SGI PowerSeries Keyboard Cable to USB

atariorbit

Tinkerer
Nov 1, 2021
27
25
13
If you have an older SGI that has the DB15 keyboard connector, and you don't have any classic SGI keyboards (pre PS/2) there are some options.

https://www.drakware.com/

Drakware has a "Indigo to USB" adapter that works on all pre-PS/2 SGIs. You just have to go from DB15 to DIN6 (for the drak adapter).

Here is a diagram I created to do that. You can by a PS/2 extension cable from Amazon and cut it in half, using the Male segment. You can also get a DB15 male connector.


SGI PS Keyboard Cable_v2.png


This works great in my 4D/320.

E540BF3F-1DF8-4FA7-AD14-73531C30D1AB_1_105_c.jpeg
 
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ScutBoy

Administrator
Staff member
Founder
Sep 2, 2021
337
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Northfield, MN USA
I would have loved to buy the USB->Indigo adapter, but they've been sold out forever.

Ended up spending more than I did for my first car (it was a cheap car!) for a real Indigo keyboard and mouse :)

And yes - loving the big SGIs, and the Lisa photobomb
 

CrimsonRE

New Tinkerer
Jan 13, 2023
5
1
3
Virginia, USA
Thank you for the diagram!
Quite nice that someone has made an SGI-to-USB converter. I have a couple of the original SGI keyboards for use with my R3k & R4k Indigos and my various PowerSeries beasts. I also was lucky enough to get the 2nd prototype of Randy's SGI-to-PS/2 converters back in the day (I collected all my SGI gear in the early 2000's).