any USB keyboard and mouse to PS/2 adapter?

[0db]

I wonder if there is any opensource project around to interface a usb keyboard and mouse to a ps/2 computer.

[bingo600]

Not opensource
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-USB-PS-2-PS2-Male-to-USB-A-Female-Converter-Adaptor-For-MOUSE-KEYBOARD-EU/163166618504

But at that price i'd just buy them

[0db]

It's a passive adapter without any MPU inside, and it only works if your keyboard already talks PS/2.
It simply switch the keyboard into PS/2 mode. But things go more complex when you want to adapt a common keyboard or mouse that are USB-only.

[Gyro]

Not opensource
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-USB-PS-2-PS2-Male-to-USB-A-Female-Converter-Adaptor-For-MOUSE-KEYBOARD-EU/163166618504

But at that price i'd just buy them

I think those are just passive adapters for older keyboards and mice that had dual USB / PS2 functionality. I'm not sure if that still applies to current ones.

It looks as if there was a relatively recent Silicon Chip article on a USB Keyboard OR Mouse to serial adapter but It doesn't look as if it's actually PS2 format...  http://www.siliconchip.com.au/Issue/2019/February/USB+Mouse+and+Keyboard+Interface+for+Micros?res=nonflash  The downloadable code is only in Hex too.


Edit: The consensus on Amazon seems to be 'it depends'... https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Replacement-USB-Keyboard-Adapter/dp/B000A0K2JO/?th=1

[fordem]

Let me start by confirming, do you have an older computer that takes a PS/2 keyboard & mouse, but has no USB port, that you need to use - or - do you have an older PS/2 keyboard & mouse that you want to use with a newer computer that doesn't have PS/2 ports?

USB ports have been around for over a decade now, and any system without a single USB port is probably near useless at this point, but if that is the situation, PS/2 keyboards & mice can be found used on ebay.  If it's a PS/2 system with at least one USB port, you can hang a USB hub off that port and plug a USB keyboard & mouse in, pretty much every OS released in the last decade will recognize them.

If what you have is an older PS/2 keyboard & mouse, or maybe an older KVM switch, inexpensive adapters to connect those to a USB port are available.

[0db]

The computer only has PS/2 ports, it's a vintage machine and can't have any USB port.
But I need to use a USB keyboard and mouse. And I am willing to develop the adapter myself.

[ebastler]

The computer only has PS/2 ports, it's a vintage machine and can't have any USB port.
But I need to use a USB keyboard and mouse. And I am willing to develop the adapter myself.

I am only aware of adapters for the opposite scenario (vintage PS/2 mouse/keyboard to modern USB computer), as also shown in the post above. Why don't you simply use a "proper" vintage keyboard and mouse with your vintage computer?

[Nusa]

Vintage is one solution. But there are still plenty of new keyboards that come with PS/2 adapters/functionality and should work.

As for mice, I just looked on Amazon and new PS/2-only mice are still available, quite cheap. No adapter needed.
A little harder to fine, but I also found new PS/2-only keyboards as well. No adapter needed.
So either they're still supporting consumable peripherals for old hardware, or there's enough old stock PS/2 stuff still out there.

[MLXXXp]

And I am willing to develop the adapter myself.

Some Arduino boards can act as a USB host, such as the Due or SAMD based ones like the Zero. For a compact design, I'd consider something like the SparkFun SAMD21 Mini Breakout or the Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto

There are libraries available to interface to a USB keyboard and mouse, and emulate a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. Use them with some translation code to do what you want.

https://github.com/arduino/ArduinoCore-samd/tree/master/libraries/USBHost
https://playground.arduino.cc/ComponentLib/Ps2mouse/

[0db]

And I am willing to develop the adapter myself.

Some Arduino boards can act as a USB host, such as the Due or SAMD based ones like the Zero. For a compact design, I'd consider something like the SparkFun SAMD21 Mini Breakout or the Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto

There are libraries available to interface to a USB keyboard and mouse, and emulate a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. Use them with some translation code to do what you want.

https://github.com/arduino/ArduinoCore-samd/tree/master/libraries/USBHost
https://playground.arduino.cc/ComponentLib/Ps2mouse/

Nice idea!

[fordem]

The computer only has PS/2 ports, it's a vintage machine and can't have any USB port.
But I need to use a USB keyboard and mouse. And I am willing to develop the adapter myself.

How old is this computer and what expansion bus does it use?  USB expansion cards are available & dirt cheap and I'd be quite surprised if you couldn't find a usable PS/2 keyboard & mouse on ebay

[Nusa]

One can still get a native PS/2 keyboard and mouse brand new.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Deluxe-Desktop-Keyboard-Mouse/dp/B00354TYM8

He seems more interested in the project rather than finding the simple and cheap solution that works. Which is fine, although saying that would have made this thread easier.

[e_60]

I had a similar requirement recently.  I have an old PC with only ps2 keyboard/mouse and I wanted to use a USB Keyboard/Mouse,  so I purchased one of these:

https://www.tripplite.com/ps-2-to-usb-converter~0DT60002

It is an absolutely overkill it cost me $120 but I wanted to see it in action,  when I have time I would like to investigate making my own in a more compact form factor on a "dongle" format to plug into the proprietary ps2 port on my laptop.

as other have mentioned, a more cost effective solution is to buy a ps2 keyboard,  or  one that supports it through the  passive adapter.

[T3sl4co1l]

(Necro warning)

By coincidence, I came across this:
https://github.com/10110111/usb2ps2conv
and also this thread.  So perhaps there are additional options available.

Tim

[PKTKS]

(Necro warning)

By coincidence, I came across this:
https://github.com/10110111/usb2ps2conv
and also this thread.  So perhaps there are additional options available.

Tim

Nice alternative...

I have a pile of very good "old" stuff which is being "obsoleted" by this USB fever...

ALAS..  has seen that a simple  USB VID ID register is costing about U$10.000

I miss plain RS232..  much cheaper and easier... although bulky

Paul

[cfbsoftware]

Some of Digilent's Artix 7 FPGA boards (e.g. the Basys 3) connect a PIC24FJ128 to a USB socket to implement a standard PS/2 interface for communication with a mouse or keyboard. I have found this works better with USB mice and keyboards than any other solution (standalone adapters etc.) that I have tried. The hardware and PS/2 related-details are described in detail in the USB HID Host section of the Basys 3 documentation:

https://digilent.com/reference/programmable-logic/basys-3/reference-manual?redirect=1

Unfortunately this is only a partial solution for my application (Project Oberon) because a) I need two PS/2 interfaces and b) I have not been able to locate the source code used to program the PIC. I'd be VERY interested if it, or an equivalent, was found so I could use the same technique with other FPGA boards. 

[cfbsoftware]

One can still get a native PS/2 keyboard and mouse brand new.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Deluxe-Desktop-Keyboard-Mouse/dp/B00354TYM8

Have a closer look: "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock."

I tracked it down to NewEgg but it also listed out of stock there as well. The additional information (Date First Available: May 05, 2004) leads me to believe these are obsolete listings.
https://www.newegg.com/logitech-deluxe-desktop-bundle-967290-1403-ps-2-wired/p/N82E16823126144

For my uses, a three-button mouse (e.g. the Logitech M-S35) is preferable to a scroll-wheel mouse. Fortunately you can often get good used ones on eBay at a reasonable price e.g.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/194526758817

 

[ebastler]

Cherry still makes keyboards with a "Combo" interface, i.e. a USB jack which supports translation to PS/2 via a passive plug adapter. (Which comes with the keyboard.) Here are a few, from full size to compact:

https://www.cherry.de/PDF/EN_G80-3000.pdf
https://www.cherry.de/PDF/EN_G80-1800.pdf
https://www.cherry.de/PDF/EN_Compact-Keyboard_G84-4100.pdf

These are current products, in stock at Amazon and elsewhere. Note that not all Cherry keyboards support the PS/2 adapter; e.g. the RGB-illuminated versions and the MX series seem to be USB only.

[MarkF]

Scrap the whole PS/2 idea and get a USB card to use your USB keyboard and mouse directly.
Plus room for other devices.  Lots to choose from.  Just Google them.

You do not need to use the old PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse.

Here's an example from Amazon:




Also: StarTech.com PCI to USB 2.0 Controller Adapter Card

[T3sl4co1l]

Easier said than done when the machine doesn't have PCI(e), for example.

Or even when it does, the OS doesn't support it (e.g. Win95).

Why not update?  Or upgrade?  Some industries prohibit that (let alone if a viable upgrade path is even known for the given hardware, software and application involved), and with good reason!

Tim

[mariush]

The simple solution would be to buy a PS/2 keyboard, and a PS/2 mouse.
They still make them.

You can also buy new old stock of some keyboards that are ps/2 ... see https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=new+old+stock+ps%2F2+keyboard&_sacat=0

[simba15]

So recently I found the need for this USB device to PS2/AT adapter.

Most of my Keyboards are USB and none of them seemed to be PS2 compatible ( with an adapter)

If could be really handy to have a USB device to PS2 output adapter.

usb2ps2conv seems like a good project, Has any one made one?

I have a STM32 Nucleo-64 board that i could try but im not sure if Nucleo boards are compatible?

Thanks.

[BeBuLamar]

Would these 2 adapters work?
https://www.startech.com/en-us/cables/gc46fmkey

https://www.startech.com/en-us/cables/gc46fm

[ebastler]

No, both are passive converters, as stated in the product descriptions. They will only work with keyboards or mice which are already equipped with a combined USB/PS2 interface.

[BeBuLamar]

So the OP has special keyboard and mouse that he must use? I use those adapters with almost any USB keyboard or mouse I got and they work.