[TMK] Keyboard Protocol Converter

[Drag0nFly]

Here are some pictures of the Acorn Archimedes A300 kybd–

[hasu]

With reading this article Convergent/Unisys/Burroughs B25-K5 is not compatible with AT apparently.
https://www.smbaker.com/restoring-a-convergent-technologies-ngen-pc-workstation-burroughs-b25-unisys

Let me have some time to reseach Acorn keyboard protocol. I'll PM later.

[Drag0nFly]

  – looking forward to what you find. Thanks also for the information on the Unisys–too bad it's not AT compatible (although I was aware that might be a bit optimistic...)

[Drag0nFly]

Man, was that page on the Convergent/Unisys detailed, with schematics and all. Did not come up during any of my web searches earlier.
The guy also built a Convergent to PS2 keyboard converter, with the 8-pin SDL plug.

He also has the same/similar small form-factor keyboard as me used for testing. That one is extremely practical (although mine is USB)

[Drag0nFly]

Hi @hasu,

Just wondering if you had time to research this yet, and how feasible it would be to create firmware for the Acorn keyboards with the KART protocol. I can be of assistance wrt. sending a keyboard for this, if required.

With reading this article Convergent/Unisys/Burroughs B25-K5 is not compatible with AT apparently.
https://www.smbaker.com/restoring-a-convergent-technologies-ngen-pc-workstation-burroughs-b25-unisys

Let me have some time to reseach Acorn keyboard protocol. I'll PM later.

[cavilio]

Hi @hasu,

I am willing to purchase 2 of your USB to USB converters, in order to add programmability to a Ducky mecha mini and a Pok3r. Do you still sell those? How to proceed to order them (I live in France)?

Thanks!

[hasu]

Hi,
Yes, it is still available in stock.
Check the first post of this thread to place an order.

How to order
Please check this notes on shipping under COVID-2019 pandemic before ordering. 2020-04-02

Email me to let me know which converter you want and your country. I'll send you Paypal invoice soon.

My email is: hasu@tmk-kbd.com

[cavilio]

Hi,
Thanks, I will send you an email right now!

[Akarui]

Greeting

I'm wondering if the NEC 9800 converter would slightly work with NEC 8801 if the NEC is plugged in with a 5 pin to 8 pin mini din?

[hasu]

Hi,
Converter for PC-9801 does not work with PC-8801. The two keyboards are different in terms of their protocol and signals.

Greeting

I'm wondering if the NEC 9800 converter would slightly work with NEC 8801 if the NEC is plugged in with a 5 pin to 8 pin mini din?

[ermilokss]

Hello. I soldered adb-usb converter based on Arduino Pro Micro for Apple Extended Keyboard II.  Works good, its what i wanted to say, but keyboard randomly stop to respond while gaming. Num pad light is shiny which means keyboard is powered, but no button reacts to press. Tried with 1kOhm resistor and 2 parallel 1kOhm (500 Ohm), keyboard behaviour dont change. To fix this behaviour need to unplug-plug keyboard and its works until next random stop. Which solution for my situation can be?

[hasu]

Check open post of this thread, DEBUG section particularly.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0

Post in the thread if you need further question.

Hello. I soldered adb-usb converter based on Arduino Pro Micro for Apple Extended Keyboard II.  Works good, its what i wanted to say, but keyboard randomly stop to respond while gaming. Num pad light is shiny which means keyboard is powered, but no button reacts to press. Tried with 1kOhm resistor and 2 parallel 1kOhm (500 Ohm), keyboard behaviour dont change. To fix this behaviour need to unplug-plug keyboard and its works until next random stop. Which solution for my situation can be?

[iereegha]

Hi @hasu,

I would like to use several of those usb-usb-converters to port "sane" keyboard layouts to Windows without admin privileges.
The target Windows system only supports German layout as input method. The keyboards shall emulate (1) Neo2 and (2) US-International.
After reviewing

     http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/editor/unimap/?usb_usb

and

    https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/blob/master/converter/usb_usb/keymap.c

it is not clear to me how special German accentuated characters (äöüß) are encoded; How do I encode them in firmware?

Windows claims each attached keyboard is a ISO-layout with German keycaps. What characters can and cannot be encoded by sequences?

Additional links: Target layout (excluding the greek characters)
https://neo-layout.org/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tastaturbelegung_US-International#/media/Datei:KB_US-International.svg

[hasu]

USB keyboards includes the converter send just a key code when the key is typed.
They don't send characters technically and won't work as what you are anticipating.

To input the characters(äöüß) converter firmware have to emulate how you are doing on the target Windows system.

To emulate the layout in firmware is very difficult if this is not impossible and you will have to write quite a bit of code yourself.

This may give you an idea on this topic.
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/FAQ-Keymap#input-special-charactors-other-than-ascii-like-c%C3%A9dille-%C3%A7

[nicoverduin]

No dounbt my ignorance but I have the following problem of which I hope somen can help me further.

I have an IBM keyboard type 1399625 of which I understand is a so-called terminal keyboard with character code set 3. I have tried al kinds of commercial adaptors with the same result that when I type a character it will be repeated endlessly. To my understanding it means that the adaptor does not receive a break code for the key pressed.

Does the soarer converter (PS/2 to USB) solve this problem?
Do I need to modify anything?
Can I set the codeset 3 into codeset 2? How?

kindest regards
Nico Verduin
Netherlands

[hasu]

I think you are right about the inference.

- Yes, both Soarer's and my TMK converter can support it.
- No. you don't need.
- The two converters should recognize its code set automatically.

There is a thread for Soarer's converter on this forum, you can get more specific help there.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0

[nicoverduin]

It Works !!!!!!

For now I just installed the 32U4 teensy 2.0 firmware on a leonardo

Cut my mini din connector with cable off my chinese adaptor (which didn't work anyway).

Connect it to the Leonardo and tried it with Word. Works like a charm.

I have to do some remapping (numlock and scroll lock leds do not turn on...yest)

But now I know the keyboard is fine making me happy!!!!

thank for the getting started help!!!

Nico