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USB-ADB Converters. Tinkerboy, Drakware, or Wombat?

AndyO

Well-known member
I also recommend the Wombat. Not only can it be used either way, but has a soft power switch on it for use when the Mac is compatible, but being used with a USB keyboard which doesn't have it.

It can also be bus powered or use a separate power source.
 

demik

Well-known member
Same: I recommended the wombat, because it's more versatile and (nerf stuff) it's using a PIC microcontroller like early Macs :)
If price is an issue and you only want to use a keyboard on an USB system, the tinkerBOY is a good choice.

Never heard any feedback from the Drakware, so if you go for it, please let us know.
 

max1zzz

Well-known member
If your only looking to use a ADB device on a USB system I have had really good luck with cheap generic ATMEGA32u4 boards with the TMK firmware: https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/blob/master/converter/adb_usb/README.md

The boards usually cost me about £7 each (And can be had cheaper from china)

I used one of these adapters to connect my AEKII too may gameing PC for years, only stopped becuse I broke the USB port off the board and I haven't got around to programming a replacement.
 

kitsunesoba

Well-known member
I have a Drakware adapter that I've utilized for connecting an AEKII to my work/home setup (a couple modern Macs + a winbox). Feels just like using a native USB device as far as I can tell.

I also have the parts for a Pro Micro TMK-based adapter as detailed in this GeekHack thread, which seems like the ultimate in terms of hackability but just haven't gotten around to putting it together.
 

davidg5678

Well-known member
I have used both the Griffin iMate and the cheap (~$5) Arduino Pro Micro solution. Both work fine, but if you are handy with electronics, I would recommend going the DIY route, because it is equally functional to most other converters and also way cheaper. (a four-pack of Arduino Pro Micros costs only $20)

I have an Apple Extended Keyboard connected to my modern iMac using the iMate adapter. Some quirks are that the caps lock key has never worked under macOS (except for some reason in Bootcamp it does) and that I have no ability to control functions such as volume using the keyboard (at least without installing some keylogger software, which is a cybersecurity no-no). Otherwise, it works fine, and I have used this as my main computer keyboard for years. In fact, I am typing this post with it right now.

My Arduino Pro Micro converter is wired up to an Apple Extended Keyboard II and another modern iMac. I have hidden the Arduino PCB inside the keyboard, so it looks fairly stock, with the exception of a USB lead trailing out of it. I installed the QMK firmware on my Arduino, and I have programmed it to have more functionality than my iMate keyboard does. Caps lock works with this keyboard, and I was able to set up a layering system so that I can use the F10, F11, and F12 keys to either act as function keys or control volume depending on whether I am holding down a modifier key. I prefer this Arduino converter to the current commercial options both because it is way cheaper while offering the same functionality (excluding the wombat which can do more things than most converters). If I wanted to, I could easily build my converter into an external enclosure, and I wouldn't need to physically modify any of the keyboards.


Both converters also support ADB mice, and if I wanted to have a left-click-only computer for some reason, I could use my Macintosh ADB mouse with my modern iMacs as well.
 

kitsunesoba

Well-known member
Another benefit of the DIY route is that if you want to, you can use drop-in replacement boards for the Pro Micro/Teensy like the Elite-C to get USB-C connectivity and have one less reason to keep those pesky mini/micro USB cables around.
 

Spidey01

Well-known member
For me the Wombat is an attractive prospect because it's both ways (USBs -> Mac /w ADB; ADBs -> modern /w USB) without a lot of effort. As someone that likes older style keyboards that's a plus. You might not care about being able to do both. It also seems like the Wombat has seen a fair bit of development / maintained, instead of a one and done and moved on kind of project.

Can't say that I've heard of the others, but I'll admit I was also have asleep last time I wondered about ADB<->USB and USB<->ADB, and ended up finding out about the Wombat. I'd more likely end up using USB keyboard/mouse with an ADB Mac if I get one, but it's nice to know the inverse would be possible if I ever find a ADB keyboard that I like.
 

tt

Well-known member
Is there a DIY solution for attaching a USB mouse to an ADB mac? For example, I want to use an optical USB mouse with a compact mac.
 

davidg5678

Well-known member
Is there a DIY solution for attaching a USB mouse to an ADB mac? For example, I want to use an optical USB mouse with a compact mac.
Yes! It is pretty much the same solution as connecting an ADB keyboard. It would consist of building the Arduino Pro Micro solution described above, and using an S-Video-style ADB socket (for the mouse to plug into) rather than installing an Arduino directly into a keyboard.

Whoops! I read your initial post incorrectly --I think you are asking to convert the signals the other way around. --I'm not sure of any existing solution, but I assume it would be relatively trivial to implement (perhaps with another Arduino or Pi Pico?) for someone with the requisite knowledge.
 

tt

Well-known member
bbraun had made a prototype based on an STM dev board, that's the only "DIY" one that I know of. That was several years ago, but I was wondering if anything new has turned up. I'm guessing an arduino with usb host ability could do it; I haven't played with those. Pi Pico sounds interesting. But if it was trivial, it seems like someone would have done it by now like the adapters to use an ADB keyboard with a modern computer which can be made for ~$10.
 

cheesestraws

Well-known member
The BMOW ADB Wombat is bidirectional, you can use it to use an USB keyboard with an ADB host, with a couple of minor restrictions (which don't really bother anyone except me, which is my fault not the device's!).

Other people were developing similar devices but they seem to have dried up because AFAIK most of them would have come out more expensive than the Wombat anyway.

For DIY: IMO, the project to watch is @tashtari 's TashKM which is essentially an ADB mouse and keyboard emulator in a PIC that you connect to via UART. It's not finished yet, but it'll make doing this kind of thing much, much easier.
 

tashtari

PIC Whisperer
TashKM as a whole project is still in development, but the firmware for the chip is at least beta-quality right now. If someone was interested, they could program a PIC with it and interface a keyboard, mouse, or both to it (and thusly to an ADB host) over the UART interface. Or just fork it and make use of its ADB code directly, that's good too. Details of the project so far are in this thread and I'm happy to be of assistance to anyone who finds it interesting.
 

Skate323k137

Well-known member
Bumping this thread as I have a semi-odd use case, but not that odd.

I want to use a USB keyboard (or ADB by way of USB adapter) on my Apple1 clone (Briel) which supports PS/2 Keyboards. I have used IBM PS/2 keyboards, but I have others I want to use.

I tried a qmk loaded adb to USB adapter, as well as a USB keyboard, with the PS/2 to USB adapter installed on the Briel. The keyboards power but I don't think the keyboard(s) or qmk firmware supports PS/2 mode.

Do any of these adapters like the Wombat work with a normal run of the mill PS/2 to USB adapter, for use on a device needing a PS/2 keyboard?

For using the PS/2 port on the Apple1 clone, I would be happy with a USB solution, or even neater, an adb to PS/2 solution.
 

RedJacketPress

Well-known member
Bumping this thread, for no useful reason, other than to say I’ve had very good experience with the BMOW Wombat — I’m just about to order another, in fact! — and really very poor experience with the TinkerBOY ADB Converter.
 
Can we get a Pros/Cons for the following ADB-USB converters? From what I can tell, they're the only actively maintained devices for using Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) peripherals on USB-capable computers.

tinkerBOY ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) to USB Keyboard/Mouse Converter - $33

BMOW ADB-USB Wombat Input Converter - $49

drakware ADB2USB - $25
I have two of these adapters mentioned but i love the tinkerboy adapter coz it just looks like a finished product and it works well with my AEK and AEKII keyboard.
 

RedJacketPress

Well-known member
While we're on the subject -- I've started using an Apple Keyboard M1106 at home (with the USB Wombat). I really, really appreciate the tactile feel of the key switches, and I haven't had the patience (or the money) to find something similar in a current-day mechanical keyboard. I'm using USB Overdrive to make sure the push-lock Caps Lock key works correctly. (I can get by without the media keys, though I am finding it difficult to get past twenty years of muscle memory for the cursor keys.)

I've been thinking I might restore an ADB Keyboard with Function Keys and use that at work, where I do a great deal more typing. I have an Apple Wireless Keyboard (A1016) -- the white one, I think it might have been the first Bluetooth Keyboard they offered -- but after using the ADB keyboard, the silicon cups just feel mushy.

My journey to keyboard snob is complete.
 

Renegade

Well-known member
My two cents: Been using the TinkerBoy ADB for 6 months now, and pleased with it. Used with an AEK II with belgian/french iso layout.
The only gotcha I have is the "=" numpad key recognized as the "-" key from alphanumeric part. Never took the time to fix this issue (Karabiner or Keyboard Maestro didn't help).
The real problem with the TinkerBoy is the time it takes to be shipped (even though it is clearly stated on the website). I think mine took +2 months to reach me...
 

Skate323k137

Well-known member
At this point I have a Drakware, Wombat, and a few of the open source QMK ones with pro Micro / Elite C boards


I really like those. I should learn more about QMK but it's an easy enough project if you don't need to customize the firmware, and has all that potential. Also it's really cheap overall.
 
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