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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Tarzan on Fri, 26 July 2013, 08:19:39

Title: DIN-to-USB breakout board for FK-2001
Post by: Tarzan on Fri, 26 July 2013, 08:19:39

Would anyone happen to know if a Focus/Magitronic FK-2001 keyboard can be modded to USB?  I've been using them with a DIN-to-PS2 converter, but I've been thinking it would be nifty to kit one out with a removable USB cable.

I see a lot of "USB breakout boards" advertised on eBay and other sites, is that all I would need for a USB connection, or is there a converter I need to include as well?

[attachimg=1]
http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=5565 (http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=5565)

[attachimg=2]
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/718 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/718)

[attachimg=3]
https://www.tindie.com/products/FriedCircuits/usb-tester/ (https://www.tindie.com/products/FriedCircuits/usb-tester/)

Some of these seem to be USB pass-through boards, not sure that's what I need for the Focus keyboards.

Title: Re: DIN-to-USB breakout board for FK-2001
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 26 July 2013, 08:23:54

Could you Teensy the Focus? IIRC, there's space for one in the case.

Title: Re: DIN-to-USB breakout board for FK-2001
Post by: Tarzan on Fri, 26 July 2013, 08:29:19

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Fri, 26 July 2013, 08:23:54

Could you Teensy the Focus? IIRC, there's space for one in the case.

I'm sure I could fit a Teensy in the case, but since it works fine on a PS2 port with just a cable adapter, I'm hoping I don't need to spend $20 per keyboard, when $5 will do.  I'm looking for the cheap solution, for a package I'm putting together.

Unlike a Terminal Model M, the Focus boards output AT and XT protocols already.

Title: Re: DIN-to-USB breakout board for FK-2001
Post by: Hak Foo on Fri, 26 July 2013, 17:52:44

I did it briefly-- the FK-2001 itself was dying though.

The cheaper route involves buying your favourite active PS/2->USB adapter, desolder the PS/2 connector, strip the cable, solder it all together.

Title: Re: DIN-to-USB breakout board for FK-2001
Post by: Tarzan on Wed, 31 July 2013, 09:27:49

Quote from: Hak Foo on Fri, 26 July 2013, 17:52:44

I did it briefly-- the FK-2001 itself was dying though.

The cheaper route involves buying your favourite active PS/2->USB adapter, desolder the PS/2 connector, strip the cable, solder it all together.

Is there a clean way to do this mod, replace the male USB connector with a female mini-USB, and set up the board for a detachable cable?  Seems like a waste of a perfectly good adapter to strip both ends off, when what I really need is the guts of the converter installed in the case.