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ADB Busboy: Adapter for USB peripherals over ADB

Scott Squires

Well-known member
The power pin on the ADB port is held high by the system battery. Driving it to ground activates the power circuit. (see page 270 of Guide to the Macintosh Family Hardware, 2e).

 

Scott Squires

Well-known member
There's a ton of work to do to go from early prototype to product. I'm aiming for March 2017.

Currently I'm designing the PCB. Then there will be another prototype. Probably at least one more prototype after that. While I'm waiting for PCB manufacturing, I'll be working on the software. Implementing capability for user upgradable firmware, test suite for quality assurance, etc. And testing on a bunch of different Macs.

 

NJRoadfan

Well-known member
Anthon, what version of the Apple IIgs did you use for testing? A ROM 01 or ROM 3? Apple revised the ADB controller in the ROM 3 (its more compatible with "modern" ADB devices), so its always best to test with a ROM 01 board.

 

Scott Squires

Well-known member
Good point, NJRoadfan. I tested on a ROM 01. Unfortunately I don't have a ROM 3 machine, or I would test on that too, just to be thorough.

 

ArmorAlley

Well-known member
If you have x-number of macs and you'd like to control them from one keyboard, mouse and monitor, then you need a KVM (Keyboard-Video-Mouse).

ADB-KVMs are hard enough to find and iMates are becoming pricey.

If you could combine the two and allow for an ADB or USB keyboard and/or mouse, we could have, for example. the Extended II keyboard along with a laser mouse controlling x-number of macs.

 

Gorgonops

Moderator
Staff member
Presumably the obvious solution for using these in a KVM configuration would be to just buy one for each Mac and use a VGA+USB (with the aprops Mac to VGA adapters on the video side) KVM, which shouldn't be particularly difficult to find. Sort of lost the plot when you started talking about mixing an EKII and a (USB?) laser mouse at the driver's seat, though.

 

Scott Squires

Well-known member
I think Gorgonops is right, the most straightforward way is to use a USB KVM. To use an AEK with that setup, you would just need an iMate or TMK adapter.

 

ArmorAlley

Well-known member
I was just wishfully thinking. If I could have a KVM into which I could plug USB and ADB devices and still have ADB functionality (especially booting from the keyboard!), I would be very happy.

If you want a KVM to control 4 macs with ADB, a USB KVM with lots of iMates is an expensive proposition nowadays and you can't boot from a USB keyboard.

If there were an ADB KVM that allowed USB & ADB inputs, then I could plug in my EKII int, my laser mouse and still control my x number of macs.

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
ADB KVMs were made back in the day, and if you get lucky you can pick one up on ebay.  Then you could use one of these downstream of the KVM.

 

ArmorAlley

Well-known member
I have a 4-port ADB-DA15 KVM from Black Box and it's great. One with USB support too would be even better.

 

gobabushka

Well-known member
Could you elaborate? Do you mean adding more ADB ports to share the USB peripherals between several Macs?
No. What I would like to know is can I use a standard usb kvm. Usually it has a built in hub and only provides usb keyboard and mouse over one usb cable. Like if I wanted to integrate an adb mac, say a Quadra 700, into my existing kvm setup. Thanks!

 
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Scott Squires

Well-known member
The PCB is essentially ready for an initial prototype run. I'll just be double checking some details before sending it off to OSH Park.
 

 
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