia keyboard (remote control / remote for media playback). If fixed, it works like a standard keyboard + mouse.

M = Mode (Mode). On Windows, if you are off and K also is off, the controller works as a digital control that mimics the functionality of the D-PAD and the 4 main buttons on the left and right sticks respectively.

T = Turbo. When configured in one of the turbo buttons, when pressed this LED flashes.

Normal Mode USB Joystick (Analog)

LEDs:
"K" off.
"M" flashing (press the "Mode")

The default setting (getting this information from Android) is:

D-PAD = Arrows above [19], right [22], down [20], left [21]
Button 1 = [188]
Button 2 = [189]
Button 3 = [190]
Button 4 = [191]
Button 5 = [192]
Button 6 = [193]
Button 7 = [194]
Button 8 = [195]
Button 9 = [196]
Button 10 = [197]
Button 11 = [20]
Button 12 = [199]

Note: The figure in brackets "[]" is the code corresponding to the assigned keyboard for android.

Normal Mode Joystick USB (Digital)

LEDs:
"K" off.
"M" off

The default setting for the case of the D-pad and buttons is identical to the analog mode, and the only thing that changes is that the left stick repeats D-PAD functions, and the right repeats the configuration of buttons 1, 2 , 3 and 4.

Multimedia Keyboard Mode.

K Led Flashing. in this way the keyboard layout is as follows:

D-PAD UP = Vol + [24]
D-Pad Down = Vol-[25]
Button 1 = Play / Pause [85]
Button 2 = Forward [87]
Button 3 = Stop [86]
Back Button 4 = [88]

The other buttons have no assignments, and so far I have learned can not be assigned in this way.

Mode keyboard / mouse

K Led On: In this mode, the default is:

D-PAD = Arrows above [19], right [22], down [20], left [21]
Button 1,2,3,4 = w [51], a [29], d [22], x [52]
Button 5 (L1), 6 (R1) = q [45] and [33]
Buttons 7 (L2), 8 (R2) = Left mouse button, right mouse button.
Buttons 9 and 10 = z [54], s [47]
Button 11 (left analog button) = r [46]
Button 12 (right analog button) button = middle mouse button (scroll wheel)
Stick Left = Mousestick (move your mouse around the screen)
Stick Right = Scroll Wheel

This is the only way that can be configured by assigning keyboard keys to buttons or mouse actions in the sticks.

There is a restriction in this mode, and you can not press more than 3 different buttons simultaneously (the D-PAD does not have this limitation)

Android 4.x

As I said earlier, I'll skip the PC (windows) we assume that it works correctly on these machines.

4.x Android has native support for USB connected control, so this command in particular work with any of its modes, with some observations to consider.

For testing I used the emulator N64oid.

When Analog mode is enabled ("M" flashing), you can assign the configuration of the analog stick left, and thus have a real analog control the game. (Zelda OOT in, if you lean a little to control the character only walks, and if you lean over the command begins to run)

When assigned the left analog, the emulator does not stop to recognize the D-PAD in a game, but if I get out of it if that does the D-PAD.

This makes me think that the emulators do not have full support for analog and digital controls. Unfortunately I have no USB command to verify this.

The right stick I could assign it to the emulator. When I try to configure it, the emulator seems to receive events from the remote, and therefore I can not assign.

Switching to digital mode, if it works correctly the D-PAD, and also cloned the functions of D-PAD and buttons 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the stick left and right respectively.

short

Android 4.x can work seamlessly with the keyboard modes, and USB joystick mode has some disadvantages that very likely due to an incorrect interpretation of the emulators, as the joystick functions as a USB power control and should have no problems to interact with Android 4.x

Android 2.x (or one above)

Of all the options and advantages of the command, this is the most interesting since it opens a world of possibilities for users of devices (with a USB Host mode enabled), Android oldest versions, and have no support native controls connect via USB.

Of all modes of control and only work 2:
Keyboard Multimedia (to use the remote control and playback of multimedia files)
Keyboard / Mouse (specific to Android devices Mode previous 2.x)
Multimedia mode, I think it is necessary to comment further. The control has some specific multimedia features printed on some of its buttons, and these buttons work seamlessly with any device that supports USB-connected keyboard.

Mode Keyboard / Mouse will enable interested us, as the command keystrokes sent a real keyboard, and these events can be configured in any application that can use them.

The controller comes with a default configuration, which includes the use of the mouse and the buttons as the buttons set 7 (L2) and 8 (R2).

This configuration can be changed from the application that accompanies the command, to make available the buttons 7 and 8 for games (since being configured as mouse events can not be assigned within the games / emulators) and the left stick can be configured as D-PAD.

Thus, we have a fully functional command in Android 2.x, with 12 gaming buttons, Turbo and the option of using the D-Pad or left stick and D-PAD.

restrictions

As mentioned above, this mode keyboard / mouse has a limitation, and can not be more than 3 keys pressed simultaneously the buttons 1 to 12.

Consider that a special working mode of the joystick, and like many normal PC controls with a similar restriction (a normal PC keyboard support possibly about 4 or 5 keys simultaneously, and only the keyboard "gaming" have support for more simultaneous key presses).

Understanding that there are games that probably if you need to press these keys (or at least the button 1, 2, 3 and 4), I have not found a way to pressure the 4 at the same time, except for the configuration options that have the emulators that let you assign multiple buttons to a single physical button.

The Configuration Editor lets you assign multiple keys to one button, but the behavior within the emulator is a key sequence, instead of concurrency (perhaps this option is used to create scripts of movements)

Use as Extended Keyboard / Mouse

In addition to what has been discussed so far, there is a very interesting use of this mode to any device Android is the configuration tool and the potential it has.

One thing is to configure the command at will for use in games and emulators that allow configuring the use of a command or keyboard, but what about games that do not support configuring a remote, but if they are assigned keys to play?

For the previous case, we get simply defined keys in the game, and we configure the controller using the configuration tool, and you can use the controller with the game, without getting into the game options or seek special alternative middleware to emulate other keys pressed.

Quick Setup command.

The controller, being a Chinese product did not think that in principle be sold outside the Asian market, comes with full documentation and software in Chinese.

Try to explain in a simple steps for configuration of the controller.

Insert the CD and if not start automatically, run the "autorun.exe"

Select "Joypads"

Select the first command "PXN-86133"

"Begin Installation"

Start the installation program.

Press the only button active.

After installation, if this message is not already installed the USB receiver. connect it.

Icon on the desktop to launch the configurator.

Setting command.

Once isntalado the program, start it and we have the following window.

I let the screenshots and translation (into English) so they can understand what each option.

Testing Window

Here you can test the configuration of the command and its response to joystick mode (analog or digital)

Window Settings

On this screen you can configure the behavior of the buttons when the mode is configured on the remote keyboard.

For buttons, a menu of assignment.

In the case of selecting "Key Assign" (assign keys), the following interface:

For this another menu appears sticks.

Settings window

On this screen you can adjust / calibrate the analog sticks.

Configuration Window vibration

On this screen you can set the force that has the force feedback (vibration) of the command.
Note: If the command does not have enough battery (the LED "P" is blinking), then the vibration is turned off automatically to save energy.

In previous screens but I hope it is clear how to configure this command using the utility provided by the manufacturer.

Video of Controller in action

http://youtu.be/HS2zzURc16I

Pros, Cons and Upgrades

Like all devices, there are aspects to highlight both good and bad, and although I doubt the manufacturer decides to address hypothetical requests to implement the command, leave the list as a reference.

Pros:
definitely the best of all features is that it functions as a keyboard command, and by extension, is a command that works on any android device (not android too) that would connect a keyboard via a port USB.
It does not require special drivers (in windows) or compiled modules (drivers for android). Just a program to configure the controller.
Good finish, good quality product.
The Multimedia keyboard function transforms the command into a remote control for both windows and android.
Option to operate via USB Batteries (note: the USB option command only to provide energy. You must connect the receiver of it to work)
mode "sleep" mode to save power.
price very convenient for all functionality offered
can be used as normal control (with all its functions) in Windows.
Cons:
While in keypad mode is limited to 3 buttons pressed at once (without the D-PAD)
Software and documentation in Chinese.
At the moment, and even unable to confirm this, I think it can not connect 2 or more keyboard control mode simultaneously (Android 2.x can not have 2 of these controllers connected). This restriction in Android 4.x, since you can plug in joystick mode normal, so you should not have this problem.
Assign more than one key to a button does not work as keys pressed simultaneously, but as a sequence of them.
For the moment, until they can not confirm it, tell a drawback that can not connect more than one command per receiver. This is a drawback, because it means that the android devices with one USB host port can not connect more than one recipient at a time.
Improved:
definitely the best upgrade option for this command is the ability to configure the D-PAD with other keys, and are not necessarily the D-PAD (arrows) of an android keyboard. Setting this, we could connect more than 1 remote console (assuming you can connect more than one USB receiver or receivers allow you to connect more than one command at a time)
Allow assignment of keys to the sticks right / left (even though their digital and analog)
Conclusion

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, has been a pretty intense research, but has paid off too well.

I think the quality of control will satisfy most users and that while there are aspects that could "improve" (this in quotes because in reality the manufacturer did not design this controller to be used in Android, both "improve" the product by using android is a bit difficult), the features and functionality they offer, and especially the versatility of your choice "Keyboard", make this command a purchase almost obligatory, especially if you thinking about buying a remote for your computer, and by the way you use it on an Android device (and do not worry about the version of it)

Product highly recommended for anyone interested in it.
Final words.

Again thank people for their patience Willgoo physically visiting tienas, suppliers and manufacturers to investigate the options available in the Chinese market. I do not desire to do this with spam, but they really have given a lot of work in response to my inquiry and search.

And say I'm happy to finally have found this alternative so we can all get more out of our Android devices, and I hope more people can also enjoy this.

I hope this little review serves to who want to find information on this command.

Zalu2!
Deen0X

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