intvdave Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 We have a working PC interface for the Adam keyboard. The interface connects to the PC using a USB port and presents the Adam keyboard as a Human Interface Device (HID). This will allow the Adam keyboard to be used in your PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) applications and emulators such as AdamEM and CoolCV. The interfaces does *not* emulate the AdamNet and is *not* to connect disk or tape drives. Is there any interest in this type of product? I do not know what the cost of it will be. I am hoping around or less than $20. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPR Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I'd be down for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 (edited) I'b be interested in one as well. Between this and the Ultimate CV Adapter, all input devices will finally be usuable on the PC!!! Edited December 18, 2015 by NIAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Say what you will about the ADAM, it's still one of the best keyboards I've ever used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intvdave Posted December 18, 2015 Author Share Posted December 18, 2015 I'b be interested in one as well. Between this and the Ultimate CV Adapter, all input devices will finally be usuable on the PC!!! It would be nice if the AdamNet was emulated but I doubt many people would really care to connect an Adam 5'1/4 disk drive to a PC. Not that many really care to connect the keyboard but I do! I agree with Inky that it is one of the best keyboards from the classical systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoTonah Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 It would be nice if the AdamNet was emulated but I doubt many people would really care to connect an Adam 5'1/4 disk drive to a PC. Not that many really care to connect the keyboard but I do! I agree with Inky that it is one of the best keyboards from the classical systems. No, but I'd like to connect a regular floppy drive to the ADAM with or without AdamNet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoTonah Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I've been wanting one of these interfaces forever! I have one of the surplus ADAM keyboards that were sold back in the 80's at Radio Shack...just a ribbon cable coming out though. Any chance that may work that way, or am I going to need AdamNet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 It would be nice if the AdamNet was emulated but I doubt many people would really care to connect an Adam 5'1/4 disk drive to a PC ADAMnet has to be emulated (or maybe simulated somehow) in the Adamem and Mess emlators, but the source code for these emulators would have to be perused by someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 No, but I'd like to connect a regular floppy drive to the ADAM with or without AdamNet.There is the option of a Serial Interface and the Adamserve program by Rich Drushel. This setup allows one to use any PC floppy drives on the Adam. I have never tried it myself, but have heard it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I've been wanting one of these interfaces forever! I have one of the surplus ADAM keyboards that were sold back in the 80's at Radio Shack...just a ribbon cable coming out though. Any chance that may work that way, or am I going to need AdamNet?I would assume that you will need the controller board from the keyboard as well that the ribbon cable attaches too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intvdave Posted December 18, 2015 Author Share Posted December 18, 2015 I would assume that you will need the controller board from the keyboard as well that the ribbon cable attaches too. NIAD is correct. The interface will have an RJ12 connection and require the interface connection that the ribbon cable of the keyboard connects to. I plan on posting a video of the unit in a couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValkerieSilk Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Well if you wana cheat, I've been using my CV with Expansion Mod 3 (Adam) on my HP Laptop Dragon laptop (20 inch screen ) via QuickPlay software which uses the built in TV tuner .... You'll get Adam on your PC and still have to use the Adam keyboard Say what you will about the ADAM, it's still one of the best keyboards I've ever used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intvdave Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 Well if you wana cheat, I've been using my CV with Expansion Mod 3 (Adam) on my HP Laptop Dragon laptop (20 inch screen ) via QuickPlay software which uses the built in TV tuner .... You'll get Adam on your PC and still have to use the Adam keyboard True...true Your solution is just a bit more bulky though. I want to be able to leave my setup in the living room without my wife wanting a divorce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValkerieSilk Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 My wife was kind enough to vacate the "Colecovision" room, so that's no longer a problem for me ... however, I have been eyeing the 80 inch Sharp LED TV in the living room ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoTonah Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 There is the option of a Serial Interface and the Adamserve program by Rich Drushel. This setup allows one to use any PC floppy drives on the Adam. I have never tried it myself, but have heard it works. Oh? I'd love to know how that works. I'm far more likely to get a serial interface (probably from Bob Slopsema) than I would be to get an actual ADAM drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph74 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 For around $20, I'm in. I'd love to use an adam keyboard on a daily basis again. And of course, a full Adamnet adapter would be righteous, but until it's a reality, I'll take baby steps and just like Johnny Cash-- one piece at a time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Oh? I'd love to know how that works. I'm far more likely to get a serial interface (probably from Bob Slopsema) than I would be to get an actual ADAM drive. I never tried this setup myself, but have heard that others have done so with success. Of course you will need the ADAMserve software, an ADAM with a Serial Interface and serial cable and then a PC with Serial Interface and either or both 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" disk drives. I'm not sure if their is software required on the PC side and if there is, it would probably be DOS based. I've attached the ADAM disk image for you, but I haven't looked at it to know what's included. ADAMserve (1996) (Rich Drushel).dsk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandor Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I would be interested in one of these Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas.buckler Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 i am most definitely down for one!! awesome. i made the video back in 2012 about this!! so happy someone has achieved it! can't wait to start typing on the coleco adam keyboard again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas.buckler Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 so excited. got my keyboard out and deep cleaned it. anyone have a spare screw for the underside of the keyboard and also a rubber foot pad? (i'm missing one of each) i'm sure i can find both with enough due diligence. looking forward to your demo video. https://goo.gl/fWZ9pq https://goo.gl/J7Urcc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intvdave Posted December 25, 2015 Author Share Posted December 25, 2015 thomas, I did not see your video. Is it still on youtube? Would you share a link to it? We are waiting for some parts to come in. The video is taking a little longer with this being the Christmas week. Soon....I am as excited as some of you are...probably more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas.buckler Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 my youtube channel isnt up anymore but here is a link to the video. cant wait!!! https://goo.gl/photos/7F7pjSicVkLNDmsn8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas.buckler Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 video of the unit please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Oltmans Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 It will be a lot easier to talk the serial protocol to a character device like the keyboard than emulating ADAMNet. It's certainly doable, you'd need a whole Master 6801 replacement, state machine and all, and emulate the behavior of the DCBs/PCB that's DMA'ed in memory. I'd love to have a device that would do that that could be interfaced to ADAMEm. But, for $20, I'd be down for the USB HID->ADAM Keyboard adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intvdave Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 video of the unit please! Thanks for sharing your video. Your request may soon be fulfilled. Sorry for the delay. Here is a crappy video https://youtu.be/2ifQ0iJ6QM8 but it shows the interface in action. You will see that all I had plugged into the laptop was the power cord. I attempted to show the light of the keyboard on after I plugged the interface in. The interface is a prototype so it is larger than it should be but it works! Since this is a reality, I want to try to guage how many people really want one. Please send me a PM if you are interested and what you think you might be willing to pay for one. I am not going to set the final price off of what value you tie to this. If the selling price is higher than you would pay, then I would not expect you to buy one and would not include you in my price calculation. I do not know if the sweet price of $20 will be a reality. I am not expecting a large demand for this. Someone mentioned they wanted $3000 for the production of an interface. This is *not* an AdamNet interface nor will the total production cost be $3000 but every order will help to keep the selling price down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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