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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jixr on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:01:25

Title: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Jixr on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:01:25
Hi everyone, I recently picked up a model m, and My motherboard does not have a ps2 connector.

So I bought a little ps2 to usb adapter, and my keyboard does not work.

keyboard may be broken, but are there any tricks or anything special you need to do when using an m with an adaptor?
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:17:37
Is it an active or passive adapter?
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Jixr on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:31:19
I'm not sure, it looks like this.
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:32:30
I'm not sure, it looks like this.
Yeah, you'll probably need an active (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-USB-to-Dual-PS-2-Keyboard-Mouse-Converter-Cable-Active-Adapter-USB-2PS2B-/270863736148?pt=US_Parallel_Serial_PS_2_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3f10bc9d54) adapter
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Jixr on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:42:57
oh okay, well, I have a frys electronics about 15 mins away from my house, is there anyway to tell if one is passive or active?

http://www.frys.com/product/2703123?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

http://www.frys.com/product/6819986?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:45:09
They both look like it, the second one definitely
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Jixr on Sat, 20 December 2014, 13:50:50
okay cool, i got the one I had from there, but didn't know that there was any difference.

Thanks, I'll run over there and check it out.

My M i paid $15 for it, and its an 86 and im excited to see if it works or not.
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 20 December 2014, 14:00:13
okay cool, i got the one I had from there, but didn't know that there was any difference.

Thanks, I'll run over there and check it out.

My M i paid $15 for it, and its an 86 and im excited to see if it works or not.
Wow, you got a good deal, what kind is it?
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Jixr on Sat, 20 December 2014, 15:30:30
okay cool, i got the one I had from there, but didn't know that there was any difference.

Thanks, I'll run over there and check it out.

My M i paid $15 for it, and its an 86 and im excited to see if it works or not.
Wow, you got a good deal, what kind is it?

I dunno really, but here are some pics.
two for $15
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=66726.0
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Hypersphere on Sat, 20 December 2014, 16:00:56
You definitely need an active adapter. There are two that I have tried that work. One is known as the "blue cube". The other is made by Adesso and has a keyboard and mouse adapter attached. I think I paid about $7 for each one.
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 20 December 2014, 18:36:18
okay cool, i got the one I had from there, but didn't know that there was any difference.

Thanks, I'll run over there and check it out.

My M i paid $15 for it, and its an 86 and im excited to see if it works or not.
Wow, you got a good deal, what kind is it?

I dunno really, but here are some pics.
two for $15
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=66726.0
oh yeah, that thread
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 20 December 2014, 19:53:26
http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/usb-to-ps2-serial-multimode-adapter

My other Model M has a fixed PS/2 cable, and one of these adapters made that keyboard work on my Mac.

I kinda figure if that combination works, almost anything else should :p
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: RoflCopter4 on Sat, 20 December 2014, 20:19:06
You can try one of those $1 Chinese y-cable adopters too. Some of them work and some of them don't and there's no way to tell whether one will or not, but they're one freaking dollar; buy a couple and one is bound to work eventually. The Blue Cube adapters are practically guaranteed to work but including shipping you won't spend less than $20 or so.
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Hypersphere on Sun, 21 December 2014, 10:55:20
I can definitely vouch for the blue cubes; they have always worked for me. If you get the blue cube, pick up a 6-inch female-male extension cable as well. This is because the blue cube is a bit bulky, and it will block an adjacent USB port if used without an extension cable.
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: Jixr on Sun, 21 December 2014, 12:28:26
I found a Y adapter at frys, and it works

Typing on my m right now.


My '88 M works, but unfortunatly, my 86 two keys input the wrong key for some reason. possibly fixable.
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: hwood34 on Sun, 21 December 2014, 18:06:50
I found a Y adapter at frys, and it works

Typing on my m right now.


My '88 M works, but unfortunatly, my 86 two keys input the wrong key for some reason. possibly fixable.
Short term fix, you could just use autohotkey
Title: Re: ps2 to usb adaptor for model M
Post by: RoflCopter4 on Mon, 22 December 2014, 01:19:14
I found a Y adapter at frys, and it works

Typing on my m right now.


My '88 M works, but unfortunatly, my 86 two keys input the wrong key for some reason. possibly fixable.

It's never a bad idea to just spend the money and invest in a proper blue cube if the cheap ones are giving you trouble.