Building a Microsoft InPort bus mouse to non-ADB mouse port converter

Hi folks,

when picking up my first black hardware, a mono slab with all the goodies, unfortunately the mouse was missing. Even though the system boots up fine, w/o mouse it renders pretty much unusable.
As described in various places on the internet, the non-ADB mouse is in fact just another incarnation of a bus mouse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_mouse). Apart from the mini DIN-8 pin connector, possible drop-in replacements are Logitech MouseMan or TrackMan with bus connector specs and Microsoft InPort (https://deskthority.net/wiki/InPort) mice.
Re-wiring from the mini DIN-9 pin connector to the Next mini DIN-8 pin connector is really all there is to do.

I picked up a Microsoft InPort mouse for just 15EUR, including the bus-2-serial converter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/andysretrocomputers/7826275168), which makes it a nice multi purpouse tool, to also connect to other vintage computer hardware.
For the first converter prototype I then ordered the mini DIN-8 pin connector to plug into the black keyboard and a mini DIN-9 pin socket for the Microsoft InPort mouse to connect to.

Soldering wires straight for +5V, XA, YA, XB, YB, left button, right button and ground is basically all there is to do. I just had to connect the non-ADB right button pin to the 3rd button pin on the bus connector to make the secondary click work. I followed this non-ADB 8 pin socket pinout (https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/NeXT#pinouts-1) and this InPort 9 pin connector pinout (https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/msmouse/Microsoft%20Mouse%20-%20Pinout%20of%20InPort%20Interface.png) (the 1st picture).

Attached are some shots I did during assembly.The final result is still prototype-ish and for a more refined version I will opt in for a mini DIN-9 female connector rather the socket. It was just way cheaper... Also a decent cable will make the result look cleaner.
For now it lets me play with the mono slab and there are more important things to discover :)

Cheers
Henning

Wires on the mini DIN-8 pin connector:
 

DIN-8 pin connector and Microsoft InPort mouse:


Wires on the mini DIN-8 pin connector with markers for the pinout:


First check of the converter:


Final result:

Excellent - have fun!

If you plan to play around with other operating systems than NeXT/OPENstep on your machine, be aware that NetBSD kernels after 5.2.3 has significant problems which causes the SCSI, keyboard and ethernet drivers (depending on the kernel version) to fail:

http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-next68k/2023/01/15/msg000041.html (http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-next68k/2023/01/15/msg000041.html)

Running Daydream/darkmatter (classic MacOS for the NeXT) is a lot of fun, however :).

Thanks @cuby,

Doing an OS update, installing Developer tools and enjoying the original experience is first on my list.
I just learned about Daydream with your post, didn't know something like this exists.

Cheers!

You're welcome - have fun with your NeXT!

Btw., guessing from your name, I would assume that you live somewhere in the vicinity of Germany, Denmark or the Netherlands? (unless you emigrated :) ).

I wonder if there is enough interest for a central European NeXT hackathon or similar? There seem to be quite a number of users from the area active in the forum.

That's correct, I'm located in Germany, greater Düsseldorf area. I'd love to bring together a NeXT community in whatever form. There are certainly great things to share!
Do you have an idea how to drive this? Announce something concrete in the forums? Doing a poll for a real life user group meeting?

Hello Dizco: Welcome aboard !  Excellent project :) Here is what an original from back in the day looks like as your prototype looks very close , nice work !

http://www.kevra.org/TheBestOfNext/NeXTProducts/NeXTHardware/NeXTMouseReplacement/NeXTMouseReplacement.html

I still have one of the original adapters and would be looking to buy 25 to 50 of them if the price is good :) With a schematic I might be able to find a manufacturer as we need to figure out alternative solution and this is a good one.

Alo need to spray paint the mice black lol :)

I have quite a few customers in Germany and many are still very active on this forum and NeXT Computer Enthusiast's on Facebook. 

So let me know if you need any help , there used to be a few German NeXT Groups way back as well 16 German NeXT User groups on this list from way back ... http://www.kevra.org/TheBestOfNext/page590/files/page590_1.pdf  may be one of these groups was close to you :) and they may still be around and have their old hidden NeXT hardware waiting to start it up again :) Also the guy helping me out on updating my website Michael Coda is in Germany :)

I have had quite a few occasions where they we're really happy to here from me and talk about their NeXT's fun stuff after 30 years lol . 

Does your Mouse solution work?

I have an old box full of original NeXT NON ADB Mouse connector cables and have often wondered if any mice would simply be plug and play as it internal connector matches and simply swapping out the original cable for a NeXT Cable . Anyone know of a mouse that this may actually work ? Or might it be possible to use the non adb mouse connector  that plugs into the keyboard wiring into a custom pcb or arduino / wireless / USB to optical ? My head hurts lol ....

Best Regards Rob Blessin

Hi dizco,

nice job w.t. mouse!
How does it feel with the nextstation, is it responsive? I'm asking since I have a mono slab myself, together with the mouse and keyboard although no monitor (bought the soundbox replacement board from Rob to hook it up to VGA). Nextstep and Daydream are fun, but the Next mouse feels quite slow even on the highest acceleration setting - I might try to adapt a bus mouse to see if that improves things.

I'm from Germany too, so if you go ahead with setting up a usergroup, please let me know.

Best,
Timo

Quote from: timob0 on January 24, 2023, 02:33:09 PMHi dizco,

nice job w.t. mouse!
How does it feel with the nextstation, is it responsive? I'm asking since I have a mono slab myself, together with the mouse and keyboard although no monitor (bought the soundbox replacement board from Rob to hook it up to VGA). Nextstep and Daydream are fun, but the Next mouse feels quite slow even on the highest acceleration setting - I might try to adapt a bus mouse to see if that improves things.

I'm from Germany too, so if you go ahead with setting up a usergroup, please let me know.

Best,
Timo

I sell a NeXT NON ADB Mouse replacement Cable for $9.95  , you can also adjust mouse speed settings under preferences panel , double click the calendar icon and a preferences panel will pop up. I also know there are a couple custom apps mouase scaler here is a link to a thread on it https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?topic=4727.msg27667#msg27667

Quote from: Rob Blessin Black Hole on January 24, 2023, 04:35:25 PMI also know there are a couple custom apps mouase scaler here is a link to a thread on it https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?topic=4727.msg27667#msg27667 (https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?topic=4727.msg27667#msg27667)

Many thanks Rob, that's what I was looking for! My Google-Fu let me down on this, making me think there's no such tool for Next ;-)

Quote from: cuby on January 17, 2023, 08:44:59 AMI wonder if there is enough interest for a central European NeXT hackathon or similar? There seem to be quite a number of users from the area active in the forum.

Count me in for such an event. Great idea!