Sending keystrokes from PICAXE to PS2 input

[tom91]

I'm looking to build something similar to this:
http://www.raildriver.com/products/raildriver.php
albeit not as advanced or complex. In order to control the simulator (Kuju Rail Simulator or Microsoft Tran Sim) I need to be able to send 'keystrokes' to the computer from a PICAXE. I know a PICAXE can read characters from a PS2 keyboard, but can connect to the computer's PS2 keyboard connector and 'pretend' to be a keybaord?
Otherwise, how difficult would it be to send commands via a normal serial connection to a VB script (or similar), which would then have to 'simluate' keystokes? I haven't really done much in VB, just C.

 

[papaof2]

Be aware that a keyboard emulator needs to respond to the PC's boot-up check for a keyboard or the PC will not know the keyboard is there (this is an option in some BIOS's).

Have a look at the PS2 protocol description at these sites:
http://www.computer-engineering.org/ps2protocol/
http://www.networktechinc.com/ps2-prots.html
http://www.beyondlogic.org/keyboard/keybrd.htm
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/jmcm/www/info/key2.txt


And some info on PS2 keyboard emulators:
http://www.motherboardpoint.com/t88167-ps2-keyboard-emulation.html
http://jledger.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=dtvhacking&action=display&thread=1171796543&page=1


There are commercial emulators:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817802066 $55US

And a library for BASCOM-AVR:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/PS2-AT-Mouse-and-Keyboard-emulator-for-Bascom-AVR-p-16318.html

VB6 serial comm is relatively easy to work with or you can get a serial "wedge" (serial-to-keyboard-buffer driver) that takes whatever comes in on a serial port and sends it to a specific program (or the active window).
This one is $35: http://www.billproduction.com/
If you can find a copy of Bill Redirect 1.2R, it's free - check the download sites that actually archive files (instead of linking to the source site). I use 1.2R to interface with an old barcode scanner (to catalog books, CDs, and videos).

John

 

[tom91]

Thanks for the reply. The Bill Redirect software should be just the job, much easier than messing around with PS2 interfacing or VB scripts.

 

[Calamitie]

Making a program to send keys is super simple in VB6, all you would do is use the built-in SendKeys function:

SendKeys "Michael"

(where "Michael" would be the serial data)