deskthority

please.

So, I bought a working 1989 Northgate OmniKey Ultra with complicated white alps, and it came with a cable that I, mistakingly, took to be a ps2 at one end when I first glanced at it. Then when I brought it home, it didn't connect to my motherboard ps2 port. I really want to use this keyboard, so maybe you could help me identify what kind of cable this so I know what adapter I need to get.

Here's the cable:



This is the side that connects to the keyboard. (I know this is ADB):


And this is the side I am having problems with. It's supposed to go into the computer:


It sort of looks like a ps/2 cable (aka, mini din 6), but it's "missing" a pin. It has five pins. Also, the middle rectangular piece is drop-dead-center, unlike a ps/2. What the heck?! ;D

Appreciate the help.

They're Mini-DIN 4 and Mini-DIN 5, look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DIN_connector

But I don't know how can you get it to work, I think it will be hard to find an adapter, and even if you find one it's even more hard that it's going to work.

First picture is an ADB port from a Mac.

Second looks like a PS/2 with a pin that was broke off.

acolombo wrote: They're Mini-DIN 4 and Mini-DIN 5, look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DIN_connector

I see!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mini ... iagram.svg

^ That's definitely it. Thank you.

acolombo wrote:
But I don't know how can you get it to work, I think it will be hard to find an adapter, and even if you find one it's even more hard that it's going to work.

I think you're right. I would be better off getting an adb-to-ps2 or adb-to-usb converter.

Ibm model m2 that I have has same 5 pin ps plug. I'll check that when I get home. And it works at normal ps/2 port.

Not same.



This is actually 4 pin PS O.o but it still works on modern ps2 port. On my P9X79 motherboard.

That's because PS/2 only actually uses 4 pins. The others are typically just left there for convenience, or I suppose strength.

http://pinouts.ws/ps-2-keyboard-pinout.html

Dano's cable looks more like ADB, with a strange proprietary plug on one end. I wonder what computer it was for? Apparently NeXT also used Apple's ADB back in the day…

I don't think the northgate boards ever supported ADB , a normal male to male ps2 cable should work mine did as i lost the original cable

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Male-Keyboard-M ... B003531FDU

northgate supported AT,XT and amega if my memory is correct

does your northgate have dip switches ?

http://www.lueckdatasystems.com/attach/ ... y_2_08.jpg

I suspect that somebody supplied the wrong cable with this keyboard.

A male-male PS/2 will not work. The original cable looked like a PS/2 (aka mini-DIN6) on one end and large AT-style connector at the other.

I used a common PS/2 cable on my Omnikey 101 when I hooked it up like this:

the socket on the back is a standard PS2 with the standard pin out, this can ether go to an AT plug or a PS/2 plug , both are electrically the same just a different connector. Trust me when i lost my cable i had to make one up

small caveat however mine was an ultra T not a 101

andrewjoy wrote:
small caveat however mine was an ultra T not a 101

I have never taken anything apart except for the 101s. Fortunately, I had 2 of them and an original cable that I was able to trace with a multimeter.