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1989-04-30
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Amiga Turbo Mouse Conversion
Copyright 1988 by Bill Munch
(WIM'88 Enjoy!)
PLEASE NOTE: Amiga Turbo Mouse Conversion and the DPaint picture
in this ARC file are Copyright 1988 by Bill Munch
and are released to the public as a
"ShareWare Construction Project."
Please leave all copyright notices in tact.
You are free to use this information but the author
requests a donation if you find this information
useful. Send what you feel the information is worth
to: Bill Munch, P.O. Box 160, W. Milton, Ohio 45383
First off, let me just say, "Isn't the Macintosh a great
computer?" No wait! Don't stone me just yet. Because of the Mac, we
Amiga users are able to have extra toys like single button mice and,
yes, now even a Track Ball Mouse with feed though. As for the Mac, is
it still classified as a computer? Anyway, did I get your interest?
One item I always liked about the Mac was an item from:
Kensington Microwave Ltd., 251 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010 - (212) 475-5200
Now with that out of the way, the item is call TURBO MOUSE (TM).
Their unit consists of a stationary table top mouse replacement with 9
pin Din pass though for your existing mouse. Yes, BOTH track ball and
Amiga mouse remain connected and operational without any switching on
your part, the tricks in the trackball! As a bonus to A500 & A2000
owners, this also means convent access to Port #1 at all times as
well.
Conversion is simple IF you are fairly good with a soldering
pencil and can locate a Turbo Mouse at a fair price. I found my unit
at a computer flea market. They were, unfortunately, close out units
still factory sealed.
There is a newer unit that is still sold, for about $95.00, but
uses Mac's weird Din plug. A Mac user, the poor guy, told me there is
an adapter made to convert the new Din plug to the old style 9-Pin Din
plug, cost unknown. So, try to find the older unit discussed herein.
It will make conversion easier, and less costly. My understanding is
there are a great many units out there, so take a good look around.
To make conversion easier still, I have drawn a rough layout of
the unit with DPaint, (Lo-Res), which should help. Also, here is a
list of parts. The new cable is the hardest item to find because it
must have ALL 9 wires connected, though we will only use 8 lines. One
simple source would be to by a good joystick extension and cut off the
male connector. I used a cable off a junk mouse that had all nine
lines. Either one will work.
PARTS LIST:
1 - Female 9 pin Din cable. [See information.]
1 - Male 9 pin Din Jack. [Radio Shack #276-1537]
1 - 8 pin IC header, (best) or 8 pin IC socket, (usable.)
And, of course, a Turbo Mouse. Part No. 62350
IMPORTANT!!! IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
ARE NOT PROFICIENT AT SOLDERING. DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE AN OHM METER.
OR IN ANYWAY QUESTION THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS CONVERSION.
I hate disclaimer but, the least you could damage would be the
Turbo Mouse. Worse yet, improper wiring could damage the Amiga.
Before you say you are willing to take that chance, try using the
Amiga WITHOUT a mouse. Its not easy! So, its user be ware, and don't
cry to me if you blow something up!
I, and a friend, have been using our units since 8/25/88 without
problem. It will work, but please be careful. Check, check and then
double check again. Ok, enough of that.
STEP 1:
Remove the four screws on the bottom of the unit. Work on a
surface that will protect the ball and mechanizes from damage.
Set the top case, ball and screws off to the side. These will
not be used again until final assembly.
STEP 2:
Gently remove both button caps. DO NOT MIX THEM. Mark them on
the bottom. Mixing them will result in poor switch activity.
STEP 3:
Disconnect both the flat 8 pin cable connector #1 and the 8 pin
dip ribbon connector #2. (See DPaint picture for location.)
Carefully remove the circuit board and set it aside.
Please be very careful when handling the board. Avoid static and
possible damage to the tiny, thin springs mounted on the board.
Since we must make modifications to this board, all handling and
soldering must be done with great care.
STEP 4:
Remove the existing 9 pin female Din jack. Keep the hardware.
We will use it to mount the new male jack for our Amiga mouse feed
though.
STEP 5:
Cut off the flat 8 pin cable connector. Save the wire, you can
use it to make the PC board patch in the next step.
Remove the rubber strain relief from the lower case half. Cut
the cable off flush at the inside half of the strain relief and pull
the old cable out.
Feed your new 9 wire cable will though the hole but do not secure
the cable in the hole. Feed the cable back though the lower case half
and give yourself plenty of slack.
Only after everything is connected and tested will we mount the
strain relief and secure the cable. Since we need one more line than
the old connector had, we can not simply splice the new cable to the
old connector.
Strip and tin ALL 9 wires. We will only connect 8 of them, but
since there is no standard color code for joystick cables we will have
to trace each wire to its proper pin.
STEP 6:
Looking at the foil side of the PC board, locate and cut the PC
trace as indicated on the DPaint picture. The trace connects the
right mouse button, (RMB), to the left button. Since Macs only use a
one button system and the Amiga needs two we need to patch in the
second mouse button. Connector #1 has an unused pin noted as 'H' in
the picture. Connect a patch wire from the trace you cut at the RMB to
pin 'H' of connector #1. Also connect a wire to pin 3 of connector
#2, also unused, to the RMB. Just follow the picture.
When done, you will have two separate mouse buttons each
connected to separate pads on connectors #1 and #2. There is a common
ground between both switches, as it should be.
STEP 7:
Now for the fun part. We will now connect our new joystick /
mouse cable to the PC board by soldering 8 wires from the cable to
connector #1 on the component, top side, of the PC board. If you make
a mistake you could damage the turbo mouse, the Amiga or both. Check
your work! Follow the connection table below exactly!
9-Pin Din Turbo Mouse Connector #1
Mouse V Pin #1 ---------------------- Pin D
Mouse H Pin #2 ---------------------- Pin C
Mouse VQ Pin #3 ---------------------- Pin E
Mouse HQ Pin #4 ---------------------- Pin B
Mouse B2 Pin #5 ------ NOT USED ------ Cut Off Wire
Mouse B1 Pin #6 ---------------------- Pin G
+5 VDC Pin #7 ---------------------- Pin F
GND Pin #8 ---------------------- Pin A
Mouse B3 Pin #9 ---------------------- Pin H
By using a paperclip and an ohm meter you can trace pins from the
din plug to the correct color wire then solder that wire to the turbo
mouse connector #1. Use the new male jack connector to locate the
correct pin number on the din plug. Since most jacks are numbered
this will prevent you from mixing up the pins on the din plug. The
Radio Shack connectors are numbered as shown in the DPaint picture.
Nothing serious will happen if you mix up some of the wires UNLESS you
get pins #7 (+5 VDC) & #8 (Ground) reversed.
After checking your wiring again, power up your Amiga to a
WorkBench screen, disconnect the Amiga mouse and plug in the turbo
mouse. Gently rotate each sensor wheel and press each mouse button.
If all is well, the turbo mouse will respond. Operation of the
wheels may seem reversed, they are not. Once assembled, the ball will
turn the sensor wheels in the proper direction. Remember, you are
working with a mouse that went belly up!
Everything OK? Then disconnect the turbo mouse and go to the
next step.
STEP #8:
Now we will connect the mouse feed though connector. Connect the
new 9 pin din male connector to the 8 pin dip socket, connector #2,
using a header or another 8 pin dip socket, whichever one you bought.
Using a short 8 lead ribbon cable or wire taken from the old turbo
mouse cable, follow the table below. See also the DPaint picture.
9 Pin Din Turbo Mouse Connector #2
Mouse V Pin #1 ---------------------- Pin 1
Mouse H Pin #2 ---------------------- Pin 3
Mouse VQ Pin #3 ---------------------- Pin 2
Mouse HQ Pin #4 ---------------------- Pin 4
Mouse B2 Pin #5 ------ NOT USED
Mouse B1 Pin #6 ---------------------- Pin 9
+5 VDC Pin #7 ---------------------- Pin 5
GND Pin #8 ---------------------- Pin 6
Mouse B3 Pin #9 ---------------------- Pin 8
Plug the header / socket into the socket on the PC board. Again
power up the Amiga to a WorkBench screen. Test the turbo ball by
moving the wheels and pressing the buttons. Now plug the Amiga mouse
into the din jack and test the Amiga mouse. If everything is
connected correctly both mice will move the pointer and the buttons
will respond. Everything OK, if not check your work again. If it all
works, we can now reassemble your new turbo mouse.
STEP #9:
Unplug the 8 pin dip header / socket and mount the new 9 pin din
jack. Mount the joystick strain relief in the case and adjust the
cable length inside the turbo mouse.
Trial fit the PC board in the case and make final adjustments to
the joystick cable. Route the cables carefully. Make sure they will
not interfere with the sensor wheels, mouse ball or support wheels.
Secure the joystick cable in the strain relief, I used Super Glue.
Connect the 8 pin dip header / socket, mount the PC board in the
lower case half, drop in the ball and screw the case halves together.
Your done! Plug everything into the Amiga and Enjoy!
OVERVIEW
Like the mouse, you will soon wonder how you did without a
stationary mouse. The turbo mouse allows you greater control of the
pointer. Drawing programs respond better. Grab & drag operations
become easier and because the turbo mouse remains in one position
valuable desk space is saved.
Both mice or the turbo mouse and a joystick are active
eliminating all the plugging and un-plugging needed for some games.
The trick that makes this possible happens in the PIC1652 IC in the
turbo ball. It selects the active device by looking for an active
input.
Yes, you can confuse things by moving both mice at once. Park
the Amiga mouse some where out of the way or unplug it altogether.
The same goes for a joystick. If the mouse / joystick plugged into
the turbo mouse is not moved, the turbo mouse will ignore it.
As a side note, older single button Mac mice can also be used
with the Amiga. This is great for games and children when you don't
want your mouse messed with, if you know what I mean.
Now didn't I see a Mac using a graphics tablet somewhere. Maybe
that will work too if I....
Enjoy! WIM'88