USB4VC: USB Inputs on Retro Computers!
Get USB4VC! | Official Discord | Getting Started | Table of Contents
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USB4VC is an active protocol converter that let you use USB keyboard, mouse, and gamepads on a wide range of retro computers.
With a modular design, different platforms are supported by swapping out Protocol Cards:
Two Protocol Cards are available at launch (March 2022):
IBM PC Compatible
- PS/2 Keyboard
- PS/2 Mouse
- AT Keyboard
- XT Keyboard
- Serial Mouse
- 15-pin Gameport Gamepad
- Mapping USB Gamepad to PC Mouse/Keyboard
From the very first IBM PC in 1981 until the end of PS/2 ports in early 2000s, this Protocol Card covers it all!
Apple Desktop Bus (ADB)
- ADB Keyboard
- ADB Mouse
- Mapping USB Gamepad to ADB Mouse/Keyboard
From Apple IIGS in 1986 to PowerMac G3 in 1999, and everything in-between!
More to Come!
Of course, more Protocol Cards are planned after launch!
I Want One! / Get in Touch
A Kickstarter campaign is CURRENTLY UNDERWAY! Thank you very much for the support! Estimated shipping April 2022.
Questions or comments? Ask in official Discord, raise a Github issue, Twitter DM, or email dekunukem gmail.com!
Promo Video
Click to see USB4VC in action!
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Highlights
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USB Keyboard/Mouse/Gamepads on Vintage Computers!
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Modular & Swappable Protocol Cards
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Wireless / Bluetooth
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Ultra Low Latency (0.5ms)
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OLED Display
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USB-C Powered
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Fully Open-source
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Powered by Raspberry Pi
Why / Project Goals
Before the homogeneity of USB peripherals today, computer input devices were a wild west of proprietary peripherals, as different platforms used their own connectors and protocols for keyboards, mice, and gamepads.
With the popularity of retro computing today, it poses several issues:
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Many of those peripherals are simply hard to find, commanding a premium on online marketplaces. They are only getting rarer, and without them, the computer itself is useless.
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After decades of service, many can be degraded and unreliable (e.g. foam & foil keyboards), requiring extensive restoration.
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Let's be honest here, most early peripherals simply does not feel that great. Mushy membrane keyboards, sticky ball mice, plasticky gamepads, etc. And of course, the good ones gets very expensive.
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On the other hand, high quality USB peripherals can be had for a very reasonable price today with vastly superior tactility, precision, and ergonomics.
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Thus, this project aims to make retro computers simply more enjoyable to use.
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I also hope it can lower the barrier of entry for certain machines, put more computers back in action, help preserving existing rare peripherals, and generally help more people get into this hobby!
But of course, one can argue that using period-correct peripherals is simply part of the hobby, but just like HDMI upscalers or floppy emus, it's nice to have the option to enhance the experience.
How it Works
USB4VC consists of two halves: Baseboard and swappable Protocol Cards.
Baseboard contains user buttons, OLED screen, and a Raspberry Pi. It processes USB input events, which are sent to Protocol Card.
Each Protocol Card has a dedicated microcontroller and the appropriate circuitry and connectors for a specific platform.
By splitting duties, RPi can focus on input parsing, and Protocol Card handles timing critical signal generation, resulting in a flexible architecture and reliable performance.
USB peripherals can be connected via cables, wireless dongles, or Bluetooth.
Beta Testing
I would love to have USB4VC tested on more machines before public release, to gather feedback and fix bugs.
If you have a decent working PC/Mac collection, let me know and I maybe can send you one!
Especially looking for:
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Testing on IBM PC XT/AT original and clones.
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PS4/PS5/Xbox Series X/S controllers for compatibility testing.
Everyone welcome, but UK users preferred due to shipping time and cost.
Let me know via Discord, Twitter DM, or email dekunukem gmail.com!
Getting Started
Technical Details
Roadmap / Future Plans
Current focus is having a smooth project launch. So for the first few months I will mostly be working on maintaining the Kickstarter campaign, shipping orders, and providing updates and bug fixes for existing Protocol Cards.
Of course, more Protocol Cards are planned. Not making any guarantees at this moment, but a shortlist include:
- OG Macintosh/128K/512K/Mac Plus
- Olivetti M24 / AT&T PC 6300
- SUN SPARCstation
Want more? Feel free to get in touch and make suggestions!
Q&A
Where can I get one?
A Kickstarter campaign is CURRENTLY UNDERWAY! Estimated shipping April 2022.
Public release will commence after all Kickstarter orders have been fulfilled, probably around April or May 2022.
Which Raspberry Pi can I use?
USB4VC is tested on Raspberry Pi 1/2/3/4 Model B.
Raspberry Pi Zeros should work too, but would need a USB hub.
No need to get the latest and greatest. An older RPi is plenty fast enough for this!
What about latency?
0.5ms to 1ms depending on the Raspberry Pi generation.
1ms is one thousandth of a second. More info here.
Can you develop a Protocol Card for ___ ?
I'd love to! But I would need a working machine with working peripherals.
So if you're in UK and is happy to lend me one for a while, let me know!
Also, as I can only work on so many at once, I'll probably focus on the more popular machines at first, but still, do let me know!
Can I make my own Protocol Cards?
Of course! Detailed instructions will be provided shortly before public availability.
Feel free take a look at technical notes in the meantime.
What does USB4VC stand for?
USB for Vintage Computers. Although come to think of it, it's perfect for vintage consoles too! 🤔
Questions or Comments?
Feel free to ask in official Discord Chatroom, raise a Github issue, DM on Twitter, or email dekunukem gmail.com!