Hi Rasteri, is there anything special you have to do to get the HIDMAN to work with Amstrad PC1640 apart from putting it into XT mode? You sent me one through last September but didn't get a chance to try it until today with this machine. I have updated the HIDMAN's firmware to 1.1.6, connected up and power on, put it into the XT mode (red/orange). But I am then finding that weird keys are being output to the machine: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4eHwBXHGpts4cVVBA seemingly randomly. I've tried it on a second 1640 and finding the same. Tested on a newer PC via PS/2 and works ok there. Any ideas? Thanks, Will

willinliv wrote on 2025-08-30, 15:02:

Hi Rasteri, is there anything special you have to do to get the HIDMAN to work with Amstrad PC1640 apart from putting it into XT mode? You sent me one through last September but didn't get a chance to try it until today with this machine. I have updated the HIDMAN's firmware to 1.1.6, connected up and power on, put it into the XT mode (red/orange). But I am then finding that weird keys are being output to the machine: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4eHwBXHGpts4cVVBA seemingly randomly. I've tried it on a second 1640 and finding the same. Tested on a newer PC via PS/2 and works ok there. Any ideas? Thanks, Will

Amstrad mode is white (user defined on the sticker), not orange. White is eventually going to support a bunch more user-switchable PCs but Amstrad is the only alternative mode available currently.

Thanks, that fixed it! I thought I tried that! It's a strange feeling at first using a standard low-profile usb keyboard, but ends up being very responsive, nice way to play games. I'm quite keen to take a look at a second mapping where the cursor keys move from the numpad to the arrow keys, and also relocate the delete key to the Ins/Home/End block, for a TKL profiled keyboard I have. Thanks again

willinliv wrote on 2025-09-02, 20:28:

I'm quite keen to take a look at a second mapping where the cursor keys move from the numpad to the arrow keys, and also relocate the delete key to the Ins/Home/End block, for a TKL profiled keyboard I have.

And turning off 83-key mode delivers that!

Sorry I don't want to be spamming this thread, but I have one last question for now! Has anybody had any joy getting a PS/2 to USB converter working as an input for both keyboard and mouse into a HIDMAN?

I notice in the post below converters were used but I think only keyboards were tested. I have tried on mine similarly but with a mouse in addition the mouse has strange operation, either only giving vertical movement, or even worse. Reason for trying this is that I would eventually like to use via a D-Link KVM (DKVM-8E) with HIDMAN controlling the Amstrad PC1640, and to make matters worse a usb keyboard and mouse being converted by a usb4vs to ps/2 into the KVM. With the full setup keyboard works nicely, but the mouse completely flakes out and seems to send keyboard commands. There's a lot to this going into an old PC so not surprised it's not working fully and very happy with the keyboard input alone. But I am wondering if there is something about the PS/2 to USB that even in the most simple config (PS/2 M+K > Perixx PERIPRO-401 USB > HIDMAN > PC1640 KB and Serial Mouse) not working correctly with the vertical mouse movement there is an issue with the PS/2 to USB.

Thanks

rasteri wrote on 2024-06-27, 21:32:

Just for fun, I bought 3x PS/2 to USB adapters and chained them with 4 HIDmen.

It works perfectly 🤣. There isn't even any noticable lag.

Next step, plug a HIDman into itself. If the universe implodes you'll know why

willinliv wrote on 2025-09-10, 22:03:

Sorry I don't want to be spamming this thread, but I have one last question for now! Has anybody had any joy getting a PS/2 to USB converter working as an input for both keyboard and mouse into a HIDMAN?

I notice in the post below converters were used but I think only keyboards were tested. I have tried on mine similarly but with a mouse in addition the mouse has strange operation, either only giving vertical movement, or even worse. Reason for trying this is that I would eventually like to use via a D-Link KVM (DKVM-8E) with HIDMAN controlling the Amstrad PC1640, and to make matters worse a usb keyboard and mouse being converted by a usb4vs to ps/2 into the KVM. With the full setup keyboard works nicely, but the mouse completely flakes out and seems to send keyboard commands. There's a lot to this going into an old PC so not surprised it's not working fully and very happy with the keyboard input alone. But I am wondering if there is something about the PS/2 to USB that even in the most simple config (PS/2 M+K > Perixx PERIPRO-401 USB > HIDMAN > PC1640 KB and Serial Mouse) not working correctly with the vertical mouse movement there is an issue with the PS/2 to USB.

People really are determined to use HIDman in the most convoluted possible setups 🤣

I haven't tried those PS/2 converters as an input for hidman since that crazy experiment. I'll try to find some time to see if it works on my end.

To be honest, something like this might work better - https://github.com/somhi/AmstradXTPS2

rasteri wrote on 2025-09-11, 19:35:

People really are determined to use HIDman in the most convoluted possible setups 🤣

Yes that's true! Normally at work I really really groan at people doing horrible things to computers/systems - I'm definitely doing the same here!

But it's a great device, so I am going to clear things up and running the PC1640 via a usb keyboard (>usb4vc>Ps/2 KVM>ps/2 to usb converter>HIDMAN> PC1640 keyboard varient) and then connecting in a usb mouse for when needed works well so this is what I will do. The HIDMAN works flawlessly with a simple usb mouse and usb keyboard connected directly. If it helps anyone I have tested 4 of those cheap ps/2 converters and all had the same issue with the mouse:

amazon.co.uk/dp/B09TT4D2GZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title (HuaLiSiJi PS2 to USB - 2 pack different converted including a little blue translucent one with no lead
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008DFVQFW?ref=pp … _fed_asin_title - Perixx Peripro-401
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000M0461M?ref_=p … ed_asin_title_1 - Digitus USB to PS/2

Also just in case it's useful for anybody else I tred Somhi's plans and found at the time that it wouldn't work through my KVM - direct was fine (keyboard only)

Little update - I have tried one of these by Matse525 and ordering from Serdashop and working very well with my PC1640: https://hackaday.com/2017/10/09/a-converter-y … o-serial-mouse/
So using the HIDMAN for handling keyboard via usb4vc, ps2KVM,PS2 to USB, and the PS2Serial handling the mouse

how about using it to emulate joystick signals for a gameport? id love to be able to use a usb gamepad on a dos PC

@rasteri, HIDman is rock solid i'm using it since 1 year and it's great, thanks for your hard work.

I've noticed only one issue, it's the mouse is getting randomly not initialized after a while using the computer after a reboot (it's very random can happen 2-3 times and sometimes not happen at all).
Mainly when i switch to DOS from Windows 98 then reboot, on next reboot the keyboard works fine but the mouse cursor is even hidden (not visible on screen at all) and mouse not detected (Windows 98 will says PS2 mouse not plugged).
Even unpluging the mouse from the KVM or unpluging the KVM not fix the problem, even a reboot neither.
However the HIDman led blinking when i'm using the mouse but it's not translated to the PC it seems.
The only way is to full power-off the PC then HIDman re-init correctly the mouse and it get detected fine without need unplug anything.
The keyboard never have any init issue whatever the situation.

I wonder if someone else got that bug. I not had that issue on older firmwares (not remember which one) but on lastest one it's something i encounter.

Hard to track down cause sometime it not happen and sometime it happen in a row like 2-3 times.
I got one time it happened like 5-6 times and it was a bit painful to shutdown the PC to fix the issue xD.

Just for info, it's a 16-bit mouse and it's the same KVM who is supported by HIDman since 10 months.
As that issue is only occuring on my retro PC (who is in french so azerty) i can't parse log as they are mixed with wrong chars (Windows 98 not allowing to switch to qwerty on the fly).

If I enable the aux PS2 pins, can I use a splitter out of the rear PS2 port on the HIDMAN and the 2 PS2 cables down to the PC keyboard and mouse ports?

I'm trying to avoid the mouse cable needing to come out the front of the HIDMAN

Lostdotfish wrote on 2025-11-16, 10:37:

If I enable the aux PS2 pins, can I use a splitter out of the rear PS2 port on the HIDMAN and the 2 PS2 cables down to the PC keyboard and mouse ports?

Yes, to be honest that's how I have most of my hidmen set up. I wish I could have put the mouse port on the rear but at least there's a workaround.

TgamesFR wrote on 2025-10-30, 06:47:

@rasteri, HIDman is rock solid i'm using it since 1 year and it's great, thanks for your hard work. […]
Show full quote

@rasteri, HIDman is rock solid i'm using it since 1 year and it's great, thanks for your hard work.

I've noticed only one issue, it's the mouse is getting randomly not initialized after a while using the computer after a reboot (it's very random can happen 2-3 times and sometimes not happen at all).
Mainly when i switch to DOS from Windows 98 then reboot, on next reboot the keyboard works fine but the mouse cursor is even hidden (not visible on screen at all) and mouse not detected (Windows 98 will says PS2 mouse not plugged).
Even unpluging the mouse from the KVM or unpluging the KVM not fix the problem, even a reboot neither.
However the HIDman led blinking when i'm using the mouse but it's not translated to the PC it seems.
The only way is to full power-off the PC then HIDman re-init correctly the mouse and it get detected fine without need unplug anything.
The keyboard never have any init issue whatever the situation.

I wonder if someone else got that bug. I not had that issue on older firmwares (not remember which one) but on lastest one it's something i encounter.

Hard to track down cause sometime it not happen and sometime it happen in a row like 2-3 times.
I got one time it happened like 5-6 times and it was a bit painful to shutdown the PC to fix the issue xD.

Just for info, it's a 16-bit mouse and it's the same KVM who is supported by HIDman since 10 months.
As that issue is only occuring on my retro PC (who is in french so azerty) i can't parse log as they are mixed with wrong chars (Windows 98 not allowing to switch to qwerty on the fly).

What motherboard does your PC have?

Also are you connecting hidman directly to your retro PC or through a KVM? (it sounds like your KVM is on the USB end?)

I have heard similar reports from other people. It may be because hidman starts with the mouse un-initialized, then waits for BIOS to initialize it. I might add an option to ALWAYS have the mouse initialized.

TgamesFR wrote on 2025-10-30, 06:47:

As that issue is only occuring on my retro PC (who is in french so azerty) i can't parse log as they are mixed with wrong chars (Windows 98 not allowing to switch to qwerty on the fly).

Actually, even in azerty mode it would especially be useful to see the stuff in "PS2 mouse status" in the advanced menu (press 4 then 3). Make sure the mouse is in its "non-working" state, you should be able to get to notepad/DOS edit without a mouse.

My guess is that "Data reporting" will be 0 when the mouse is not working, and 1 when it is. That means the mouse isn't being initialized.

rasteri wrote on 2025-11-16, 13:04:

Lostdotfish wrote on 2025-11-16, 10:37:

If I enable the aux PS2 pins, can I use a splitter out of the rear PS2 port on the HIDMAN and the 2 PS2 cables down to the PC keyboard and mouse ports?

Yes, to be honest that's how I have most of my hidmen set up. I wish I could have put the mouse port on the rear but at least there's a workaround.

Thanks, I'll pick one up.

Oh, I got to the bottom of my issues with the boards I was building... a few pages back, I thought I was having issues with dodgy oscillators. Well, turns out it was the USB cable I was using. I lost it and was searching for an alternative cable, then dug out the one from my HTC Vive Pro link box. Suddenly no more issues getting into flash mode...

I built up another one and also, no more issues. Straight into flash mode - clean flash and 100% functional.

Moral of the story, don't use dodgy cables. I think the one I was using before was one of those ones with an auxiliary USB A connector to allow extra power to external hard drives. Something about that cable must have been upsetting the HIDMAN.

I also ordered some solder paste which made the hand assembly a lot less tedious. Although being a human pick n place is still not fun. I then reflowed the paste by heating the HIDMAN board from below with hot air. Needed to tidy up 2 or 3 bridges on the MCU and the resistor networks and then was good to go. I've just ordered a MHP50 to see if that will work instead of hot air. I like new tools.

Would you consider adding adb keyboard and mouse support?