ADB splitter?

[dv-]

So a lot of macs had that single ADB port, on the assumption that you'd daisy-chain your devices. But I have an aftermarket optical ADB mouse that uses a USB->ADB adapter (the Kensington Mouse-in-a-Box) and the plug doesn't fit in the cutout of the newer ADB keyboards.

I know I could use an S-Video extension cable (M-F) or a right-angle USB plug, but I'm curious if there was ever an ADB y-cable to plug directly into the back of the computer, or if it's feasible to make one, just because it would be tidier.

 

[chelseayr]

theres no problem with splitters etc as its a passive bus in a manner speaking, beside if you looked at any smaller wacom tablets you'll note that its indeed very much a Y splitter too (just the wacom cord is hardwired into one leg of the splitter itself)

 

[dv-]

theres no problem with splitters etc as its a passive bus in a manner speaking, beside if you looked at any smaller wacom tablets you'll note that its indeed very much a Y splitter too (just the wacom cord is hardwired into one leg of the splitter itself)

Cool, thanks!

Gonna try a thing. Be back in a while.

 

[saybur]

One bit of caution, some cheap S-Video cables tie one or more lines together or to the cable shield. If you're hacking a cable together buzz out the lines with a meter before using it.

 

[dv-]

One bit of caution, some cheap S-Video cables tie one or more lines together or to the cable shield. If you're hacking a cable together buzz out the lines with a meter before using it.

*like button*

Thanks!

 

[waynestewart]

I used to use a splitter on a couple of macs around 1995. when I bought mine the salesman told me that they only sold 7 or 8 a year and that was the largest dealership in the area

 

[chelseayr]

that doesn't surprise me @waynestewart as I barely could see any use for it considering that I could in theory do a host>supraexpressmodem>wacomtablet>keyboard>auxpad>mouse chain without needing any special outside extras to make it physically fit together

 

[dv-]

Well I built one and it works great! Could be prettier but I glued the plug together because I did all the soldering forgetting the sleeve first. Wasn’t going to take it apart and start again. Blah.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[s_pupp]

I was following this thread with interest, thinking that I could really use such an s-video Y cable for ADB.

Much to my surprise, while cleaning off my desk for the first time in what feels like forever, I found such a cable. The emblems on it suggest they are serial cables rather than ADB, but the connectors themselves are s-video rather than MiniDIN8. I have no idea where the cable came from - the most likely explanation appears to be spontaneous generation (vs memory issues - I prefer the former explanation).

So, I can confirm waynestewart's statement that such a Y adapter did exist. If anyone has an explanation for the presence of a serial cable emblem on an ADB-compatible s-video connector, I'd really like to know more information.

 

[Unknown_K]

ADB bus has +5VDC, Ground, ADB Signal, and power-on (for macs that can be turned on from the keyboard).

ADB machines tend to have a fuse on the ADB input, so you don't blow up your motherboard, and the spec sheet says 500mA is the max current draw. Connecting too much crap might overload the circuit.

The most I connected to one machine was a keyboard, mouse, WACOM drawing tablet, and maybe a dongle.

 

[dv-]

I was following this thread with interest, thinking that I could really use such an s-video Y cable for ADB.

Much to my surprise, while cleaning off my desk for the first time in what feels like forever, I found such a cable. The emblems on it suggest they are serial cables rather than ADB, but the connectors themselves are s-video rather than MiniDIN8. I have no idea where the cable came from - the most likely explanation appears to be spontaneous generation (vs memory issues - I prefer the former explanation).

So, I can confirm waynestewart's statement that such a Y adapter did exist. If anyone has an explanation for the presence of a serial cable emblem on an ADB-compatible s-video connector, I'd really like to know more information.

I might be talking out of my behind here, but I think that double arrow means "straight through wired" (pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc.) and isn't specific to serial cables.

 

[s_pupp]

I might be talking out of my behind here, but I think that double arrow means "straight through wired" (pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc.) and isn't specific to serial cables.

Many thanks.