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44 lines
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44 lines
4.3 KiB
Plaintext
---
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title: "Eiffel Interface: PS/2 Keyboard, Mouse and Joysticks for the Mega ST"
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section: "retro"
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tags: "retro"
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description: "Using the Eiffel interface to connect a PS/2 keyboard, mouse and joysticks to the Atari Mega ST 4 'High'."
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layout: base.njk
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parent: "/retro/"
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---
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<h1>Eiffel Interface: PS/2 Keyboard, Mouse and Joysticks for the Mega ST</h1>
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<div class="detail-content">
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<p>My <a href="/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/">Mega ST 4 "High"</a> workstation uses an Eiffel interface, which lets me connect a standard PS/2 keyboard and mouse plus two joysticks to the machine's keyboard port. The original Atari keyboard and mouse have moved over to the <a href="/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/">Mega ST 4 "Low"</a> machine.</p>
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<h2>What the Eiffel is</h2>
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<p>The Eiffel is a free, GPL open-source project to connect a standard PC mouse and keyboard to an Atari ST, Mega ST, TT or Falcon. It was originally started by Laurent Favard with help from Didier Mequignon. Features include:</p>
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<ul>
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<li><strong>PS/2 mouse support</strong>, up to two mouse wheels and five buttons.</li>
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<li><strong>PS/2 keyboard support</strong>, standard 102/105-key with extra keys, with F11 mapped as the Atari Help key and F12 as the Undo key (changeable via a small GEM setup application).</li>
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<li><strong>Two 9-pin Atari joystick ports</strong>, Joy0 and Joy1, like the original keyboard.</li>
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<li><strong>Works with TOS, Magic, MiNT and Geneva</strong>, I have it running under Geneva myself.</li>
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<li><strong>In-system programming</strong> of the PIC for firmware updates.</li>
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</ul>
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<h2>The version I use</h2>
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<p>I have the <a href="https://www.eiffel-uno.com" target="_blank">Eiffel 3 for Mega ST, Mega STE and TT</a>, bought directly from Olivier Gossuin in 2021 for 18 EUR. As of 2026, the only place to still order one appears to be <a href="https://klydes-korner.site/en/product/ps2-to-atari-eiffel-adapter-with-joysticks/" target="_blank">Klyde's Korner</a>. This version connects to the keyboard port (RJ12) of an Atari Mega ST(E) or TT, and includes two joystick ports alongside the PS/2 keyboard and mouse. It's plug and play, comes pre-programmed with the latest firmware, and needs no drivers. It connects via an RJ12 (6P6C) straight cable, and works with a native PS/2 keyboard and mouse or certain PS/2-compatible USB devices via a USB-to-PS/2 adapter.</p>
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<h2>Why use it</h2>
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<p>Original Atari keyboards are getting rare and expensive. The Eiffel is a cheap, modern alternative that brings a standard PS/2 keyboard and mouse to the machine, along with the two joystick ports the original keyboard had. It also gives a much better typing feel: I use a Cherry PS/2 keyboard, which is far more pleasant to type on than the original, and a Logitech PS/2 mouse that tracks noticeably better than the original Atari STM1 mouse. It makes the workstation far more practical to use day to day. The older Eiffel versions were originally built and sold by Lyndon Amsdon, with the design documented on the <a href="https://hardware.atari.org/eiffel/index.htm" target="_blank">Atari Hardware Guide</a>, and the project history is covered in the <a href="https://wiki.newtosworld.de/index.php?title=Eiffel_Interface" target="_blank">Atari Wiki</a>.</p>
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<h2>My Setup</h2>
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<p>In my Mega ST 4 "High" machine the Eiffel connects the PS/2 keyboard and mouse, keeping the workstation fully usable alongside the <a href="/retro/monsterboard/">MonSTerBoard</a>, <a href="/retro/et4000-experiment/">ET4000</a> and <a href="/retro/netusb/">NetUSBee</a>. The original Atari keyboard is now used with the "Low" machine, which pairs it with a <a href="/retro/mouster/">mouSTer</a> and a USB mouse.</p>
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<h2>Gallery</h2>
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<img src="eiffel-ps2.jpg" alt="The Eiffel PS/2 adapter without its case" width="480" height="640" loading="lazy">
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<p class="caption">The Eiffel PS/2 adapter, shown here without its case.</p>
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<h2>Sources</h2>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="https://klydes-korner.site/en/product/ps2-to-atari-eiffel-adapter-with-joysticks/" target="_blank">PS/2 Atari Eiffel adapter with joystick ports - Klyde's Korner (product)</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://hardware.atari.org/eiffel/index.htm" target="_blank">Eiffel - Atari Hardware Guide</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://wiki.newtosworld.de/index.php?title=Eiffel_Interface" target="_blank">Eiffel Interface - Atari Wiki-NEU</a></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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