[Coco] MC-11 Status Update
didier derny
didier at aida.org
Tue Jul 28 16:40:07 EDT 2015
I'm using a Vinculum II
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/ICs/VNC2.htm
On 28/07/2015 22:34, Mark Marlette wrote:
> That is correct.
>
>
> That is easy. Getting the keys to the coco is harder. Especially multiple keys down at the same time.
>
> Far from impossible. All I have to is change the driver on the front end, add the host and change the lookups via conditionals.
>
> Done this in an development board already. Overkill for a USB host, IMHO. Thus why I have PS/2 interface. Some have commented that the PS/2 interface is too expensive. A USB solution from me would be higher due to the host device.
>
> YMMV.
>
> Regards
>
> Mark
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>
> From:"lciotti at lrlc.us lciotti at lrlc.us" <lciotti at lrlc.us>
> Date:Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 3:22 PM
> Subject:Re: [Coco] MC-11 Status Update
>
> USB would be nice, but that would require having something to act as the USB
> host (this is my understanding of how USB works, someone more knowledgable thatn
> me might know better.)
>
>> On July 28, 2015 at 4:19 PM Mark Marlette <mmarlette at frontiernet.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> didier
>>
>>
>> So what you are saying is that the raw keycodes coming from the keyboards
>> that don't work are different than from the spec?
>>
>>
>> USB and PS/2 have different values for the lookups.
>>
>>
>> My raw values were always correct. Hmmmm.
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>>
>> From:"didier derny" <didier at aida.org>
>> Date:Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 2:23 PM
>> Subject:Re: [Coco] MC-11 Status Update
>>
>> Hi Mark
>>
>> the problem is quite simple, most of the interface for old machines only
>> works with qwerty keyboard
>> if you buy one from amazon.fr you will find a ps/2 azerty keyboard the
>> signs on the key does not match the result
>> if you look for a ps/2 qwerty you find some but most of the time mini
>> keyboard so small that it's hell to use
>> and most of the time badly mapped
>>
>> if you buy a normal size keyboard most of the time it's a usb keyboard
>> with an adaptator
>> the adaptator + keyboard is just not working
>>
>> if you try to buy from amazon.com you will find a nice keyboard + extra
>> taxes + transport
>> the keyboards becomes really expensive and you have a high chance to get
>> a usb keyboard
>> with a non working adapter... (so I don't take the risk)
>>
>> that's why I'm building my own keyboard interface. I searched for more
>> than a year for a solution
>> I found one, I'll be able to use an azerty keyboard completely localized
>> on my old machines
>>
>> I'm tired of struggling with these ps/2 keyboard and I would have
>> preferred to see a usb
>> connector on Darren's board.
>>
>> --
>> didier
>>
>>
>> On 28/07/2015 15:34, Mark Marlette wrote:
>> > What specifically was the issue? Not working in ps/2 mode?
>> >
>> >
>> > Are these dual mode keyboards? USB with maybe ps/2 support?
>> >
>> >
>> > My experience has been zero issues with ps/2 keyboards. Yes there are
>> > bad keyboards but never bought a new bad one.
>> >
>> >
>> > I agree with Aaron on usb and ps/2.
>> >
>> >
>> > Getting keys either usb or ps/2 to the coco is easy. Getting them to
>> > output any key press is a bit harder.
>> >
>> >
>> > In the Cloud-9 PS/2 interface both RSDOS and NitrOS-9 tables are fully
>> > supported with many macro and pre canned tables as well. Programmable
>> > macros of the 12 function keys 50 keys each max. Both keyboards can be
>> > used simultaneously if one prefers.
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> > Mark
>> >
>> > Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>> >
>> > From:"Didier Derny" <didier at aida.org>
>> > Date:Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 8:00 AM
>> > Subject:Re: [Coco] MC-11 Status Update
>> >
>> > Frankly after having bought around 10 keyboards most of them not working
>> > in ps/2 mode
>> > I took the simplest resolution to never use a ps/2 keyboard again
>> >
>> > my apple IIe is using a usb keyboard
>> > my c64/vic20 have already been connected to a usb keyboard (even with a
>> > national keyboard)
>> > for my coco2/coco3 it's on its way...
>> >
>> > I won't buy 10 keyboard again to find a working one (or pay a high price
>> > for the transport)
>> > the one I found several years ago [not sold anymore] (it was the
>> > parallax keyboard for the propeller)
>> >
>> > I love national keyboards :) and my fingers are not fitted for qwerty
>> > keyboards :)
>> >
>> > the usb only allow what was programmed in the chip used for usb
>> > if you only have HID devices software you won't connect a mass storage
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On 28/07/2015 13:34, Aaron Wolfe wrote:
>> >> Contact a business equipment/computing supplier. In the US examples are
>> >> staples, office depot, office max, Ingram micro, CDW, etc. You
>> >> probably
>> >> won't see PS/2 devices in a retail store because its become uncommon
>> >> for
>> >> home use, but they all sell them. PS/2 devices are still used by many
>> >> companies for security purposes on desktops and especially on servers.
>> >> A
>> >> USB port allows many dangerous devices such as portable mass storage,
>> >> while
>> >> ps/2 connectors are pretty safe, so it is not uncommon to have usb
>> >> disabled
>> >> on company owned computers. Amazon also carries quite a few, if they
>> >> deliver to your area. Not expensive.
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Jul 28, 2015, 3:33 AM Didier Derny <didier at aida.org> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> In my country, if it is still possible to find good ps/2 mouse, qwerty
>> >>> ps/2 keyboards are not common we have to buy them overseas
>> >>> most of the keyboard are just usb with a non working usb to ps/2
>> >>> adapter
>> >>> and azerty keyboard are not properly decoded
>> >>>
>> >>> After having tried to find for my old machine some usb interface I'm
>> >>> finally building mine
>> >>>
>> >>> I would love to buy Darren's Board it looks quite nice but with ps/2
>> >>> I'm
>> >>> not so sure to buy one
>> >>> I love his cocoSDC and I guess his new board is also very good.
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>> didier
>> >>>
>> >>> On 28/07/2015 04:01, Zippster wrote:
>> >>>> Well, make that over 600. I guess a lot of those were adapters and
>> >>> similar.
>> >>>> - Ed
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> On Jul 27, 2015, at 8:53 PM, Zippster <zippster278 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Yeah, I think most older USB keyboards will support the adapters.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> But as Al was indicating, PS2 keyboards are commonplace. A quick
>> >>>>> ebay
>> >>> query turns up
>> >>>>> over 6,000 listings with a wide variety of prices (starting at
>> >>>>> almost
>> >>> nothing) and styles.
>> >>>>> - Ed
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>> On Jul 27, 2015, at 7:51 PM, Steve Batson via Coco <
>> >>> coco at maltedmedia.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>> I have some old keyboards around that may work then...I guess I'll
>> >>> wait and see what the end state of this thing is. I would be fun to
>> >>> use to
>> >>> build up a system.
>> >>>>>> On Jul 27, 2015, at 5:25 PM, Al Hartman <alhartman6 at optonline.net>
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>>>>>> A PS/2 to USB adapter only converts the pin assignments. The
>> >>>>>>> keyboard
>> >>> has to have the circuitry within it to detect that you have attached
>> >>> the
>> >>> adapter and switch to PS/2 mode.
>> >>>>>>> That's why these adapters don't work with every keyboard.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> There are active adapters that have circuitry, they will cost a
>> >>>>>>> bit
>> >>> more money. But, you can still find PS/2 keyboards if you look on
>> >>> Amazon,
>> >>> eBay, and elsewhere.
>> >>>>>>> -[ Al ]-
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> -----Original Message----- On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 5:27 PM, Steve
>> >>> Batson via Coco wrote:
>> >>>>>>>> Cool so I suspect that it would work fine with a PS2 to USB
>> >>>>>>>> adapter.
>> >>>>>>>> This sounds like a great homebrew computer that you could build
>> >>>>>>>> up
>> >>> for all
>> >>>>>>>> kinds of control projects and things like that
>> >>>>>>> --
>> >>>>>>> Coco mailing list
>> >>>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>
>> >>>>>> --
>> >>>>>> Coco mailing list
>> >>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>> --
>> >>> Coco mailing list
>> >>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> >>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>> >>>
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
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>>
>> --
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>>
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