Go Back   Cyber Tech Help Support Forums > Hardware > Hardware

Notices

Hardware Use this board for problem solving and the discussion of Computer Hardware issues

Reply
 
Topic Tools
  #46  
Old June 18th, 2015, 04:01 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Quote:
Originally Posted by supreme11 View Post
I am ok with very little control over the mouse cursor and speed if it is the same speed at which it comes out of the box. I often do not change the default scroll speed and just get used to the default. I am just afraid that the speed will not be as intended even if it does get recognized by MS OS. (you were mentioning how on XP it scrolls to the top easily and on Win 7 you have to drag it multiple times- this is exactly what I don't want but I'm ok with "little control/flexibility to change" as long as its working as it should)
If you can get Windows 8.1 64-Bit Version to see, and load a driver for it.
Go into the mouse controls and ramp up the Mouse Cursor Speed to the maximum.
You'll still have too "Jog the Ball" to get the Mouse Cursor from the top/bottom, or left/right on the screen.
But it is better than the default setting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by supreme11 View Post
I'm so sad I can't use this Trackball with my PC. I just love everything about this model. I can easily just get a slimblade for about the same price but its just not the same.

Life is unfair
I have a Keyboard Tray that is sorta like this one;

Only it's white, and much more heavy duty, mounted on my work bench.
Thus, why I use a Trackball, instead of a Mouse.

Instead of the Kensington Slimblade blade, have you l looked at the Kensington Expert Mouse Trackball #64325?

It isn't as good as the old #64215 Kensington Trackball.
But it is the only one available from Kensington that is ergonomically similar.

If I can find one that isn't too expensively priced, I'll consider getting it.
But right now I got so many other projects now, that have top priority.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old June 23rd, 2015, 07:25 AM
supreme11 supreme11 is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Ensign, I took a risk and purchased the 64215 for my windows 7 64 bit PC and after moving the cursor speed to max, it feels usable and pretty good.

Thanks for advising. I purchased it used and the shipper poorly packaged the item so the wires were right by the sealed tape and I accidentally cut the cord a little when I cut the tape with a knife. (Cringe) I believe I didn't cut any of the wires inside because it is still fully functional.

I am looking for a backup cord just in case. Is there any place where I can purchase an OEM cord for this trackball? The serial to PS/2 adapter is perfectly fine but I would like the main serial cord.

I have seen some non OEM cords but it looks funny because of the coloring and it doesn't say Kensington on it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old June 23rd, 2015, 04:36 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Quote:
Originally Posted by supreme11 View Post
Ensign, I took a risk and purchased the 64215 for my windows 7 64 bit PC and after moving the cursor speed to max, it feels usable and pretty good.

Thanks for advising. I purchased it used and the shipper poorly packaged the item so the wires were right by the sealed tape and I accidentally cut the cord a little when I cut the tape with a knife. (Cringe) I believe I didn't cut any of the wires inside because it is still fully functional.
Take a Magnifier Glass and look at the cut area.
If you see something shiny {Exposed wires}.
Then get some "Liquid Electrical Tape".
{Automotive or Hardware Store}
Spread it over the exposed wires and let it dry.
Then get a piece of "Heat Shrink Tubing".
Cut it just larger than the area of the wire you want to cover.
Slip it onto the wire and over the damage area.
Then use a Hair Dryer to shrink it around the break.
{It won't be pretty, but it will do the job.}
Quote:
Originally Posted by supreme11 View Post
I am looking for a backup cord just in case. Is there any place where I can purchase an OEM cord for this trackball? The serial to PS/2 adapter is perfectly fine but I would like the main serial cord.

I have seen some non OEM cords but it looks funny because of the coloring and it doesn't say Kensington on it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The Kensington cord is custom made for this model.
The end that plugs into the Mouse port is standard 9-Pin Serial with Mouse Port Adapter.
But the end that plugs into the back of the trackball isn't.
Kensington no longer supports this model, so will most likely no longer have parts for it.
You can try checking Kensington's repair/replacement department.
But I understand they only have replacement Trackballs for they're current line.


Your best bet to find cord, is to check Electronic Surplus Stores.
If you have some nearby.
Take a picture of the plug end that fits into the base of the Trackball.
{Make sure you get a good shot of the pins in the end of the plug.}
Then start looking through the wire cable bins, and see if they have one.

Otherwise.....
Try Ebay, or Amazon, Craigs List, Etc, for one.
You may end up just buying another complete #64215 Expert Mouse Trackball.
But if it works too, nothing like having a good spare just in case.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old August 11th, 2015, 04:32 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Hey guy's,

In my search for a solution to my trackball dilemma.
I came across an Ebay posting of a Model 64215 with a 9-pin Serial to USB Adapter.


Does anyone know if this Adapter is just a standard generic 9-pin serial to USB 2.0.
Or is it a proprietary Adapter that Kensington made just for their Mice/Trackballs?

If it is a standard Adapter.
I'll see if can get one, and try it with my Trackball.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old August 11th, 2015, 05:32 PM
Murf's Avatar
Murf Murf is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
O/S: Windows XP Pro
Posts: 17,424
You can get the adapter just about anywhere and cheap: Example

http://www.amazon.com/RS232-Serial-C.../dp/B00KHMEAC0


It should work with any device, once the Serial IRQ is loaded in BIOS.
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old August 12th, 2015, 12:57 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf View Post
You can get the adapter just about anywhere and cheap: Example

http://www.amazon.com/RS232-Serial-C.../dp/B00KHMEAC0


It should work with any device, once the Serial IRQ is loaded in BIOS.
Thanks for the link Murf,

I'll look into getting one, and see how it works out.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old January 20th, 2017, 09:13 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Update:

Sorry, for this very late Update.

Well, the
9-pin Serial to USB Adapter didn't work either in getting the cursor speed, and acceleration to the levels I need.

Thus, my only course was to replace the old trackball.

Amazon had a Black Friday sale on the K64325.
So, I purchased it.

I've got it connected up now, and it works okay.
But I'm going too need to make more adjustments to it.
Plus, the Scroll Ring is kinda funky.
Like it is out of balance, every time I use it.

I'm going to keep my old Trackball as a spare for my older graphics computer.
It is still running XP, and has lot's of older programs that won't run under Win 7 or newer on it.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old March 22nd, 2017, 06:34 PM
recyclergeek recyclergeek is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 6
Ensign,

don't know if you're still checking on this...
I have two of these from back when (early '90s) and absolutely can't go without them due to carpal tunnel/tendonitis. one came with a RS232 15 pin adapter to USB and the other did not. THOSE little adapters are tough to come by, btw. the Amazon adapter that Murf posted looks to be a Db9 serial pin, not the 15 pin that my Kensington has. I am going to attempt a PS2 to PS2 M/M for the one I brought into my new job.

FWIW, my other @ home works perfectly fine on Linux (ubuntu)... so, don't know what Windoze driver problems might be. guess I'll find out when installing @ work. YMMV.

all the best,
...max.

p.s. did you know that a billiard ball (not a cue ball) works to replace the drab, boring OEM ball? I have an eight ball @ home and a 13 ball here.
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old March 23rd, 2017, 08:17 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Quote:
Originally Posted by recyclergeek
Ensign,

don't know if you're still checking on this...
I have two of these from back when (early '90s) and absolutely can't go without them due to carpal tunnel/tendonitis. one came with a RS232 15 pin adapter to USB and the other did not. THOSE little adapters are tough to come by, btw. the Amazon adapter that Murf posted looks to be a Db9 serial pin, not the 15 pin that my Kensington has. I am going to attempt a PS2 to PS2 M/M for the one I brought into my new job.
What is the Model number on the Trackballs?



The K64215 are 9-Pin Serial that came with 9-pin Serial to PS2 Mouse Adapters.



Quote:
Originally Posted by recyclergeek
FWIW, my other @ home works perfectly fine on Linux (ubuntu)... so, don't know what Windoze driver problems might be. guess I'll find out when installing @ work. YMMV.

all the best,
...max.
The problem is Kensington doesn't support this Trackball any more.

supreme11, is running Windows 7 64-bit version, and after tweaking the Mouse Controls, says it works okay for him.

But you may get lucky, and your work computer is running a 32-bit version of software that can work with the old Kensington Drivers & MouseWorks program.

Don't know about Windows Versions 8, 8.1, or 10.

Quote:
Originally Posted by recyclergeek
p.s. did you know that a billiard ball (not a cue ball) works to replace the drab, boring OEM ball? I have an eight ball @ home and a 13 ball here.
Yeah, I've seen other people replace the ball with a Billiard Ball{Mainly the 8 Ball}.
Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old March 29th, 2017, 03:06 PM
recyclergeek recyclergeek is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 6
I have the same model #64215 Ver. 5.0 as you. PS/2 port on the rear and the cable (that came with, possibly not OEM) is PS/2 to 15 pin (looks like RS232) serial cable.


and btw, thanks for being here. glad to see that some folks prefer the old, perfectly functional tech. as opposed to just accepting newer, "better" stuff (read crap)...

Last edited by recyclergeek; March 29th, 2017 at 03:10 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old March 29th, 2017, 10:41 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
recyclergeek,

The Port Connector on the TrackBall Base is proprietary.

Thus, the 9-Pin Cable with {What Looks Like A PS\2 Connector} that goes with it, is the only one that works with it.

So, you can't just grab any old cable, and expect it to be wired the same.

Any ways.......

UPDATE:
The K64325 Scroll Ring was flopping around too much for my liking.

I contacted Kensington, and they sent out a replacement.

Curiosity got the better of me.
So, after I got the replacement connected up.
I tore down the K64325 and looked at the Scroll Ring Assembly.
First thing I found was that two of the little plastic beads that the ring rides on were missing.
From what I could tell, it had originally had 5 beads.
Now it had only 3 beads, and one of the plastic lips that held the ring in place was cracked.

I looked inside the Trackball case for the beads, but I couldn't fine them.
This leads me to believe that the Trackball was damaged in assembly.

Either way, the Scroll Ring Assembly can't be repaired easily.

As for the Replacement TrackBall.........
I'm having issues with the Scroll Ring on it as well.
After using it for awhile, I found it binding up.
I can work the ring loose, but after awhile it will start binding up again.

I'm thinking of tearing it down, and cleaning the Scroll Ring Assembly.
Then put in some Teflon Grease on the Bead Bearings, to help smooth out the movement.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old March 30th, 2017, 03:46 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nebraska, USA
Posts: 2,562
Quote:
The Port Connector on the TrackBall Base is proprietary.
That does not look proprietary to me. It looks ancient.

Before PS/2 there was the AT "din" connector used for very early keyboards, mice and trackballs.

As seen here, they much larger.
Reply With Quote
  #58  
Old March 31st, 2017, 08:48 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digerati
Quote:
Quote:
The Port Connector on the TrackBall Base is proprietary.
That does not look proprietary to me. It looks ancient.

Before PS/2 there was the AT "din" connector used for very early keyboards, mice and trackballs.

As seen here, they much larger.

It is more closely that of a Bus Mouse Connector.

But the pin arrangement is slightly different.

Personally I like the K64215 Model 5.0 design.
Instead of having to dig around the back of the computer to unplug it, so I can clean it.
I just unplug the Trackball base from the cable.

The new one is a pain to clean.
Need a bunch of Q-tip's, and a can of compressed air to get the dirt out of those beads.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
  #59  
Old March 31st, 2017, 09:05 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nebraska, USA
Posts: 2,562
There were many DIN type connectors used - my point was, it does not seem likely it would be proprietary - unless it was an early Apple computer. Proprietary connectors add to the costs of design, development, and inventory - normally without adding any value in terms of performance, or profits.
Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old April 1st, 2017, 01:20 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
O/S: Windows 7 64-bit
Posts: 956
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digerati View Post
There were many DIN type connectors used - my point was, it does not seem likely it would be proprietary - unless it was an early Apple computer. Proprietary connectors add to the costs of design, development, and inventory - normally without adding any value in terms of performance, or profits.
Hmmmm.......
Well, Kensington did produce a model K64210 Turbo Mouse for the Mac and later versions.
It is basically the same as the K64215 for the PC.
So, reusing that connector for the PC version would make sense.



Signed: Ensign Tzap
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Topic Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Topics
Topic Topic Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pop-up Insanity.. Help helpplease34 Malware Removal 1 May 16th, 2007 07:15 AM
Pop-up Insanity.. Help helpplease34 Windows XP 1 May 15th, 2007 07:41 PM
DV capture driving me to insanity magic_steve Hardware 9 March 6th, 2006 12:37 PM
Adware Insanity!! jureidinim Malware Removal 3 August 31st, 2004 06:45 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:58 PM.