This is a rather simple question for some Im sure. I need to make a simple cost effect small 2-3 button control that sends out ASCII keystrokes i.e. the Letter A. Now I dont know if using Arduino is the best cost effective method. Is there another device that will allow me to plug into a PS/2 Keyboard input of PC that will translate a button press? I dont know if its as simple as programming something with serial print or what. Kind of new to this so any suggestions either code for the arduino i have or another device would be great.
The actual interfacing to the PS/2 Keyboard interface is pretty simple (just two pins with pullup resistors). The challenging part is the code which is non-trivial. I implemented it on an ATMEGA48 in AVR assembly and while it took some experimenting to get working, it was reliable once done. Keep in mind that the keyboard interface does not directly correspond to ASCII but uses “scan codes” instead. There is lots of information about interfacing to the PS/2 keyboard port. Just google ps/2 keyboard interfacing.
If you want a pre-made device that just works, there are plenty for sale for use with MAME cabinets (which is why I originally designed mine). Here is a link to one of them. I have not used it myself (since I designed my own), but for $40, it might be easier than building it yourself.
Yes I was actually aware of that unit and considered it because im in a time crunch for this one. I was just checking to see if sparkfun had anything i played with code for the arduino but its not as straightforward for the timeline i have. thanks for your input!
Do you just need a button push to send a single letter over PS/2?
Or is there some sort of computing the mcu would do too?
If there is not additional computing, you not hack up a PS/2 keyboard? You could just put switches across the controller board - one leg to a pin in one section, the other leg to a pin on the other section.
Yes I could hack one apart but time is short for this project. i simply need a few push buttons to trigger some computer events. the setup takes standard ascii A,B,C etc. I thought about using an old keyboard but I dont have much time.