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Retro USB Firmware Update v0.1.5

Firmware version 0.1.5 is now available from the Retro USB page. This version adds a few small improvements:

  • LED A now illuminates when there’s a working ADB or USB connection to the host computer. LED B blinks when there’s keyboard or mouse activity.
     
  • F13 now functions as an ADB power key in standby mode, just like PRINT SCREEN. Some USB keyboards don’t have a PRINT SCREEN key, some don’t have F13, so you can’t please everybody.
     
  • Special ADB keycodes for the right-side shift, control, and alt keys are no longer sent unless the host computer specifically requests them. This fixes some weirdness with these keys on the Apple IIGS at the BASIC prompt.

Retro USB is an input converter for USB and ADB keyboards and mice. It works in two directions, connecting modern USB peripherals to a classic ADB-based Macintosh or Apple IIgs computer, or ADB peripherals to a USB-based computer running Windows, OSX, or Linux. The foreign keyboards and mice behave exactly like native peripherals, requiring no special software or drivers – just plug it in and go.

Read 2 comments and join the conversation 

2 Comments so far

  1. ITOU Keiki - May 28th, 2017 5:02 am

    Hi Steve,

    I\’m so excited your great effort! There is one proposal on ADB power key emulation with a USB keyboard. As an alternative to the power key on the ADB keyboard, how about using the PAUSE / BREAK key which seems to be used less frequently?

  2. Steve - May 28th, 2017 6:30 am

    Eventually I plan to make it configurable, so you can choose any key. You can also press the power button on the Retro USB board, which works even if there is no keyboard. Of the keyboards I have at home, only one has a pause/break key, so it didn’t seem like the best choice to start with.

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