TheBackShed.com

Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Micromite Plus Announcement

Page 6 of 8

Author

Message

factus10
Regular Member

Joined: 30/12/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 45

Posted: 11:07pm 16 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

https://www.google.com/search?q=usb+ps2+adapter Edited by factus10 2015-07-18

kiiid

Guru

Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 11:30pm 16 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I came across this chip produced by the good old Chinese industry :)
Looks quite interesting, cheap and easily accessibly (through Aliexpress for example).
Maybe worth considering support in MM/MM+

PS. actually I have the datasheet in English, but could not work out the download link for it from the manufacturer's website. Here is it from elsewhere

Edited by kiiid 2015-07-18

http://rittle.org

--------------

atmega8

Guru

Joined: 19/11/2013
Location: Germany
Posts: 724

Posted: 11:44pm 16 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

factus10 said https://www.google.com/search?q=usb+ps2+adapter

I thought about the other direction, to connect a USB Keyboard to the MM+ PS2 connector ;-)

factus10
Regular Member

Joined: 30/12/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 45

Posted: 01:09am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Maybe you got different search results. There are tons avail and they are cheap. Here's just one: http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16812196223

WhiteWizzard
Guru

Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2944

Posted: 01:16am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Please lets stop this turning into yet another thread about USB/PS2 keyboard adaptors.

FACT: Most keyboards contain a chip inside that only supports the USB protocol. So if a keyboard has one of these chips in (and has a USB connector on the end of the keyboard lead), these adaptors being linked to will NOT turn the keyboard into a PS2 keyboard.

ONLY KEYBOARDS WITH CHIPS THAT SUPPORT BOTH PS2 AND USB PROTOCOLS will work with these adaptors (converting the physical USB connector into a PS2 connector).

And even a lot of the cheap USB keyboards that say they are PS2 compatible (and that come with one of these adaptors in the box) do not all work correctly with the PS2 protocol.

This is something I have become a bit of an expert on last year. If anyone wants an adaptor thinking that it will convert their keyboard then let me know (but be prepared to be disappointed!!)

WW

Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9610

Posted: 01:21am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Agreed. The adaptors you can buy on the cheap, do not convert the data protocol between USB and PS/2, they only convert the physical pinout of one plug type, to the other.

So, one of those adaptors will produce a USB keyboard, with PS/2 plug, and that PS/2 plug will still have the USB protocol on it NOT the PS/2 protocol.

Life ain't that easy when it comes to converting data protocols!

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 01:50am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

To convert USB Keyboard to PS/2 keyboard you need one of these

http://www.startech.com/uk/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/PS-2-to-USB-Keyboard-and-Mouse-Adapter~PS22USB

but at around GBP 70, it's just cheaper to buy a PS/2 keyboard, (here's the NEW old IBM click-clack)

http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/original-ibm-style-keyboard-beige-ps2.asp

OR

use this little device from Hobbytronics (found by matherp) http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/usb-host/usb-host-keyboard

Hopefully there is enough choice here for everybody.

BTW, I use a 30 year old click-clack PS/2 keyboard, a proper keyboard !

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

factus10
Regular Member

Joined: 30/12/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 45

Posted: 08:12am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Agreed, WW.

Now, about that ZX-81... I do have a Timex/Sinclair 2068 (I'm in the US) with bad RAM. I'm thinking about pulling the PCB and stuffing a MM+ inside and wiring up the keyboard to talk to the MM+.

I haven't seen anything that definitively answers this question: will this (or a future) version of MM+ Basic support input via a matrix keyboard? Or do I need to gin up my own matrix -> ps/2 (prob w/ an Arduino and some 4051s).

viscomjim
Guru

Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925

Posted: 08:14am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

THIS one is pretty cool...

vegipete

Guru

Joined: 29/01/2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 1134

Posted: 10:16am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

MC-SAITE keyboard also available from places like Deal Extreme. Although they seem to count keys differently than Adafruit does in viscomjim's link above.

Visit Vegipete's *Mite Library for cool programs.

BobD

Guru

Joined: 07/12/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 935

Posted: 10:34am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Good find there Pete. I like the look of that keyboard but the Adafruit one was going to cost US$37 for shipping to OZ. I'll buy the DX one.

edit: It looks like it may be usb only.Edited by BobD 2015-07-18

vegipete

Guru

Joined: 29/01/2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 1134

Posted: 11:24am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

You are right, it says nothing about PS/2.

The part seems to be a "MCSAITE MC-W8017 mini slim USB keyboard for PC" made by Touch Global Ltd. Only the Adafruit page refers to PS/2 compatible, but they don't specify the actual keyboard make and model...

Visit Vegipete's *Mite Library for cool programs.

Geoffg

Guru

Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3292

Posted: 11:31am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

factus10 said I haven't seen anything that definitively answers this question: will this (or a future) version of MM+ Basic support input via a matrix keyboard?

No, the MM or MM+ do not support a matrix keyboard for console input and are unlikely to do so in the future. Only a PS2 keyboard on the MM+.

Geoff

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 11:36am 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

USB Keyboard to TTL Serial to feed the console RX input line.

Why not use one of these http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/usb-host/usb-host-dip for only GBP �5.04 inc VAT ?

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

WhiteWizzard
Guru

Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2944

Posted: 12:22pm 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

NOTE: The keyboard in Jim's link at the top of this page is the exact one (of many) that I ordered last year. Even though it states PS2 compatible (and it comes with a USB to PS2 adaptor), I can confirm that it does not work on every PS2 'gadget'. It did not work with a MaxiMite for example, but it did work with an old Compaq desktop (on PS2). It worked with one CCTV system I had, but not the other. In the end it went in the bin where I felt it belonged.

Also note that these items are purchased as and when required by a supplier. Due to the many thousands of sources of manufacturers of these goods, then there is a very high chance that this keyboard I purchased last year is from a different manufacturer to that of the ones they are selling today. This one may now work better that the one I purchased; but then again it may work on even fewer items.

I mention all this as it seems like delivery costs to various parts of the world is
rather high for possibly something that won't work. Don't be fooled by seeing a USB to PS2 adaptor in the picture - it means nothing!

Hope I've saved someone out there some money and also saved some wasted time . . . .

WW

viscomjim
Guru

Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925

Posted: 01:47pm 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I use THIS one on my maximite. Works great with a usb to ps2 adapter and is pretty damn cheap.

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 01:49pm 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Phil

I do think the best way is to use a USB keyboard - of which there are countless numbers - and an adapter chip such as the one from Hobbytronics who are an entirely reputable supplier - to convert the USB to Serial TTL which can be fed into the standard MM console input.

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9610

Posted: 03:09pm 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I'm inclined to agree with Peter on this one. Perhaps I could whip up a cheap PCB to use the DIL chip. I know the shipping from them can be a little high, but if I bought in 20 or so, then I could factor the shipping into the final cost, and on-sell the boards to members quite affordably, I think.

Food for thought anyway.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 03:17pm 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Graeme

There is nothing particularly clever about what Hobbytronics have done, all the code for this is provided by Microchip. What Hobbytronics have done is package it all up neatly, but, there is nothing stopping someone else doing the same thing with the Microchip source code - I don't have the time right now, but there must be someone on the TBS who has the expertise and can ?

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

cdeagle
Senior Member

Joined: 22/06/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 265

Posted: 03:54pm 17 Jul 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I have used the Rosewill RK-101 PS/2 keyboard with Geoff's video terminal and other boards. It's available from Newegg, Amazon, etc. for about $10 US.

Page 6 of 8

Print this page