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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: chyros on Sun, 29 March 2015, 19:52:38

Title: About active XT adapters
Post by: chyros on Sun, 29 March 2015, 19:52:38: So I got this ancient NMB 725 keyboard from I think 1985 a while ago, which appears to be an XT keyboard, and I'm sure I'll be getting more XT boards over time, so it's time to get something to make them talk to something I do have, such as USB. Now I looked around on here and on the DT wiki but frankly it's not clear to me. In fact it might be worth sticking into the FAQ list.

From what I've gathered I'll need something that contains a Teensy chip and one of the converters that does that is called a Soarer's. It comes with a big amount of documentation for remapping keys, but is it also necessary to bind keys to begin with or will it "recognise" the basic layout of XT keyboards and work at all without programming? Are there any alternatives to this adapter? If so, what are their pros and cons? Is this going to be doable for a complete noob? Etcetera.... Help please!
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: Special K on Sun, 29 March 2015, 22:57:06: There is this one:

https://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_xtusb.html

It seems less versatile than the Soarer though.
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: SpaceGhost on Sun, 29 March 2015, 23:02:43: This one has chip compatible with Soarer's converter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-XT-AT-to-USB-Soarers-Converter-Remapping-Macros-NKRO-Support-IBM-Model-F-/281476427201?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41894d6dc1 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-XT-AT-to-USB-Soarers-Converter-Remapping-Macros-NKRO-Support-IBM-Model-F-/281476427201?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41894d6dc1)
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: chyros on Mon, 30 March 2015, 07:50:06: Would I need to program any of these to get a basic layout working?
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: E TwentyNine on Mon, 30 March 2015, 07:56:41: Quote from: chyros on Mon, 30 March 2015, 07:50:06
Would I need to program any of these to get a basic layout working?

Soarer's code comes with some predefined configurations that will make the default layout work.

You don't need to program anything, but you do need to run a few utilities to set it up. It should all be explained in the thread dedicated to it.
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 30 March 2015, 08:03:35: I don't know. Soarer's has always worked plug-and-play just like magic for me.
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: E TwentyNine on Mon, 30 March 2015, 08:06:51: Quote from: chyros on Mon, 30 March 2015, 07:50:06
Would I need to program any of these to get a basic layout working?

Note that the ebay link given above is hardware that already has Soarer's code installed. That is literally plug-and-type, and the person who sells those is a member here who I'm sure would be happy to answer any questions.
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: SpaceGhost on Mon, 30 March 2015, 11:14:45: Quote from: chyros on Mon, 30 March 2015, 07:50:06
Would I need to program any of these to get a basic layout working?

I bought a quantity of orihalcon's XT/AT-USB converters in order to supply them with AT-equipped keyboards that I sell on eBay, and have found them to work flawlessly without any preparation required -- just Plug 'n Play. Hope this provides the solution you're seeking.
Title: Re: About active XT adapters
Post by: chyros on Mon, 30 March 2015, 18:24:23: Cheers guys, that does seem pretty good, yeah :) .