Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: ChaosLord on August 08, 2011, 04:17:20 AM

Title: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: ChaosLord on August 08, 2011, 04:17:20 AM

What happens when you plug in a standard PC PS/2 keyboard directly into the A4000 PS/2 keyboard connector?

This means without using any Cocolino or Mr. Mysza or etc. adapter.

A) Keyboard works perfectly?
B) A4000 explodes?
C) Keyboard catches on fire?

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: esc on August 08, 2011, 04:47:03 AM

It doesn't have a standard PS/2 pinout even though they look the same.  It just won't work.  Caps lock may turn on and off, though :)

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Heiroglyph on August 08, 2011, 04:47:03 AM

All I can say is, not A.

I don't know the result of trying anyway, but it won't work.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: dreamcast270mhz on August 08, 2011, 05:03:17 AM

Would not recommend it. A friend put a parallel device in a SCSI port, and f-ed up the system.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: psxphill on August 08, 2011, 09:37:49 AM

Quote from: esc;653627

Caps lock may turn on and off, though :)

Unlikely. On AT & PS/2 keyboards the caps lock key just sends the keycode and the computer sends a command to update the led. So the led won't change unless the keyboard is working.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Jope on August 08, 2011, 09:59:49 AM

Quote from: esc;653627

It doesn't have a standard PS/2 pinout even though they look the same.

The pinout is actually 100% the same, but the difference lies in the keyboard protocol.

Nothing will break, but it doesn't work either.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: amigakit on August 08, 2011, 10:57:09 AM

You can use a Lyra Keyboard Adapter (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228) to use a PS/2 Keyboard on your Amiga 4000:

http://www.amigakit.us/product_info.php?products_id=228

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: rrete on October 10, 2011, 04:27:28 PM

Hi!

I think that no beause the Amiga Keyborard has it's own Rom and PC Keyboards no. Other question is... I am using an Amiga 2000 Kb in my A4000 with a standar PC Din to MiniDin adapter and works great.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Jope on October 10, 2011, 04:33:20 PM

Quote from: rrete;663112

Hi!

I think that no beause the Amiga Keyborard has it's own Rom and PC Keyboards no.

You are mistaken in this belief. The answer was already given in this thread.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Tension on October 10, 2011, 05:01:38 PM

Quote from: amigakit;653646

You can use a Lyra Keyboard Adapter (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228) to use a PS/2 Keyboard on your Amiga 4000:

http://www.amigakit.us/product_info.php?products_id=228

pfffffffffft

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: orange on October 10, 2011, 05:16:33 PM

while you're at it, another bad idea is to use PC serial mouse 'directly'.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: freqmax on October 10, 2011, 05:51:01 PM

Keyboard --> Microcontroller (like AVR) --> Amiga

Problem solved, cheap ;)

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: rrete on October 10, 2011, 05:56:00 PM

Quote from: Jope;663116

You are mistaken in this belief. The answer was already given in this thread.

Maybe i'm wrong.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: ncafferkey on October 10, 2011, 06:09:00 PM

Quote from: Jope;653641

The pinout is actually 100% the same, but the difference lies in the keyboard protocol.

Does it just need a new driver then?

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Ilwrath on October 10, 2011, 07:40:33 PM

Quote from: ncafferkey;663128

Does it just need a new driver then?

Interesting thought...  But I think that the incompatible part of the "protocol" is actually more like the link layer, which is handled by hardware.  (ie, a PS/2 compatible keyboard is designed to talk with an i8042, where an Amiga compatible keyboard is designed to talk to whatever the heck handles it on Amiga.)  

Without the link layer, you can't pull the raw keycodes.  Otherwise, seemingly, you'd just need to write a PS/2 keymap, which I know isn't the case.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Amiwest on October 10, 2011, 08:24:51 PM

Look at:
http://l8r.net/technical/t-keyboard.shtml
for the differce in Amiga keyboards.

Title: Re: A4000 can use PS/2 keyboards?
Post by: Tension on October 10, 2011, 10:33:30 PM

What's all this about very very very early A2000s having a different pinout? Seems quite bizarre.