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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: SuccnYeet on Wed, 30 October 2019, 01:24:41

Title: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: SuccnYeet on Wed, 30 October 2019, 01:24:41: Hello Geekhack.

I have aquired a Reuters D3D trading keyboard, I got it brand new and unopened. I would love to convert it but I'm not sure how to go about it.
It uses a DB25 (25 pin) connection, but it looks like it only uses 6 of the 25. I would like to either get it working straight to USB or get it connected to my pro micro.
I believe it can be done, as this thread https://github.com/babarrett/g80-9009/b ... -cables.md
highlights the process of wiring up a G80-9009 without the Reuters converter box.

Would anyone be able to shed some light on how I may replicate this using a 25 pin plug? Thankyou!

Here are some photos
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: nevin on Wed, 30 October 2019, 06:41:52: Hit up chryos (https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;u=42609) (Thomas) here on the forum. He's featured a couple of these on his channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD0y51PJfvkZNe3y3FR5riw).
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: SuccnYeet on Wed, 06 November 2019, 19:19:03: I have managed to supply power to the board using ps/2 5v and ground. This lights up the desk pc buttons but I have tried several pin combinations and i cant get any outputs to be sent to the PC. None of the lock lights work either.

Note: in this video I have only power and gnd connected for demonstration.

https://imgur.com/6jFIubG
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: nevin on Thu, 07 November 2019, 05:51:59: Yes these are very non-standard boards. Someone made a converter for chryos's board but I do not know who and not sure if the converter was documented anywhere. Also check deskthority.
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: Rob27shred on Thu, 07 November 2019, 06:33:13: As others have said PM Chyros, although the converter he got was made by a friend for him & possibly could be a one off.
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: SuccnYeet on Thu, 07 November 2019, 07:17:05: I am currently chatting with that person, but we haven’t had any luck yet
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: nevin on Thu, 07 November 2019, 07:26:05: Quote
I am currently chatting with that person, but we haven’t had any luck yet

They are probably going to be your best bet. There's a lot of undocumented proprietary voo-doo going on in those boards.
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: SuccnYeet on Thu, 07 November 2019, 16:44:00: I found, that while the board was powered, quickly bridging pin 2/3 data pins on the pro-micro generates random scan codes in HID_listen.exe. If I could just find which pins on the db9/db25, running them through pin 2/3 should work, but it seems I’ve tried every combination...
Title: Re: Converting a Reuters D3D keyboard
Post by: nevin on Fri, 08 November 2019, 06:57:43: i wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some kind of hardware security measure. like there has to be a resistance measured from one of the pins or shorting two of the pins to make a connection, that yes, there is voltage on this pin or this circuit is closed, so this is approved hardware and then can boot & be used. and as little documentation there is on these, it would be a guessing game at best.

you might have better luck tracing the matrix & just wiring the matrix straight to the pro-micro (totally bypassing the built in controller and whatever protocol it runs). cut traces as needed.