Excellent!! Nice to know that this project exists.
May I suggest that you add a file with the parts list?
Also, just curious about how much these would cost.

Nice work - I like its '90s simplicity.

That said, there are quite a few similar projects out there - the (SMD-heavy but very mature PS/2 to Microsoft Serialmouse Adapter Converter / Updated First Post / Firmware Update added ) and one using an Arduino but needing even less components and soldering than this one (that I messed around with) Arduino-based PS/2 to serial mouse adapter . I can see you used a simpler microcontroller while keeping it THT. Was that the goal here?

My personal gripe about all these designs is that they are external things, adding quite a few rather fragile cms to the rear of an already long PC case. I'd far prefer an internal option that connected to a motherboard/controller serial pin header and then has a PS/2 port flush with the system, either in a slot backplate or - better - fitting into a DE9 or DB25 opening so common on AT cases.

dionb wrote on 2024-06-12, 23:08:

My personal gripe about all these designs is that they are external things, adding quite a few rather fragile cms to the rear of an already long PC case. I'd far prefer an internal option that connected to a motherboard/controller serial pin header and then has a PS/2 port flush with the system, either in a slot backplate or - better - fitting into a DE9 or DB25 opening so common on AT cases.

This was the best solution IMO: Another PS/2 Mouse ISA (ISA8) card adapter

I never noticed it in retro times or now, but some people notice a "lag" with a 1200 baud serial mouse as compared to a PS/2 mouse. The PS/2-to-serial full conversion still has that lag. Rio444's board is essentially register-compatible with a 16550 with a mouse hooked up to it, but doesn't actually need to do a PS/2-to-serial conversion internally, and works at full speed.

OP, it's also mentioning that in between serial mice fading out, but before mainstream optical mice, many PS/2 mice were actually capable of both protocols and used a passive adapter to hook up to a serial port, but the pinout is not standardized. So you might not need to get a literal serial mouse but one that works with both (ideally new in box with the adapter).

Cool project, I have been looking into building something like this for my 486 system. This way i can hook it up to my KVM.

There is also this project that adapts serial to USB. USB to Serial Mouse using the Pi Pico!

jakethompson1 wrote on 2024-06-12, 23:41:

[...]

This was the best solution IMO: Another PS/2 Mouse ISA (ISA8) card adapter

Problem is that that one uses an ISA slot, which can be an issue - particularly on more compact systems. However a large majority of older systems have a 9-pin serial header on either motherboard or on an I/O controller.

Of course there are (LPX...) systems that only have external DE9 serial ports - but they are already served by other such external adapters.

There is also a very simple Arduino Pro Mini based adapter by necroware that I built and tried and use. It works great. https://github.com/necroware/ps2-serial-mouse-adapter

Thank you for your opinions. I know about another projects with same functionality, but it was interesting to make own device with minimalistic design ready for manual assembly.

By the way, some existing projects has very very illiterate solutions. For example, usage of linear voltage regulator 7805 as signal level converter -- is a terrible idea, never do not do that (74-logic IC as RS232C driver is bad think too).
About using ARM-based MC for convert mouse interface, for me it looks a little strange to use for this purpose more powerful kernel than main CPU of the computer to which it is connected 😀

quwy wrote on 2024-06-13, 10:41:

Thank you for your opinions. I know about another projects with same functionality, but it was interesting to make own device with minimalistic design ready for manual assembly.

By the way, some existing projects has very very illiterate solutions. For example, usage of linear voltage regulator 7805 as signal level converter -- is a terrible idea, never do not do that (74-logic IC as RS232C driver is bad think too).
About using ARM-based MC for convert mouse interface, for me it looks a little strange to use for this purpose more powerful kernel than main CPU of the computer to which it is connected 😀

Simplicity indeed. I like your reasoning and hope to learn a bit 😉

Have I missed it but do you not have gerbers for this project on the github? I was considering getting some pcbs from jlcpcb, but couldn't find any..

quwy wrote on 2024-06-13, 10:41:

Thank you for your opinions. I know about another projects with same functionality, but it was interesting to make own device with minimalistic design ready for manual assembly.

By the way, some existing projects has very very illiterate solutions. For example, usage of linear voltage regulator 7805 as signal level converter -- is a terrible idea, never do not do that (74-logic IC as RS232C driver is bad think too).
About using ARM-based MC for convert mouse interface, for me it looks a little strange to use for this purpose more powerful kernel than main CPU of the computer to which it is connected 😀

Yes, some of the designs out there were pretty bad or have some severe downsides.
Your design looks like it would be very easy to assemble, and can easily be hidden inside the PC case.

The Rio444 ISA card is an interesting design, but the firmware is not public. The CPLD used is also obsolete.

SerialMouseBlasterPCB... While I had originally posted a link to this one, I removed the link to it after getting a glance at the schematic. Trying to power the adapter and mouse from the serial port is madness. I replaced it with CalamityLime's more sane design.

appiah4 wrote on 2024-06-13, 13:05:

Have I missed it but do you not have gerbers for this project on the github? I was considering getting some pcbs from jlcpcb, but couldn't find any..

They are in the Electronix\Output folder https://github.com/Quwy/PS2-Serial-Mouse/tree … ectronix/Output

appiah4 wrote on 2024-06-13, 13:05:

Have I missed it but do you not have gerbers for this project on the github?

Of course have. Look for "Gerber*.zip" files here.

quwy wrote on 2024-06-12, 18:31:

Hi dear retro community! […]
Show full quote

Hi dear retro community!

After some weeks of searching I completely stopped any attempts to buy serial mouse in usable condition by adequate price. IMHO noname mouse with chewed cord by price of retro MB is not adequate.

But since the need remains I decided to solve by problem from another side.

Allow me to introduce new open project of active PS/2-to-Serial mouse adapter. Hope it will useful for someone in the community.

Will be glad to receive suggestions and comments.

Love it. This is perfect for my needs. Wish I knew how to better use tindie or pcbway or something to crank one of these out for myself 😜

I have been using one of these. It's a great use of a RPI and while a bit more expensive then something like this, it does the job for mouse/keyboard/gamepad. It's not perfect, but in general it works pretty well.

https://github.com/dekuNukem/USB4VC

hpxca wrote on 2024-06-15, 20:20:

I have been using one of these. It's a great use of a RPI and while a bit more expensive then something like this, it does the job for mouse/keyboard/gamepad. It's not perfect, but in general it works pretty well.

You are aware that you use for interface converting a computer, which 10-100 times faster than any PC we can call "retro"?
To hell with interface conversion, you can just run DOSBox directly on "converter" and avoid all old junk on the table 😀

quwy wrote on 2024-06-16, 00:31:

hpxca wrote on 2024-06-15, 20:20:

I have been using one of these. It's a great use of a RPI and while a bit more expensive then something like this, it does the job for mouse/keyboard/gamepad. It's not perfect, but in general it works pretty well.

You are aware that you use for interface converting a computer, which 10-100 times faster than any PC we can call "retro"?
To hell with interface conversion, you can just run DOSBox directly on "converter" and avoid all old junk on the table 😀

I have the retro machines because I like fixing them and messing with the hardware..After that I really don't use them all that much. But I do find it handy to save some space on the table by using this thing, I simply plug in my devices to a USB hub with switchable outputs, then switch that into the RPI and it all just works, without me needing multiple mice/keyboards etc.

quwy wrote on 2024-06-16, 00:31:

You are aware that you use for interface converting a computer, which 10-100 times faster than any PC we can call "retro"?
To hell with interface conversion, you can just run DOSBox directly on "converter" and avoid all old junk on the table 😀

What? I had a storey added to my home to install an old mainframe, but I could have run it on my phone!

ATtiny25, oldschool! Really nice and minimal.
Nowadays attinys are getting pushed out by $0.2 riscv microcontrollers like CH32X033 or even $0.1 CH32V003 https://github.com/cnlohr/rv003usb

rasz_pl wrote on 2024-06-17, 05:36:

CH32V003

Modern controllers are cool, but one of goals of my project was "no SMD components". Just to have PCB which can be traced even manually with simple marker/corrector (and soldered by any hot piece of copper).

Why no one modern MC manufacturer does not provide ARM/RISCV chips in the DIP package?

quwy wrote on 2024-06-17, 17:47:

Why no one modern MC manufacturer does not provide ARM/RISCV chips in the DIP package?

same reason LPC800 died 4 years ago https://hackaday.com/2018/04/15/rip-dip-arm/ no volume