PS/2 to USB adapter?

[TnT]

Is that even possible?

[KvHagedorn]

I think I have a usb mouse that came with an adapter. I know it's working in a ps/2 plug.

[TnT]

Yeah, USB to PS/2 works, but the other way around?

[az]

Essentially the same: The mouse needs to have both controllers built-in. The adapter is really just a dumb plug.

AZ

[Jon P. Inghram]

I think TnT means an adaptor that lets you use your PS/2 port as a generic USB port?

If so, I think the port has no output capabilities and thus would work rather poorly (an understatment) even if you could manage to get it's sampling rate high enough to input at USB 1.1 speeds.

[skinrock]

Originally posted by Jon P. Inghram

If so, I think the port has no output capabilities and thus would work rather poorly (an understatment) even if you could manage to get it's sampling rate high enough to input at USB 1.1 speeds.

I think the PS/2 has some output, considering it powers mice and keyboards, however, I don't think it's meant for transferring large packets of data.

[TnT]

To clarify, a friend bought a mechanic (clickity-clack) keyboard for his laptop forgetting that the laptop only has USB ports. So he was wondering if there was a cheap way to get the keyboard connected.

Oh and I did a google search and saw a few. I don't know why I didn't before, guess I was just already here and got lazy

[Ribbit]

Originally posted by skinrock
I think the PS/2 has some output, considering it powers mice and keyboards, however, I don't think it's meant for transferring large packets of data.

I gather the PS/2 mouse port is the same as the keyboard port, just with a different pinout and I/O address. That being the case, it does have output ability (it's really just a serial port), but yeah, you're nuts if you use it for any serious communications.

[VJ]

Ribbit: Ah, this brings back memories to systemprogramming... We had to write our own keyboard driver for linux, in order to make the three LEDs (num/shift/scroll lock) flash at given frequencies... It did make it hard to work on the keyboard (because of all the keyboard interrupts that were generated)...


Jörg

[Jon P. Inghram]

Forgot about the keyboard LED's being controled by the system, WinUAE can use them to simulate the LED's of the emulated Amiga.

[Jammrock]

THere are adapters out there, but with a catch. The device has to support USB, and the pin-outs have to made for the specific adapter. As in you can't use a PS/2 -> USB keyboard adapter on a mouse (in most cases at least).

In most cases it's easier just to get a native USB device.

Jammrock

[az]

FYI, Cherry make (expensive) USB Clicky-Keyboards that look old-school and are quite reliable. You can choose between click, soft click, and linear action (no click). Model Number's G80-3xxxx (Not G81, and certainly not G83!)

AZ

[Technoid]

I've had several customers who have come in with wrecked USB devices that they have tried to plug into the PS/2 port using a MS or logitech USB->PS/2 plug.
And I have had to spend an excessive amount of time to explain why it didn't work and will never ever work

[rugger]

Originally posted by TnT
To clarify, a friend bought a mechanic (clickity-clack) keyboard for his laptop forgetting that the laptop only has USB ports. So he was wondering if there was a cheap way to get the keyboard connected.

Oh and I did a google search and saw a few. I don't know why I didn't before, guess I was just already here and got lazy

I have seen the adaptors you need. They do exist and are actually not all that expensive. You should be able to find them easily at your local computer store or even places like CompUSA. (or any other large retailer that sells a significant amount of computer hardware)