68kMLA Classic Interface
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| ADB Busboy: Adapter for USB peripherals over ADB | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-12 15:24:55 So, the ADB protocol actually has room in it for a 2nd mouse button. But I doubt the system software will acknowledge that it exists. What did the 2-button mice you're thinking of do with the second button? I used a Kensington trackball that had two buttons (and later four). You used the Kensington software to define what the extra buttons did. Ctrl-click probably makes the most sense. (Or was it option-click?) That is a bit fiddly because I'll have to queue up a series of events to happen in a certain order, from separate adb devices. Perfectly doable, it's just not he way the code is structured right now. I was also planning to do something with the scroll wheel. Probably arrow keys. | |
| Posted by: lameboyadvance on 2017-01-12 15:38:20 I've never had a 2 button Mac mouse. I do know that at least some of the Apple ADB mouse ICs actually had a second pin that would register the second button click, but they were never connected/used in the mouse and I never played around with it to see if it actually responded in software. And it would be advisable to set up your software to do 2 things/devices at once. The Adjustable keyboard broadcasts as both a keyboard and a 'input device' to handle its media keys, and keyboard-cmd/mouse-click may not be the only time you have to combine 2 devices. | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-12 15:58:15 Doing two things at once is actually the problem, not the solution. The events from different devices happen in parallel, whereas with a macro (control-click), they need to happen serially. It doesn't matter. It's not like I'm going to not implement macros. | |
| Posted by: Gorgonops on 2017-01-12 16:35:23 If you implement some of this bonus stuff from the adjustable keyboard (or try to make mouse input trigger keyboard presses) you're probably going to have to have the option to turn it off if you want to retain IIgs compatibility. The Adjustable Keyboard *doesn't* work with the IIgs because its software stack happens to freak out at the thought of having multiple things that identify themselves as "keyboard-like" on the bus at once. | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-12 18:57:39 Thanks for the heads up. Maybe what I will do is ship it with stuff that doesn't work on the IIgs disabled by default and then write a Mac app for configuring the options. | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-13 20:37:21 The PCBs finally arrived! Sorry for the terrible lighting in this photo...  | |
Posted by: danpoarch on 2017-01-24 07:42:51The PCBs finally arrived! Sorry for the terrible lighting in this photo...Ooh... shiny pads! These look great! | |
| Posted by: FireBlade93RR on 2017-01-24 16:31:22 you can count me in for one if you'll have one available | |
| Posted by: paws on 2017-01-24 18:34:47 Slight derail: Is it possible to make a passive ADB splitter? Like, take three female connecters with the datalines wired together to attach two peripherals to the same host? Is that basically what the extra connector in ADB keyboards are? | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-24 18:51:34 Yes, you can use a plain Y-split type cable. That's how any ADB peripheral with two ports is wired internally. | |
| Posted by: melt on 2017-01-25 02:40:45 Hey! Do you know approximately when you're planning on selling these? I signed up to be notified but was just wondering if it'd be soon. I'm super keen. Thanks! | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-25 10:29:43 My original goal was by the end of March. At this point, I think it's unlikely I will make that date. There are some unknowns I need to work out still. The biggest two are whether the prototype PCB will need any fixes and how much work implementing the firmware upgrade bootloader will be. I have the option of buying a bootloader for $500 or adapt a free bootloader to support upgrading firmware from host mode USB mass storage device. The $500 bootloader may not have a feature I need. Not sure how much work it would be to modify the free one yet. So I don't know enough to put a date on it yet. But I'm pretty sure it won't be before April. | |
| Posted by: NJRoadfan on 2017-01-26 10:54:19 Some 2 button ADB mice implemented "click lock" for the 2nd button, that is you click the right button once, it acts like the mouse button is held down until you click it again. A friend of mine had one of those mice hooked up to his ROM 01 IIgs and it worked as above, so it was likely implemented in the mouse electronics. No clue if there was any Mac driver software to assign another function to the right mouse button. | |
| Posted by: Dandu on 2017-01-27 05:21:45 I have a mouse like that. And i have the Bandai Pippin Pad, too : there is a trackball on it, with two button. I think that the trackball from PowerBook 180 use two different button, too. | |
| Posted by: Scott Squires on 2017-01-30 23:47:29 I finished assembling and testing the prototype PCB. Everything is working as it should. I did make a dumb mistake and wired up the LED backwards. (I suppose I didn't pay much attention to that because what kind of idiot screws up an LED?) That's what the patch wire in the photo below is for. I don't feel the need to spin another prototype board to test the LED fix. One frustrating thing is that the original USB power distribution chip (that's the 8-legged one on the right side) I assembled the board with was malfunctioning. It would only power one USB port. After investigating and concluding that it must be a bad chip, I replaced it. Both USB ports work with the replacement chip. This makes me question the reliability of this chip and whether I should switch to a different one. Next up is the bootloader. Once I get proof that firmware upgrades work, then I can order the production boards and work on software features while they are being made.  | |
| Posted by: just.in.time on 2017-02-04 09:38:41 This is really cool! Progress is looking great. I'd be interested in buying one when they are ready. | |
| Posted by: LazarusNine on 2017-02-16 07:45:52 Anthon, you've got a customer in me. Really like the look of the PCBs and very pleased for you that you enjoyed a successful first attempt once the boards arrived. This is an exciting and promising project and I look forward to seeing how things develop! | |
| Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2017-02-16 08:01:40 Congratulations, anthon, that's quite the achievement! I've been much interested in your project and have been meaning to read past the mission statement and working prototype announcement, but I've been much too busy.  Kudos on that LED feature, every prototype requires at least one patch wire to be authentic. [😉] ]'> | |
| Posted by: hunter44102 on 2017-03-18 02:53:51 Count me in on this also! while I like the apple keyboards, would love a wire free setup and modern optical mouse | |
| Posted by: nyteshade on 2017-03-18 17:18:02 I am definitely in for at least one unit and if at all possible please allow right mouse button clicks to function as control click. | |
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