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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: irishmike on February 27, 2006, 04:42:32 PM

Title: wondering about making my own adapters
Post by: irishmike on February 27, 2006, 04:42:32 PM

Hello all:

I have found of course the commercially made keyboard and mouse adapters that take my PS/2 keyboard and Mouse and translate them for my Amiga A3000 (which I just bought).

Does anyone have experience in making this adapter?  Would it not be just a translation (at least as far as the keyboard is concerned) from what wire carries what signal?  On the mouse, my understanding is that there is actually a Microprocessor in the adapter (Elbox Cocincino).  I am not opposed to paying for the adapters, just think I might be able to fabricate them a little less expensive... they run something like $50 USD (the prices were all in British Pounds and I figure it is like $2 USD to $1 BP).

If anybody has attempted this, please let me know what parts you used.

Thanks and I hope there is good advice on this.

Title: Re: wondering about making my own adapters
Post by: Doobrey on February 27, 2006, 06:50:12 PM

Quote

irishmike wrote:

Does anyone have experience in making this adapter?  Would it not be just a translation (at least as far as the keyboard is concerned) from what wire carries what signal?

Yes I have, and no it isn't. Both keyboard and mouse need a processor translate the PS2 signals into something that resembles the Amigas mouse and keyboard.

Guido Mersmann's MMKeyboard adapter (http://geit.de/) works great and is a piece of cake to build.(.assuming you have a PIC programmer..but they're just as easy to make)..plus it can also make use of 'multimedia' keys on modern PC keyboards

For the mouse I built the PS2M (http://main.aminet.net/package.php?package=hard/hack/ps2m.lha) adapter.

Title: Re: wondering about making my own adapters
Post by: DrDekker on March 30, 2006, 12:05:00 AM

I've recently built the PS2M mouse adapter for my A1200.  To programme the PIC16F84A chip, I built the COM84 serial port programmer and used WinPIC software.  The mouse adapter worked first time.  Total cost was around £10 (inc. programmer).
All components were sourced from ESR Electronic Components - www.esr.co.uk (highly recommended).
Next job is to build a PC keyboard adapter - should cost no more than about £7.