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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 10:30:21

Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 10:30:21
I know PS2 and USB. But I've seen listings say like 5 pin, 6 pin, AT, RJ-25 etc...
Can someone please list them out?
I don't want to get confused because I'm newbie =P

Also, are there adapters to change them into a USB or PS2?


Thanks!
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: Manyak on Wed, 10 June 2009, 10:49:29
For PC keyboards there are four: AT, 5-pin PS/2, 6-pin PS/2, and USB

As for the really old non-x86 computers, I have no idea how many different ones there are. Each manufacturer used a different proprietary connection back then.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 10:53:34
Quote from: Manyak;95189
For PC keyboards there are four: AT, 5-pin PS/2, 6-pin PS/2, and USB

As for the really old non-x86 computers, I have no idea how many different ones there are. Each manufacturer used a different proprietary connection back then.


wait so the 5 pin and the 6 pin will work on our computer's ps2 connector?
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 10 June 2009, 10:57:14
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;95191
wait so the 5 pin and the 6 pin will work on our computer's ps2 connector?

The 5-pin is the same protocol as the PS2, so it's easily adaptable.  The 6-pin is PS2.  Both can be adapted to USB (AT to PS2 to USB).
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:00:09
You should be OK with anything that says AT, PS2 or USB.  AT and PS2 are easily adpatable to USB.  With AT, you will have to adapt to PS2 first, but since it's the same protocol as PS2, adapting is trivial.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:03:09
Quote from: itlnstln;95194
You should be OK with anything that says AT, PS2 or USB.  AT and PS2 are easily adpatable to USB.  With AT, you will have to adapt to PS2 first, but since it's the same protocol as PS2, adapting is trivial.

the AT connector looks just like a bigger PS2 connector right?

Something like this should work fine?
http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-2-Male-to-AT-Female-Keyboard-Converter-Adapter_W0QQitemZ350201047696QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_Games_Accessories?hash=item51899bea90&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: Manyak on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:07:25
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;95191
wait so the 5 pin and the 6 pin will work on our computer's ps2 connector?


Technically only the 6 pin, but really both will. The 5-pin plug won't fit because the little plastic piece in the middle isn't positioned the same, and the wires are switched around. But you can use a passive adapter for it just like with an AT plug.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:16:33
I can't seem to find the 5 pin female to 6 pin male. I found this though but I don't think it will help. =(
http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-2-6-Pin-Mini-DIN-Female-to-5-Pin-DIN-Male-Adapter_W0QQitemZ220380681421QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Cables_Adapters?hash=item334fb654cd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: IBI on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:18:30
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;95198
I can't seem to find the 5 pin female to 6 pin male. I found this though but I don't think it will help. =(
http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-2-6-Pin-Mini-DIN-Female-to-5-Pin-DIN-Male-Adapter_W0QQitemZ220380681421QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Cables_Adapters?hash=item334fb654cd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200


Try a normal shop.

AT is also called DIN and PS/2 is also called Mini-DIN.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:19:53
The RJ jacks and serial cables were popular on old terminal keyboards and the like. There are a bunch of proprietary designs around as well, the most common being ADB (old apple mouse+keyboard) and the Sun one, both of which look like PS/2 connectors but are incompatible (although there are ADB to USB adaptors available)
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:26:31
Quote from: IBI;95199
Try a normal shop.

AT is also called DIN and PS/2 is also called Mini-DIN.


http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-2-Male-to-AT-Female-Keyboard-Converter-Adapter_W0QQitemZ350201047696QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_Games_Accessories?hash=item51899bea90&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

that should work
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 11:30:57
Quote from: ch_123;95200
The RJ jacks and serial cables were popular on old terminal keyboards and the like. There are a bunch of proprietary designs around as well, the most common being ADB (old apple mouse+keyboard) and the Sun one, both of which look like PS/2 connectors but are incompatible (although there are ADB to USB adaptors available)


I guess I'm gonna just stay with the 5 pin, 6 pin, and usb lol
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Wed, 10 June 2009, 15:37:57
if it doesn't fit in a PS/2 it's not a PS/2 connector lol
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: Hak Foo on Fri, 12 June 2009, 00:10:19
The ADB and Sun cables are mini-DIN plugs, but different pin counts.  ADB  is 4-pin, I think, and Sun is like 8 or 9 pins.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: Manyak on Fri, 12 June 2009, 00:14:46
Quote from: D-EJ915;95262
if it doesn't fit in a PS/2 it's not a PS/2 connector lol


But there are two PS/2 connectors. At a glance they look the same, but one has 5 pins (the bottom-right one is missing) and the plastic tab in the middle is more centered - and therefore won't fit on today's PS/2 ports.

The wires are also arranged differently, so even if you broke off the plastic tab to fit it it still won't work - you'd have to strip the insulation off the cable and rewire it.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: ricercar on Fri, 12 June 2009, 00:35:54
My AT connector Kinesis Contour came with both of these PS/2 adapters. I had one bad afternoon before I determined what was going on.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Fri, 12 June 2009, 13:35:55
Quote from: Manyak;95636
But there are two PS/2 connectors. At a glance they look the same, but one has 5 pins (the bottom-right one is missing) and the plastic tab in the middle is more centered - and therefore won't fit on today's PS/2 ports.

The wires are also arranged differently, so even if you broke off the plastic tab to fit it it still won't work - you'd have to strip the insulation off the cable and rewire it.

uhh that means it's not a PS/2 connector...don't see how you're missing this fact
Quote from: Hak Foo;95635
The ADB and Sun cables are mini-DIN plugs, but different pin counts.  ADB  is 4-pin, I think, and Sun is like 8 or 9 pins.
Yep sun is 8 pins and ADB is s-video
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: Manyak on Fri, 12 June 2009, 17:53:16
Quote from: D-EJ915;95738
uhh that means it's not a PS/2 connector...don't see how you're missing this fact
Yep sun is 8 pins and ADB is s-video


Then what is it?
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Fri, 12 June 2009, 21:32:05
Quote from: Manyak;95834
Then what is it?

mini-din unless they want to call it something special. the only reason the 'PS/2 connector' is the 'PS/2 connector' is because it specifies what the pins do, otherwise it's just a mini-din connector.
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: Manyak on Fri, 12 June 2009, 21:42:44
Quote from: D-EJ915;95879
mini-din unless they want to call it something special. the only reason the 'PS/2 connector' is the 'PS/2 connector' is because it specifies what the pins do, otherwise it's just a mini-din connector.


Even the PS/2 connector is called a mini-din.

But what would a 5 pin DIN to 5 pin mini-DIN adapter be used for?
Title: How many different kind on connectors are there for a keyboard?
Post by: genegold on Fri, 12 June 2009, 23:51:47
Quote from: watduzhkstand4;95202
http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-2-Male-to-AT-Female-Keyboard-Converter-Adapter_W0QQitemZ350201047696QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_Games_Accessories?hash=item51899bea90&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

that should work


You might ask at monoprice.com and send the ebay link.  The closest I saw was http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10416&cs_id=1041601&p_id=1173&seq=1&format=2
and mDIN male/female cables