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)