ADB -> PS/2

[paws]

Ohoi!

I very much want to use my Apple Extended II keyboard with some pre-USB hardware (SGIs, Amigas). If I could get an adaptor from ADB to PS/2 I think it would work with almost all my computers, which would be very good.

I've looked at the pin outs for ADB and compared them to PS/2 and it looks like you'd need to add a microcontroller to the mix and implement an ADB controller there... has anybody done this? Does an off-the-shelf solution exist?

 

[Bunsen]

search

 

[Bolle]

its on the forums here... microcontroller is the right thing

 

[paws]

All I seem to find is:

pre-ADB to PS/2 adaptor and a link to an adaptor which allows you to use PS/2 mice with ADB computers... What am I searching for?

 

[register]

What you want is probably hard to get. In case you might be satisfied with another vintage quality keyboard, check this site:

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/11298/subcatid/0/id/131781

The supplier sells original IBM model M keyboards. I do use one of these battleships in the lab, still (same league of weight and durability as our beloved Nimitz). Recommended for machines with a PS/2 port, but the clicky mechanism is pretty loud.

If you could do some programming for your target machine, you might attach the Apple ADB keyboard via network. To get the direction have some inspiration at the "excess keyboard remover" page: http://www.dashpc.com/osx/

Another similar software for the Macintosh is "Remote Mouse And Keys", successfully tested with Mac OS 8.1.

The page http://www.macwindows.com/keyboard.html#Applekeyboards is about connecting Apple keyboards to Windows computers directly.

If you might look for a new keyboard once, be sure to have a look at the Matias keyboard with original Alps keyswitches (the same, as in the old Apple Extended Keyboard) and a very advanced controller ( http://matias.ca/tactilepro2/index.php ). This also might give an ultra-deluxe solution for your actual need, in combination with an USB Female to PS/2 Male Adapter Converter for Keyboards (check recommendations for this application on the IBM-M-page mentioned above.

Btw: Has anyone tested an ADB-keyboard with a Griffin iMate connected to an USB-PS/2 adaptor ?

 

[Bunsen]

The adapters that convert a USB keyboard to a PS/2 socket are dumb adapters and rely on the keyboard's electronics doing the PS/2 magic. I very much doubt they would work with an ADB keyboard converted to USB.

On the other hand, if you have a USB socket on your computer, you could try mounting your USB-ADB keyboard directly

Kbdbabel has moved along since it was first cited here, but it still doesn't support ADB to PS/2

Here's a cache image of a DIY ADB-USB converter

 

[register]

NO GO for a simple USB-PS/2 adaptor in combination with iMate. I have tested a green USB-PS/2 adaptor with a mouse printed onto the adaptor. (Setup: AEKII-iMate-USBPS2adaptor-recentDellComputer.)

 

[Nathan]

These sites contain some information about the adb bus:

http://developer.apple.com/legacy/mac/library/technotes/hw/hw_01.html

http://www.eetasia.com/ARTICLES/2000JUN/2000JUN02_CT_AN8.PDF

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/mac/Devices/Devices-205.html

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G3/PowerMacintosh_G3/PowerMacG3.2b.html