geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: erricrice on Sun, 09 May 2010, 00:30:26
-
So I got a PS/2 to USB adapter recently for a keyboard at work, and I decided to try it here for my Model M, just to see if it would work, and it did! I have heard that Model Ms sometimes have trouble PS/2 adapters, so I thought I would post it for anyone that is looking for one. On th cheap too, just 1.49($5 total with shipping).
http://tekgems.com/Products/tg-kl-usb-ps2.htm
Great shipping too, made it all the way from calif. to fl in only three days!
-
Could you get your vendor ID (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=PS2-to-USB+adapters) and check for issues such as:
1.) Hold down the Caps Lock key. Does it go on, then off a few seconds later?
2.) Hold down a, hit s, and let go of a. Does s get unpressed as well? You can use this site (http://random.xem.us/rollover.html) or AquaKeyTest (http://aviettran.com/AquaKeyTest.exe) for this.
I don't think I've heard of anyone buying a PS/2 to USB adapter online for under $5 without big issues like these.
-
I can hardly control the anticipation for Ripsters input......
"Ripster, you see this?"
:) :) :)
-
Vendor ID: 13ba
ProductID: 0017
And yes, it does have those problems, something I didn't test for before, I just wondered if it functioned at all, which it does.
$3.50 for shipping seems high.
But the poll is over...
-
Yep. The dreaded 13ba. It's a shame we can't weed these out when we're shopping for adapters online, but they come in all forms: from rocket ships (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=165420&postcount=1) to mini-usb hubs (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=165443&postcount=6).
-
Yep. The dreaded 13ba. It's a shame we can't weed these out when we're shopping for adapters online, but they come in all forms: from rocket ships (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=165420&postcount=1) to mini-usb hubs (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=165443&postcount=6).
What the heck do you mean, dreaded? I have had ZERO problems with 13ba adapters with Model Ms.
-
Yep. The dreaded 13ba. It's a shame we can't weed these out when we're shopping for adapters online, but they come in all forms: from rocket ships (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=165420&postcount=1) to mini-usb hubs (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=165443&postcount=6).
What the heck do you mean, dreaded? I have had ZERO problems with 13ba adapters with Model Ms.
The problems you described are not problems and don't bother me, and really shouldn't bother anyone.
-
What the heck do you mean, dreaded? I have had ZERO problems with 13ba adapters with Model Ms.
The problems you described are not problems and don't bother me, and really shouldn't bother anyone.
These problems make playing FPS on your keyboard completely impossible. If you are changing directions, you will stop walking. I also use Caps as a modifier. Folks that like to remap Caps Lock to control are completely out of luck with this adapter.
-
These problems make playing FPS on your keyboard completely impossible. If you are changing directions, you will stop walking. I also use Caps as a modifier. Folks that like to remap Caps Lock to control are completely out of luck with this adapter.
Ahhh alright, kinda forgot about that. As I generally associate "gaming" with "desktop" and I'm still PS/2 port-equipped, I don't really look at USB to PS/2 converters with gaming in mind.
-
These are the USB adapters I recommend:
http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=180606&postcount=15
One caveat - I have tested them on the M13 with trackpoint (they both work well) however not on a regular model M. I don't own a regular model M anyhow :P
Both don't have the dreaded 13ba problem.
-
The problems you described are not problems and don't bother me, and really shouldn't bother anyone.
Go play a game with one of those adapters and get back to us on that.
Woops, someone beat me to it, but you get the point.
-
Yeah, for $5 I really wasn't expecting something that I could game on, nor am I going to use it for that purpose.
Works just fine for a basic adapter if you just need something to make a keyboard usable for typing though.
-
$5... Isn't that what the Blue Cube costs?
I'm beginning to understand Ripster's angst about this continuous cycle of "Look, here's a cheap adapter! Oh wait, it's not really that cheap! Oh wait, it doesn't work!"
-
$5 isn't cheap for one of these. $0.99 with free shipping is cheap.
Try one or two of the cheap ones, if they don't do what you need then go blue cube. The form factor of the cheap ones is more usable anyway, so IMO it's best to try one first.
-
$5 isn't cheap for one of these. $0.99 with free shipping is cheap.
In the scheme of value for money, I prefer $5 working over $1 useless, don't you?
-
That's why I wouldn't risk more than a dollar or two on the cheapo ones.
Because of the form factor benefit and additional functionality of PS/2 mouse support, it seems like a no brainer to see if the "flaws" with the cheap ones will impact your use of your hardware or not. If they do, then go blue cube. If not, you've ended up with (for that particular person) a better-suited converter.
-
Actually I just realized those 'flaws' have affected me...positively!
They were something I views as a benefit about the cheapo adapters when connecting the (certainly not-supposed-to-be-supported) cable swapped terminal keyboard. They automatically let go of "held down" keys, any key in fact. If only they could be forced to let go sooner...