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RISC PC and USB keyboards
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Philip Draper
Apr 29, 2013, 5:27:44 AM4/29/13
to
For ages now I've been using a wireless mouse (Logitech) via a USB to
PS/2 adapter (which came with the mouse) and the required PS/2 to
Acorn converter gadget. This works well with my RISC PC (without any
USB board).
I though I would try to see whether a USB keyboard would also work,
using a USB to PS/2 'keyboard' adapter. (I suspect the only difference
between this and the mouse adapter is that it is purple rather than
green.) With a direct connection this works satisfactorily, using a
small, cheap keyboard that I got for my RPi. But 2 different
conventional wireless keyboards (both Logitech) will not work.
Wireless technology has changed a bit: the mouse has a quite large
'receiver' that sits on the desktop and attaches to the computer
through a lead. Modern wireless (including my keyboards) uses small
USB 'dongles'. But it is hard to see why this matters. Does anyone
have any idea what is going on?
Regards,
Philip.
--
Philip Draper
Phi...@borehamh.demon.co.uk
PS/2 adapter (which came with the mouse) and the required PS/2 to
Acorn converter gadget. This works well with my RISC PC (without any
USB board).
I though I would try to see whether a USB keyboard would also work,
using a USB to PS/2 'keyboard' adapter. (I suspect the only difference
between this and the mouse adapter is that it is purple rather than
green.) With a direct connection this works satisfactorily, using a
small, cheap keyboard that I got for my RPi. But 2 different
conventional wireless keyboards (both Logitech) will not work.
Wireless technology has changed a bit: the mouse has a quite large
'receiver' that sits on the desktop and attaches to the computer
through a lead. Modern wireless (including my keyboards) uses small
USB 'dongles'. But it is hard to see why this matters. Does anyone
have any idea what is going on?
Regards,
Philip.
--
Philip Draper
Phi...@borehamh.demon.co.uk
jeffrey....@gmail.com
Apr 30, 2013, 3:14:03 AM4/30/13
to
On Monday, April 29, 2013 10:27:44 AM UTC+1, Philip Draper wrote:
> For ages now I've been using a wireless mouse (Logitech) via a USB to
> PS/2 adapter (which came with the mouse) and the required PS/2 to
> Acorn converter gadget. This works well with my RISC PC (without any
> USB board).
The USB/PS2 adapters are only plug convertors. The keyboard/mouse itself auto detects whether it is connected to USB or PS2 and changes it's protocol accordingly. If you have a USB only, or PS2 only device then it can never work via the simple purple/green adapters.
> For ages now I've been using a wireless mouse (Logitech) via a USB to
> PS/2 adapter (which came with the mouse) and the required PS/2 to
> Acorn converter gadget. This works well with my RISC PC (without any
> USB board).
Jeff
Philip Draper
Apr 30, 2013, 5:45:43 AM4/30/13
to
In message <1cffd6a9-ae98-411e...@googlegroups.com>
Tha explanation fits well with my wireless mouse, which came fitted
with a USB plug and a PS/w adapter as well, so presumably can cope
with either.
But how does it explain my USB-only wired keyboard, which does work
with the RPC using a simple adapter?
with a USB plug and a PS/w adapter as well, so presumably can cope
with either.
But how does it explain my USB-only wired keyboard, which does work
with the RPC using a simple adapter?
Stuart
Apr 30, 2013, 4:15:20 AM4/30/13
to
In article <1cffd6a9-ae98-411e...@googlegroups.com>,
USB/PS2 before purchase. Useful information I had not realised. Thanks for
that.
--
Stuart Winsor
Midlands RISC OS and Raspberry pi show, 13th July 2013
<jeffrey....@gmail.com> wrote:
> > For ages now I've been using a wireless mouse (Logitech) via a USB to
> > PS/2 adapter (which came with the mouse) and the required PS/2 to
> > Acorn converter gadget. This works well with my RISC PC (without any
> > USB board).
> The USB/PS2 adapters are only plug convertors. The keyboard/mouse itself
> auto detects whether it is connected to USB or PS2 and changes it's
> protocol accordingly. If you have a USB only, or PS2 only device then it
> can never work via the simple purple/green adapters.
So if buying a replacement mouse one needs to ensure that it specifies
> > For ages now I've been using a wireless mouse (Logitech) via a USB to
> > PS/2 adapter (which came with the mouse) and the required PS/2 to
> > Acorn converter gadget. This works well with my RISC PC (without any
> > USB board).
> The USB/PS2 adapters are only plug convertors. The keyboard/mouse itself
> auto detects whether it is connected to USB or PS2 and changes it's
> protocol accordingly. If you have a USB only, or PS2 only device then it
> can never work via the simple purple/green adapters.
USB/PS2 before purchase. Useful information I had not realised. Thanks for
that.
--
Stuart Winsor
Midlands RISC OS and Raspberry pi show, 13th July 2013
cfe...@freeremoveuk.com.invalid
Apr 30, 2013, 7:31:46 AM4/30/13
to
In message <53446679...@argonet.co.uk>
Are you sure this is true - with a usb-ps2 adaptor for the Iyonix - I
use a Acorn keyboard and a ps2 mouse.
--
Colin Ferris Cornwall UK
use a Acorn keyboard and a ps2 mouse.
--
Colin Ferris Cornwall UK
Alan Adams
Apr 30, 2013, 7:48:53 AM4/30/13
to
In message <9e7578445...@cferris.freeuk.com>
That will be a ps2-USB adapter - the other way round.
The discussion was about the little green (mouse) or purple (keyboard)
plugs which allow a USB keyboard/mouse to plug into a PS2 computer.
--
Alan Adams, from Northamptonshire
al...@adamshome.org.uk
http://www.nckc.org.uk/
The discussion was about the little green (mouse) or purple (keyboard)
plugs which allow a USB keyboard/mouse to plug into a PS2 computer.
--
Alan Adams, from Northamptonshire
al...@adamshome.org.uk
http://www.nckc.org.uk/
Andrew Wickham
May 9, 2013, 11:32:37 AM5/9/13
to
On 30 Apr, 10:45, Philip Draper <Phi...@borehamh.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> But how does it explain my USB-only wired keyboard, which does work
> with the RPC using a simple adapter?
>
perhaps it is in fact a combined PS2/USB device, but does not
> But how does it explain my USB-only wired keyboard, which does work
> with the RPC using a simple adapter?
>
advertise the PS2 capability?
Andrew
Chris Evans
May 10, 2013, 5:10:33 AM5/10/13
to
In article <53a00fef-9b34-410f...@g9g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
On some of their Trackerballs Logitech stopped years ago including the
simple green PS/2 - USB adaptor and removed any mention from the box etc of
PS/2 but the Trackerball remained the same and did work with the adaptor on
PS/2!
Having said that I think it is very much a minority of keyboards and mice
that will work with a simple dumb adaptor without it being documented as such.
Chris Evans
--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!
simple green PS/2 - USB adaptor and removed any mention from the box etc of
PS/2 but the Trackerball remained the same and did work with the adaptor on
PS/2!
Having said that I think it is very much a minority of keyboards and mice
that will work with a simple dumb adaptor without it being documented as such.
Chris Evans
--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!
Tim Hill
May 11, 2013, 9:17:00 AM5/11/13
to
In article <ant10093...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>, Chris Evans
adaptors and into a PC without a problem. Have I simply been lucky?
Anyone who has dealt with a problem PC may have discovered that a PS/2
keyboard can sometimes be useful if you want to access its BIOS.
--
from Tim Hill who welcomes incoming email to tim at timil dot com.
* Share in a better energy supplier: http://tjrh.eu/coopnrg
* Share in cheaper ethical telecoms: http://tjrh.eu/phone
* Have a genuine & spam-proof address for Usenet http://www.invalid.org.uk/
<ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> In article
> <53a00fef-9b34-410f...@g9g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
> Andrew Wickham <URL:mailto:ajw...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > On 30 Apr, 10:45, Philip Draper <Phi...@borehamh.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > > But how does it explain my USB-only wired keyboard, which does work
> > > with the RPC using a simple adapter?
> > >
> > perhaps it is in fact a combined PS2/USB device, but does not
> > advertise the PS2 capability?
> On some of their Trackerballs Logitech stopped years ago including the
> simple green PS/2 - USB adaptor and removed any mention from the box
> etc of PS/2 but the Trackerball remained the same and did work with the
> adaptor on PS/2!
> Having said that I think it is very much a minority of keyboards and
> mice that will work with a simple dumb adaptor without it being
> documented as such.
I have picked up 'random' USB keyboards and plugged them into USB<>PS/2
> In article
> <53a00fef-9b34-410f...@g9g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
> Andrew Wickham <URL:mailto:ajw...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > On 30 Apr, 10:45, Philip Draper <Phi...@borehamh.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > > But how does it explain my USB-only wired keyboard, which does work
> > > with the RPC using a simple adapter?
> > >
> > perhaps it is in fact a combined PS2/USB device, but does not
> > advertise the PS2 capability?
> On some of their Trackerballs Logitech stopped years ago including the
> simple green PS/2 - USB adaptor and removed any mention from the box
> etc of PS/2 but the Trackerball remained the same and did work with the
> adaptor on PS/2!
> Having said that I think it is very much a minority of keyboards and
> mice that will work with a simple dumb adaptor without it being
> documented as such.
adaptors and into a PC without a problem. Have I simply been lucky?
Anyone who has dealt with a problem PC may have discovered that a PS/2
keyboard can sometimes be useful if you want to access its BIOS.
--
from Tim Hill who welcomes incoming email to tim at timil dot com.
* Share in a better energy supplier: http://tjrh.eu/coopnrg
* Share in cheaper ethical telecoms: http://tjrh.eu/phone
* Have a genuine & spam-proof address for Usenet http://www.invalid.org.uk/
Theo Markettos
May 11, 2013, 9:55:41 AM5/11/13
to
Tim Hill <t...@invalid.org.uk> wrote:
> I have picked up 'random' USB keyboards and plugged them into USB<>PS/2
> adaptors and into a PC without a problem. Have I simply been lucky?
>
> Anyone who has dealt with a problem PC may have discovered that a PS/2
> keyboard can sometimes be useful if you want to access its BIOS.
I tend to have the opposite problem - a pile of PS/2 keyboards and machines
> I have picked up 'random' USB keyboards and plugged them into USB<>PS/2
> adaptors and into a PC without a problem. Have I simply been lucky?
>
> Anyone who has dealt with a problem PC may have discovered that a PS/2
> keyboard can sometimes be useful if you want to access its BIOS.
with nowhere to plug them in. I discovered something else: the cheap active
PS/2 (keyboard)-USB (computer) adaptors seem to expect a US keyboard layout,
so the backslash/pipe key doesn't work even when using a UK keyboard driver.
There's one at £4 from CPC (no distringuishing marks, but it's dark blue and
cube-shaped) that does work, however. It's now permanently attached to my
Risc PC keyboard.
Theo
Tom Nicholls
May 11, 2013, 10:38:48 AM5/11/13
to
On 11/05/13 14:55, Theo Markettos wrote:
> There's one at £4 from CPC (no distringuishing marks, but it's dark blue and
> cube-shaped) that does work, however. It's now permanently attached to my
> Risc PC keyboard.
I believe that the "blue cube" is considered the gold standard of cheap
> There's one at £4 from CPC (no distringuishing marks, but it's dark blue and
> cube-shaped) that does work, however. It's now permanently attached to my
> Risc PC keyboard.
PS/2 to USB keyboard adaptors and is much loved by owners of old IBM
Model M keyboards. I also have one here (from ebay, not CPC) and it's
never let me down.
T
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