Amiga keyboard -> PS2 adaptor?

terryhan · 25 June 2003, 21:03

Yes, you read the title right. I don't mean an adator that allows you to use a PC keyboard with an Amiga - I want it the other way around: Using an Amiga 1200 keyboard as a PC keyboard.

What basically I'm asking is whether or not anything is available that will convert the ribbon on an A1200 keyboard into a PS2 cable.

If it is possible (without a lot of trouble), do you think things like the CapsLock in-key LED would work?

Yes, I know, it's a strange question.

I've been looking at the Catweasel mk3 recently, mainly for it's ability to read Amiga disks, but I've just noticed it also has an Amiga keyboard interface. Would it be possible to plug an A1200 keyboard into this and use it through Windows as the main keyboard?

Quite a few questions there. Thanks for any help.

thomas · 28 June 2003, 12:53

Quote:

from the Catweasel homepage:
A lot of users of that software wanted to use real Amiga keyboards on the PC, that's why the Catweasel MK3 has a mini-DIN connector for an A4000 keyboard. If you want to use an A2000 or A3000 keyboard, this can be done with a PS2 adapter that should be available in good PC-shops.

I doubt you will ever be able to connect an A1200 keyboard to a PC. It is not only a matter of connecting the right lines to the pins of the PS/2 connector. You also have to translate the protocol. The Amiga uses a serial protocol different to PS/2. Although the A4000 has a connector fitting to PS/2, the pins are totaly different. You will destroy the keyboard and the PC if you connect an A4000 keyboard to the PC.

Adeptus · 30 June 2003, 04:54

If you want to use the A4000 keyboard port on the Catweasel, you can build an adapter (or rewire the connector) for A1200 -> A4000. Look on Aminet or The Hardware Book site for pin assignments.

For converting the keycodes, you could try using a PC -> Amiga keyboard adapter "backwards", but I don't know how successful it would be...

Jope · 22 July 2003, 13:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Adeptus
If you want to use the A4000 keyboard port on the Catweasel, you can build an adapter (or rewire the connector) for A1200 -> A4000. Look on Aminet or The Hardware Book site for pin assignments.

No, the A1200 keyboard is dumb, it only has the contacts and mechanism. You'll need the controller board from an A500 keyboard (single flatcable model) to be able to use the A1200 kbd in anything else but an A1200.

Quote:

For converting the keycodes, you could try using a PC -> Amiga keyboard adapter "backwards", but I don't know how successful it would be...

No, the keyboard adapter mainly exists, because the Amiga and PC keyboards speak a totally different protocol..

Otherwise it'd be just a matter of changing your keymap and you could just plug an Amiga keyboard into a PC or vice versa.

Jope · 22 July 2003, 13:18

Quote:

Originally posted by terryhan
What basically I'm asking is whether or not anything is available that will convert the ribbon on an A1200 keyboard into a PS2 cable.

Yes, the Mikronik A1200 keyboard chassis converts the A1200 keyboard into a PS/2 keyboard that can be plugged straight into any PC.

Good luck finding one, and there's a catch - the adapter only supports one keypress at a time. Not good for games.

Jope · 23 July 2003, 00:06

Quote:

Originally posted by thomas
Although the A4000 has a connector fitting to PS/2, the pins are totaly different. You will destroy the keyboard and the PC if you connect an A4000 keyboard to the PC.

Nope, the Amiga and PC keyboard connectors have the same signals in the same pins (both DIN-5 and PS/2 style).

I guess the C= people decided on that so that people wouldn't burn their machines / keyboards.. :-D

Still, it's no use, and no-one should try it. The PC won't understand the Amiga keyboard without an adapter..

Zetr0 · 23 August 2010, 01:05

WOW I get to do some thread Necromancy about to happen here...

Now, how was it TCD was telling me on how to do this.... oh yeah... i remember it...

"I summon the Power of the Eternal... to bring life unto its dead discussion... to revivie its long gone discourse"

yeah, that should do it...

Okay, I am in the process of designing up a A2000 keyboard to PC keyboard I have, pinouts, and Pic chips standing by.... I just need sources... anyone got any?

This will need to go from Amiga (AKB) Protocol to PC (PS2) protocol

Oooo just found this linkie ..... well hang on.... theres this one too

kriz · 23 August 2010, 08:21

An A1200 as a usb keyboard, use Keyrah !

http://www.vesalia.de/e_keyrah.htm

gibs · 23 August 2010, 09:32

He wants to do an aros-vanilla box :P
It's not strange, it has already been done with morphos (mac mini) inside a A1200 :P
yes the keyrah seems the way.

Zetr0 · 23 August 2010, 12:42

@guys,

The original poster was in 2003 - the Keyrah had not been invented and I am pretty sure that AROS was not in any shape of distribution at the time LOL.

my take on this was to develop my own interface that could (via a key press) issue some signal flips -

one to flip a monitor switcher, and at the same time, change the keyboard

clock, data and protocol, back to the Amiga - and vice versa =)

kriz · 23 August 2010, 13:19

I saw that also, anyways had to mention it !

Eriond · 04 October 2010, 23:04

If you're only interested in attaching an Amiga kbd to a PC, You might want to try this: http://ezhid.sourceforge.net/amikbd.html
It will give you a more future-proof output (USB).

Of course, If you really want PS/2 output, you need something else.

I myself, will try to make a PS/2 -> Amiga using a PIC. I know there's Lyra, but I already got all the hardware, and like the challange...

My desktop is getting really crowded, so I need to add my A3000 to my KVM-switch. Thanks to Denis I have the mouse-part covered, now I need to do the keyboard too.

Amiga1992 · 31 January 2011, 15:47

I don't understand what EZ-USB is.

What I need is to connect my Amiga 3000/4000 keyboard to a PC through USB.
Keyrah is NOT what I am looking for.

Any help?

Jope · 01 February 2011, 07:25

I tried searching for the devkits ez-usb claims to work on, and it seems they aren't easily available in 2011.. Didn't bother checking for the availability of the cypress an2123 chip that they're based on, perhaps that's still available for someone who has the time to design a pcb around this.

orange · 01 February 2011, 08:05

about the OP question, I believe any PC kbd->Amiga could be used as it is (not reversing it). you just need another 'firmware' for the pic.

Jope · 01 February 2011, 11:14

Not a question of belief, that is how it can be done. Time to get coding?

cosmicfrog · 08 February 2011, 15:00

dose any one know of a way to use an A500 keyboard on a PC via usb or PS2 ??

any info on solutions for this would greatly help in our quest to build a pc in an amiga case, as I have a couple of spare A500 keybs from dead A500+ machines I would rather use them than have to source an A1200 Keyboard

alternatively tell me other options for connecting an amiga keyboard to a PC simply telling me to use a keryrah would be fine if you can supply pics of you using it and any problems/pitfalls you found

tanks & ribbits

cosmicfrog · 08 February 2011, 17:28

doble post BUT

WHY has my post been MOVED ??? !!!

you don`t think I have already read this thread ???

what about notifing me of the move ????

TCD · 08 February 2011, 18:03

It wasn't me this time

cosmicfrog · 08 February 2011, 18:55

could pleas instate it as a thread again then plz TCD
or probably leave it till tommor and we see which MOD comes foward ......

25 June 2003, 21:03	#1
terryhan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: a zombi filled shopping mall Posts: 103	Amiga keyboard -> PS2 adaptor? Yes, you read the title right. I don't mean an adator that allows you to use a PC keyboard with an Amiga - I want it the other way around: Using an Amiga 1200 keyboard as a PC keyboard. What basically I'm asking is whether or not anything is available that will convert the ribbon on an A1200 keyboard into a PS2 cable. If it is possible (without a lot of trouble), do you think things like the CapsLock in-key LED would work? Yes, I know, it's a strange question. I've been looking at the Catweasel mk3 recently, mainly for it's ability to read Amiga disks, but I've just noticed it also has an Amiga keyboard interface. Would it be possible to plug an A1200 keyboard into this and use it through Windows as the main keyboard? Quite a few questions there. Thanks for any help. Last edited by terryhan; 25 June 2003 at 21:25.

23 August 2010, 01:05	#7
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	WOW I get to do some thread Necromancy about to happen here... Now, how was it TCD was telling me on how to do this.... oh yeah... i remember it... "I summon the Power of the Eternal... to bring life unto its dead discussion... to revivie its long gone discourse" yeah, that should do it... Okay, I am in the process of designing up a A2000 keyboard to PC keyboard I have, pinouts, and Pic chips standing by.... I just need sources... anyone got any? This will need to go from Amiga (AKB) Protocol to PC (PS2) protocol Oooo just found this linkie ..... well hang on.... theres this one too Last edited by Zetr0; 23 August 2010 at 01:15.

04 October 2010, 23:04	#12
Eriond Happy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 101	A2000 kbd -> PC If you're only interested in attaching an Amiga kbd to a PC, You might want to try this: http://ezhid.sourceforge.net/amikbd.html It will give you a more future-proof output (USB). Of course, If you really want PS/2 output, you need something else. I myself, will try to make a PS/2 -> Amiga using a PIC. I know there's Lyra, but I already got all the hardware, and like the challange... My desktop is getting really crowded, so I need to add my A3000 to my KVM-switch. Thanks to Denis I have the mouse-part covered, now I need to do the keyboard too.

08 February 2011, 15:00	#17
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	A500 Keyboard to PC dose any one know of a way to use an A500 keyboard on a PC via usb or PS2 ?? any info on solutions for this would greatly help in our quest to build a pc in an amiga case, as I have a couple of spare A500 keybs from dead A500+ machines I would rather use them than have to source an A1200 Keyboard alternatively tell me other options for connecting an amiga keyboard to a PC simply telling me to use a keryrah would be fine if you can supply pics of you using it and any problems/pitfalls you found tanks & ribbits

08 February 2011, 17:28	#18
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	doble post BUT WHY has my post been MOVED ??? !!! you don`t think I have already read this thread ??? what about notifing me of the move ???? Last edited by cosmicfrog; 08 February 2011 at 17:39.

30 June 2003, 04:54	#3
Adeptus epun umop ap!sdn Join Date: May 2003 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 285	If you want to use the A4000 keyboard port on the Catweasel, you can build an adapter (or rewire the connector) for A1200 -> A4000. Look on Aminet or The Hardware Book site for pin assignments. For converting the keycodes, you could try using a PC -> Amiga keyboard adapter "backwards", but I don't know how successful it would be...

23 August 2010, 08:21	#8
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,200	An A1200 as a usb keyboard, use Keyrah ! http://www.vesalia.de/e_keyrah.htm

23 August 2010, 09:32	#9
gibs Banned Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: france Posts: 932	He wants to do an aros-vanilla box :P It's not strange, it has already been done with morphos (mac mini) inside a A1200 :P yes the keyrah seems the way.

23 August 2010, 12:42	#10
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	@guys, The original poster was in 2003 - the Keyrah had not been invented and I am pretty sure that AROS was not in any shape of distribution at the time LOL. my take on this was to develop my own interface that could (via a key press) issue some signal flips - one to flip a monitor switcher, and at the same time, change the keyboard clock, data and protocol, back to the Amiga - and vice versa =)

23 August 2010, 13:19	#11
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,200	I saw that also, anyways had to mention it !

31 January 2011, 15:47	#13
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	I don't understand what EZ-USB is. What I need is to connect my Amiga 3000/4000 keyboard to a PC through USB. Keyrah is NOT what I am looking for. Any help?

01 February 2011, 07:25	#14
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,863	I tried searching for the devkits ez-usb claims to work on, and it seems they aren't easily available in 2011.. Didn't bother checking for the availability of the cypress an2123 chip that they're based on, perhaps that's still available for someone who has the time to design a pcb around this.

01 February 2011, 08:05	#15
orange Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belgrade Posts: 567	about the OP question, I believe any PC kbd->Amiga could be used as it is (not reversing it). you just need another 'firmware' for the pic.

01 February 2011, 11:14	#16
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,863	Not a question of belief, that is how it can be done. Time to get coding?

08 February 2011, 18:03	#19
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,613	It wasn't me this time

08 February 2011, 18:55	#20
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	could pleas instate it as a thread again then plz TCD or probably leave it till tommor and we see which MOD comes foward ......

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