Well, the PS2 port has a max output of 275mA, USB can suck up to 500mA per port. Not sure how much the converter itself eats up, and what is left for the keyboards...
NTI-support refuses to answer my email, so who the F knows.
Perhaps my lack of technical USB knowledge talking, but there might be some settings in the keyboards that are hindering this thing to work, maybe some standard signalling has been changed vs what the converter expects etc, or it only accepts power from the same cable as the data goes through, or.... ???
I am at a total loss here. And no keyboard effects are turned on at boot when it actually works, lighting or otherwise, when tested by connecting to a USB computer.
TRIED
- AC powered USB hub placed in between the converter and keyboard: NO keyboards work at all, not even the (USB only?) K120.
- plain USB splitter cable attched to keyboard cable, 1 split to the converter, the other to a simple AC travel adapter, in case the hub was too confusing: Now the K120 works, but still no life in the 'CM Storm Trigger Z' . I am guessing the K120 just sees this as a mere cable extension, and takes no power from the second split at all...(?)
- same splitter cable as before, but now connecting BOTH male ends to the converter, AND both PS2 plugs into the computers 2 ports (mouse/keyb): Same as above.
For the record, the K120 actually works directly with the converter, just using it as my only 'low power'(?) USB keyboard for comparison and control testing. As do some other keyboards, but they are all dual mode.
So, given that the sole purpose of this thing, for me that is, is to get to use modern quality USB-only keyboards on PS2-only computers, I'd say it is a total waste of money.
OR, maybe I've just been 'unlucky' with my choice of models ?
(tried 2 very different mech CoolerMaster keyboards, none worked)
If either that Corsair or Cherry board springs to life somehow, please let me know... 😲