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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: elbowglue on Fri, 19 March 2010, 12:02:15

Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: elbowglue on Fri, 19 March 2010, 12:02:15
The problem:  I have a number of PS2 keyboards, when I hook them up to my computer via PS2 to USB adapter, they often work with one big problem.  You can probably replicate this problem yourself as well.

Use this website to record which keys are registered:
http://random.xem.us/rollover.html
Hold down W.  Keep it held down the whole time.
Hit D.  Let go of D.  Continue holding down W.
(this is a test to see if in a first person shooter you can run forwards, strafe to the right, then keep running forwards)

If you use a PS2 to USB adapter, the W will stop registering after you let go of D.  If you are using direct connection into PS2 port, or if you are using direct connection into USB port you will have no problem at all, it will continue to register the W.

I have tried these two USB to PS2 adapters, both of them have the problem:

(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:x9X3zRfjuvicAM:http://www.chinaindustrial.co.uk/oscommerce/images/usb-ps2.jpg)

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:eyXBMzDIaa7icM:http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8283/adapterq.jpg)
Second one vendor id is Vid_13ba

Does anyone know of a Ps2 to USB adapter that works correctly in this fashion?
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 19 March 2010, 12:15:46
The bluecube passes this test.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: elbowglue on Fri, 19 March 2010, 12:21:08
I guess this challenge wasn't so challenging.  :P  Thanks raj.

Anyone got this adapter, able to do the challenge on it?

(http://imagescl.ziotek.com/images/prod_main/P10134a.jpg)

http://www.amazon.com/Ps-Keyboard-Mouse-Usb-Adapter/dp/B000G7WYZG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269019146&sr=8-3
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 19 March 2010, 12:46:34
The Belkin also works properly.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Viett on Fri, 19 March 2010, 13:53:24
I've run into that same problem with this adapter (13ba):

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2459&stc=1&d=1242561147)

and this adapter (also 13ba):

(http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_8909_1.jpg) (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8909)



This last adapter I purchased at a computer store, and I actually convinced the salesman to let me try it before I bought it, and it works great (0e8f):

(http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/22-998-006-S01?$S640W$) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822998006&Tpk=syba%20ps%2f2%20adapter)
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: TexasFlood on Fri, 19 March 2010, 14:15:27
My old APC failed this test and fails some other aspects like scroll lock not working.  And it's my best one, :sad:, because the others I bought at Microcenter way back "forget" that keys like shift of control are being held down after a few seconds.  Maybe time for some new adapters.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: JBert on Fri, 19 March 2010, 14:47:36
Quote from: ch_123;165430
The Belkin also works properly.
Indeed.

It only has 6KRO, of course.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Viett on Fri, 19 March 2010, 15:03:13
Quote from: TexasFlood;165446
... the others I bought at Microcenter way back "forget" that keys like shift of control are being held down after a few seconds.


I also had that problem with the two bad adapters I listed above. The adapter would eventually forget if you were holding down one of the "lock" keys after about a second, which was annoying because I used Caps Lock as my talk key in games.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: ricercar on Sat, 20 March 2010, 19:47:35
(http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_8909_1.jpg)

This one has a funky keyboard behavior, but the pointing device (green) PS/2 handles everything I've given it (trackpad, trackpoint, trackball, mouse, etc)
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Viett on Sat, 20 March 2010, 19:57:02
I love the USB hub and the fact that it takes USB mini-B. That's all I use it for nowadays. Sometimes, I ironically plug a good PS/2 to USB adapter into it.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: phobus on Wed, 24 March 2010, 05:50:14
I have an adapter that looks exactly this, aside from color:

http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2871&d=1245964845

  Product ID:   0x0240
  Vendor ID:   0x0711  (Magic Control Technology Corp.)

It passes your test with my Model M attached, although there are some other combinations that do not work. As Ripster pointed out, though, the keyboard is probably to blame there.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: elbowglue on Fri, 02 April 2010, 11:24:26
This one works:
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:sKkwupgIgb6YpM:http://www.upgrade.am/img/prod/00140-0015.jpg)

VID 0E8F - Passes the test.  Got this off of ebay from some hong kong seller.  The build of it sucked (the blue casing popped off after I plugged it in once).  But electronially it works great, I had to tape the plastic closed so it looks a little ghetto.

HID\VID_0E8F&PID_0020&MI_00\7&14238B5&0&0000
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: elbowglue on Mon, 10 May 2010, 02:26:12
Here's an update to a long dead thread:
Here are the PS2 to USB adapters I would highly recommend:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120544070091&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280454131729&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3458wt_821

Both of these work well without any flaws that I could find.  They all work with my M13, also my Compaq MX 11800.

The build on the first one (Y shaped one) is much much better, the blue triangle USB adapter fell apart quickly.

Thanks viett.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Megaweapon on Mon, 10 May 2010, 10:12:50
For $2 shipped I'll gamble.

That said, I only use my Model M at the Linux console (which I only need to use infrequently) so it doesn't get much of a workout.

While I'm pimping this keyboard:  Anyone got a cheap source for the green (?) Model M TrackPoint tips?
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Viett on Mon, 10 May 2010, 10:13:18
Quote from: elbowglue;180606
Here's an update to a long dead thread:
Here are the PS2 to USB adapters I would highly recommend:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120544070091&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280454131729&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3458wt_821

Both of these work well without any flaws that I could find.  They all work with my M13, also my Compaq MX 11800.

The build on the first one (Y shaped one) is much much better, the blue triangle USB adapter fell apart quickly.

Thanks viett.


The blue cube has met its match ;).
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Megaweapon on Mon, 10 May 2010, 10:30:52
Too bad daily-favorites won't sell to you unless you have PayPal.  :tsk:
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: erricrice on Mon, 10 May 2010, 10:36:30
Quote from: ripster;180686

Does it work with OSX and Linux?


I second that, has anyone tested them on OSX or linux?
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Viett on Mon, 10 May 2010, 13:19:01
I own another 0E8F (not one of the two elbowglue recommends) and it works fine on Linux and Mac OS X.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: elbowglue on Mon, 10 May 2010, 13:44:35
Quote from: ripster;180686
Does it work with Win7, OSX and Linux?

Haven't tried sorry :( Don't have access to win7 osx or linux systems easily... :( What can I say I'm a windows fanboy? :P
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: erricrice on Mon, 10 May 2010, 13:53:49
Quote from: Viett;180764
I own another 0E8F (not one of the two elbowglue recommends) and it works fine on Linux and Mac OS X.


Do you happen to have a link for one on ebay or something?  I just need one for work that functions on a MAC for sure
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: Viett on Mon, 10 May 2010, 14:02:48
Quote from: Viett;180766
It does not recognize the keyboard on boot? I have an eMac and also have this problem with adapters. It has to be a power issue, because a regular USB keyboard works fine.

Last time I checked, an adapted PS/2 keyboard is indistinguishable from a USB one other than the amount of power used.

Once you're booted up, the adapted keyboard should work fine.


To quote myself from another thread, I believe your problem lies elsewhere. I don't own a single adapter that my eMac recognizes on boot, but they all work after it's booted up.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: vils on Mon, 10 May 2010, 14:26:20
I got this one:
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:eyXBMzDIaa7icM:http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8283/adapterq.jpg)
Bought two for $8, shipping included.
IŽve had som issues with it, some key combinations will cause the KB to stop functioning and I have to restart the comp in order to get it working again.
This is with my SMK-85 and running Win7, 64-bit. IŽll try to get a Blue cube and see if its better.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: erricrice on Mon, 10 May 2010, 14:35:34
Quote from: Viett;180778
To quote myself from another thread, I believe your problem lies elsewhere. I don't own a single adapter that my eMac recognizes on boot, but they all work after it's booted up.


Yeah sorry, I posted here before I read the update in the other thread.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 10 May 2010, 14:40:06
Quote from: Viett;180778
To quote myself from another thread, I believe your problem lies elsewhere. I don't own a single adapter that my eMac recognizes on boot, but they all work after it's booted up.


A G4 Power Mac I found once wouldn't work with my HHKB when it was booting (for accessing the Open Firmware), but the Filco would work just fine.
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: aegrotatio on Wed, 12 May 2010, 12:57:26
This one works for the OP's challenge but fails wexc and rtyu with a Model M (not sure if it's the keyboard or the adapter).  The adapter ID is 0x0D3D.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008V9EF/ref=oss_product

The old 10-year-old model and the one I just bought (with thinner cable) are the same.


By the way, there are at least two kinds of USB keyboard modes, USBHID and a nightmare named USBHIDBP (and I'm not talking about another horror, OHCI vs. UHCI).  In the past this was a bitter pain in the neck with Linux and lousy KVMs.  Older BIOSes would turn on the keyboard as a USBHIDBP and it would stay that way after the system started up, causing pain and suffering and missed keystrokes and multimedia keys that don't work.  Another symptom is the USB keyboard doesn't work until the system starts up.  Yucky generic PS/2-to-USB converters have re-awakened this terror.

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=9957&stc=1&d=1273687077)
Title: PS2 to USB adapter challenge
Post by: chucknobucks on Sun, 05 September 2010, 22:54:30
My favorite keyboards are my two compact MiniTouch KB1948 PS2 models. Had the same problems and some more I can't remember. Tried many of the PS2 to USB adapters listed here with little or no success. Finally found a product called Y-mouse. No more problems with my gaming tower or my laptop.

http://www.piengineering.com/ymouse/whym271.php

Shop around and watch eBay. Also take care that you don't buy one of the many other similar products that piengineering makes. They all look similar and if there is no photo + description it can get kind of confusing.