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USB keyboard adapter
- TheNameOfTheGame
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:49 pm
- Location: Almost Heaven, West Virginia
USB keyboard adapter
Does anyone know of a USB->PS/2 adapter or solution available?
I am looking to hook up my Hades060 via USB keyboard.
Been looking around for a convertor but coming up empty so am stumped. Any ideas?
I am looking to hook up my Hades060 via USB keyboard.
Been looking around for a convertor but coming up empty so am stumped. Any ideas?
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

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Re: USB keyboard adapter
You can get these cheaply on eBay: USB to PS2 adapter
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- TheNameOfTheGame
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:49 pm
- Location: Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Re: USB keyboard adapter
Yeah got stacks of those passive adapters here. They don't work with most keyboards.
Should specify I'm looking for an 'active' USB->PS/2 adapter.
Should specify I'm looking for an 'active' USB->PS/2 adapter.
Re: USB keyboard adapter
I don't think active ones ever existed ?
Mostly those cheap adapters only worked because things like USB mice were also backwards compatible with PS2. Mostly only Microsoft ones as well.
Mostly those cheap adapters only worked because things like USB mice were also backwards compatible with PS2. Mostly only Microsoft ones as well.
- TheNameOfTheGame
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:49 pm
- Location: Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Re: USB keyboard adapter
Of course I understand all that, just with the prolifiration of cheap PICs and PIs, was just seeing you guys had any info on any active USB->PS/2 protocol adapters or projects. 
- TheNameOfTheGame
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:49 pm
- Location: Almost Heaven, West Virginia
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

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Re: USB keyboard adapter
Yes, but that one specifically states PS/2. It's more likely your HADES doesn't like it, or it can't power it. PS/2 to uUSB is a pretty much straight through connection:TheNameOfTheGame wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:34 pm Yeah got stacks of those passive adapters here. They don't work with most keyboards.
Should specify I'm looking for an 'active' USB->PS/2 adapter.
The other option is that your keyboard isn't PS/2 compatible. i've used them many times with no issues.
Also, that github thread specifically states it for connecting non PS/2 keyboard to PS/2. Like I said, your keyboard may not support PS/2.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- TheNameOfTheGame
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:49 pm
- Location: Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Re: USB keyboard adapter
Yes, thanks. Well the github project is for converting the usb protocol from usb keyboards (don't have to be ps/2 aware) to the ps/2 protocol for computers that have ps/2 connectors (AT computers basically). That is exactly what I am looking for so not sure what you are trying to say tbh.rubber_jonnie wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:32 pmYes, but that one specifically states PS/2. It's more likely your HADES doesn't like it, or it can't power it. PS/2 to uUSB is a pretty much straight through connection:TheNameOfTheGame wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:34 pm Yeah got stacks of those passive adapters here. They don't work with most keyboards.
Should specify I'm looking for an 'active' USB->PS/2 adapter.
The other option is that your keyboard isn't PS/2 compatible. i've used them many times with no issues.
Also, that github thread specifically states it for connecting non PS/2 keyboard to PS/2. Like I said, your keyboard may not support PS/2.
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

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Re: USB keyboard adapter
Quoted from the github page:TheNameOfTheGame wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:43 pm
Yes, thanks. Well the github project is for converting the usb protocol from usb keyboards (don't have to be ps/2 aware) to the ps/2 protocol for computers that have ps/2 connectors (AT computers basically). That is exactly what I am looking for so not sure what you are trying to say tbh.![]()
"This project is the firmware part of the device that converts the USB signaling of modern PS/2-incapable keyboards to the protocol of PS/2 keyboard port"
PS/2-incapable means non PS/2 to me.
That's basically taking a non PS/2 usb keyboard and making it PS/2 compatible.
You specifically asked for a USB to PS/2 adapter, not a non USB PS/2 keyboard to PS/2 adapter. They are not the same thing.
All I'm saying is that if the question is clear you will get better answers.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- TheNameOfTheGame
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:49 pm
- Location: Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Re: USB keyboard adapter
Ok, I see what you were saying. It's semantics that that got a bit confusing. I don't care if the usb keyboard is ps/2 or non-ps/2 really. Any usb keyboard non-ps/2 or ps/2 can go through the github project adapter. That's what I am looking for at the end of the day. Thanks for all the help guys. Appreciate it.