Keyboard on Oscilloscope Agilent 54810A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: GGMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 07:12:59 am
content: Hello,I got an Agilent 54810A.It has an Atlas PCi3 757 motherboard.The keyboard input is a 5-pin DIN.I’ve been struggling ever since to run a keyboard.Having only keyboards with PS/2 sockets, I made an adapter and even tried with a directly welded cable.Apart from the flashing of the 3 leds on power up, impossible to communicate.So I would like to know if someone managed to operate a keyboard type PS/2 on this type of motherboard.Not clear, they speak of a PS2 connector and on the board it's 5 pins DinSee page 29 of the manualcdt

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 08:05:49 am
content: Don't know about your setup, but I can confirm that DIN to PS2 adapters do work, maybe the motherboard is defective. I've used keyboard adapters (factory made, not DIY) many years ago and they were working flawless. Never opened one to see what's inside.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 11:14:40 am
content: I assume only keyboards made in a certain timeframe will be compatible; "back then", sometimes an adapter was thrown into the retail box. However, that was just electrically connected, no electronics involved - that was done by the controller IC.Pretty much the same happened with the transition from PS/2 to USB, the first USB mice supported PS/2 via adapter...So you either need an older PS/2, or a DIN-plug keyboard (from the computer junkyard).

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 12:09:31 pm
content: a 5 pin din is an AT keyboard not a ps2a 6 pins is a ps2AT to ps2 keyboard need an adapter, and yes junkyard time or some recycling centers

author: GGMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 12:58:16 pm
content: hello,I will have a din keyboard to test for less 5 €. This scope for E..y seems to me to be an agglomera of everything that may break down. We will see! LOLiI will raise the doubt, because I tested everything, apart from thatcdt

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 05:32:34 pm
content: this is your motherboardno usb but yes an AT keyboardunless loll you find an isa to ps2 interface, but i think it was only for a mouse, not a kb ?or thishttps://www.amazon.ca/Keyboard-2Ports-without-Profile-Bracket/dp/B06XKW6Y55or this one should give you ps2 and usb ports ?https://www.ebay.com/itm/394970431528?

author: GGMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2024, 07:44:37 am
content: Coromonadalix,Yeah, it’s exactly that motherboard.For the history of keyboards it’s not that simple.According to the theory, only XT keyboards would be incompatible because it is not the same protocol.An AT keyboard should work because it is the second more or less universal protocol.A PS/2 keyboard with an adapter should also work as it is virtually the same protocol as the AT keyboard with extended keys.To put an end to all this, someone would have to confirm that ps/2 keyboard + adapter + Atlas 757 Pc3i card it works.If someone may do the test...Otherwise, it’s sure I have usb cards, ...but will have to find a USB keyboard. What a hassle with all these standards.cdt

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2024, 08:31:20 am
content: you're dealing with old stuff, you have to find what goes with it ...maybe a motherboard swap is possible to a slightly more modern variant who as an ps/2 and usb portbut the psu connectors could play a trick ....same for me when i debugged an tds7404finding around 15 slim cd-roms, motherboard rejected all of them if i used them on the same ide port, finding 2.5" drives, old floppies etc ... finding an usb 1 hub not 1.1, 2 etc ...ordering non burned cd-roms of many windows 95 98 ME W2k ...

author: GGMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2024, 04:19:50 pm
content: Coromoladalix,I found this pictureSo keyboard must be standard AThttps://www.ebay.de/itm/134294780839cdt

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2024, 04:38:08 pm
content: yes AT 5pin din but expensive and miss a button ?larger but less expensive ?https://www.ebay.de/itm/186467518578?

author: GGMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2024, 02:52:10 pm
content: Coromonadalix,As I did not want to give up, I tested a 3rd keyboard of my stocks.After removing the ps2 wire, I soldered mine with my din plug.And then, surprise, it works, I could go in the bios. Murphy law!!More surprisingly, the 54810A oscilloscope detects the IBM hard drive ( i think it's was out, to much noise!) and loads me a .... Windows95.A time machine. LOL.For now, I will check the config, because the floppy drive or lz120 is not recognized.Ditto, I have nothing on the screen of the oscilloscope (no backlight) to be seen later.I will solder a cable to have the several +5v and 12v for, subsequently, connect Cdrom drive, Sata disk (with adaptator ide sata), etc.I put aside the IBM disk before backup.NB: I will put the cards back on the same slots, because Win95 asks me to modify. The less I touch, the better is.cdt

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2024, 04:13:07 pm
content: pls do a drive backup copy clone .... to be sure before playing in ityou are lucky the system accept your keyboard