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keyboard adapter


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Topic: keyboard adapter

decaires
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location:
Posts: 23

keyboard adapter

hey i found a site where the inventor of the stowaway was talking about the different keyboards on the market and reviewing them, he said that originally if you had a serial cable/cradle you can buy an adapter that would allow you to use any ps/2 keyboard, unfortunatly i have looked far and wide for this with no luck i found a site that showed how to build the adapter but woa it is very complex. anyone know of where i can find an adapter like this (serial to ps/2 keyboard)

12-02-2002 08:58 PM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: keyboard adapter

quote:
Originally posted by decaires
anyone know of where i can find an adapter like this (serial to ps/2 keyboard)

A standard serial to PS/2 adapter can be found anywhere. The problem is that you need something to mate with the cradle or cable (Visor end). Plus, I'm not sure that a standard desktop keyboard by itself can be used since they usually require 5 volts which is typically supplied by the PC. Some sort of interface is required as far as I know.

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12-03-2002 02:41 AM

decaires
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location:
Posts: 23

thats exactly what the problem is, the connection is not standard ps/2 to serial, you have to either create the drivers of find someone who did and the connection is somewhat different

12-03-2002 07:04 AM

Prismer2
Member

Registered: Aug 2002
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 108

Re: Re: keyboard adapter

quote:
Originally posted by MarkEagle
A standard serial to PS/2 adapter can be found anywhere. The problem is that you need something to mate with the cradle or cable (Visor end). Plus, I'm not sure that a standard desktop keyboard by itself can be used since they usually require 5 volts which is typically supplied by the PC. Some sort of interface is required as far as I know.

Mark is right, the guy was probably not thinking of Visors, which were designed from the beginning to be USB, hence their Serial implementation is not true RS-232 but rather a limited one that will work with PC's. To use a serial adaptor for a PS2 keyboard you would also need several other items. One would be a null-modem adaptor, so you could go peer-to-peer instead of host-to-peer, as well as a power source to power the serial connection, since it usually draws power from the PC. Their are some custom made cable solutions out their but they are usually expensive like $50. See www.purplecables.com or www.markspace.com

Besides, wouldn't you also need a keyboard driver for the PS2 keyboard? Not exactly plug and play!

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12-19-2002 11:06 PM

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