I want to connect two different pointing devices (mouse & touchpad) to my PC at the same time and switch between them at my whim. Assuming I have a PC that is new enough to use PS/2 connectors (yes, I’m old enough to remember before that was standard), and allows hot disconnect/reconnect, will a Y-connector allow me to do this? I have seen Y-connectors advertised to connect a keyboard and a mouse to a laptop at the same time, but not two pointing devices at the same time.
The pins for PS2 are:
1 Mouse-Data Mouse data packets or keyboard scan codes
are sent from the mouse or keyboard to the
computer on this single wire serially.
2 – Not Connected (Reserved)
3 GND Ground for voltage
4 VCC +5 voltage (max. 500mAmp)
5 Mouse-Clock This signal is sent from the mouse or keyboard
to synchronize the data signal.
So Pins 1 and 5 are mouse (keyboard) outputs and I do not see how you can connect two devices in parallel unless you have some interface. Now, If the interface allows two devices I cannot see why they could not be two mices devices.
No, per sailor’s example it is unlikely they will cooperate. You can get a serial mouse and put the touchpad on the PS2 or get a USB mouse and touch pad (which probably will cooperate) if your PC has USB.
Don’t know about that… I do you can connect both a PS2 and USB pointing device to the same machine and have them both be functional.
Yes, Nanoda, but I was hoping to put two PS/2 devices on the same port with a Y-connector. I assumed that they sent a signal only when they are moving.
If a pointing device sends a clock signal even when it’s not sending movement interrupts, then I assume this won’t work. My mouse, however, is a wireless mouse with a USB interface that I have plugged into the PS/2 port with an adapter. I forgot about that. But I’ll have to get a USB hub since I only have two USB ports and they’re both busy.
Hey sailor, where in the world do you find time to rack up 8 or 9 posts a day?