Help me figure out what cable this is.

dano · 03 Sep 2014, 07:16

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.

acolombo · 03 Sep 2014, 07:22

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.

Compgeke · 03 Sep 2014, 07:39

First picture is an ADB port from a Mac.

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

dano · 03 Sep 2014, 07:47

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.

dano · 03 Sep 2014, 07:58

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.

macmakkara · 04 Sep 2014, 14:29

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.

macmakkara · 04 Sep 2014, 18:12

Not same.

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

Muirium · 04 Sep 2014, 18:17

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…

andrewjoy · 04 Sep 2014, 20:13

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

fohat · 05 Sep 2014, 01:23

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:

andrewjoy · 05 Sep 2014, 10:01

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

fohat · 05 Sep 2014, 14:31

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.