[Video] RPIKB: IKBD emulator for USB keyboard, mouse + joysticks

[Badwolf]

Weekend viewing?



Today I have a look at FieldOfCows' RPIKB project which uses the Pi Pico to provide a USB host environment and emulates the IKBD chip of the ST series allowing you to plug in USB keyboards, mice and compatible games controllers whilst also giving you the option of using your old DE-9 Atari style joysticks.

Here's his original repository: https://github.com/fieldofcows/atari-st-rpikb
Here's a pre-built firmware for your Pico: https://github.com/dh219/atari-st-rpikb ... g/20220825

Cheers,

BW.

[PhilC]

Gotta love those Pi Picos, so much potential for £3

[sporniket]

reminds me to finally start my project involving an ESP32 plugged into the IKBD port to use Blutooth HID devices (wireless, yay !)

[exxos]

Be cool one day to ultimately integrate such things onto the H5. Having a proper LAN port etc as well.

[DoG]

Nice project indeed.

I did a USB hub board for that project last year but never got around and program my pico. It have been laying in the drawers since then. I don't know why but now seems a good time to pick it up again. My PCB was meant to be attached inside and to be used with wireless dongles. Each port have a LED and if you use more then 0,5A it shuts down the port. It takes power from the keyboard connector for the pico but the USB hub on board need external power if I remember correctly. So thanks for the firmware!

2021-09-21 20.31.03 (3).jpg

[Steve]

Is it just a complete coincidence that this came along at the same time too?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=42197

[Badwolf]

Nice project indeed.

I did a USB hub board for that project last year but never got around and program my pico.

Excellent! Yes, that's a more advanced version of where I was thinking to go next!

The UF2 on my releases page might simply work off the bat for you.

It have been laying in the drawers since then. I don't know why but now seems a good time to pick it up again. My PCB was meant to be attached inside and to be used with wireless dongles. Each port have a LED and if you use more then 0,5A it shuts down the port. It takes power from the keyboard connector for the pico but the USB hub on board need external power if I remember correctly. So thanks for the firmware!

VERY cool indeed. :D

BW

[Badwolf]

Is it just a complete coincidence that this came along at the same time too?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=42197

It is indeed!

I released my video, then saw his post.

I normally post here first and over at Atari Forum a day later, but thought I'd post first there this time as otherwise we might have some finger pointing!

Isn't it odd? Like when two Hollywood studios independently release a film on the same topic at the same time.

Armageddon and Deep Impact. Beowulf and Grendel. Spiderman and... actually no, that's just the same studio every bloody time...

You know what I mean! ;)

BW

[JezC]

@Badwolf Do you have the part numbers for the various components/level shifter etc.?

Really like the look of this (and have a couple of spare pico board to use for it), so keen to build up one & see how useful it is.
Also, i saw from the original on GitHub that there can be problems enumerating the USB sometimes, so was wondering if you'd noticed that (and if so, how frequently it seemed to occur)?

Great video once again!

:thumbup:

[Badwolf]

@Badwolf Do you have the part numbers for the various components/level shifter etc.?

No, sorry, just eyeballed them from eBay. The OLED is the 0.96" variant, though, which may help.

Really like the look of this (and have a couple of spare pico board to use for it), so keen to build up one & see how useful it is.

I really want to get the DE-9s wired up, but I was thinking to do a PCB at that point.

Also, i saw from the original on GitHub that there can be problems enumerating the USB sometimes, so was wondering if you'd noticed that (and if so, how frequently it seemed to occur)?

Great video once again!

Cheers!

It's flapping around a bit at the moment -- being on a breadboard with dodgy power leads doesn't help -- so I don't know how much is down to enumeration failing and how much is down to shoddy construction.

As it shows in the video, I turned it off not working one night and came back the next day to it working a treat. My USB gamepad didn't work, but I don't have any others to try with it. It does seem fussy with hubs too, but that might (again) be power related.

BW