Archive:

"MouSTer"

Posted: 26 April, 2021

I discovered the MouSTer on Mastodon; It's a USB HID to DB9 adaptor that allows the use of USB mice and joypads on 8 & 16 bit computers. At the time of writing you can still get them on ebay, so I ordered one to test out.

By default they're setup for an Atari ST, so to use it on my Amiga I had to do a little bit of configuration, but the process is simple:

• Download the latest firmware from: http://jil.guru/mouSTer/
• Grab a blank USB stick and create a directory called MOUSTER on it
• Unzip the firmware and copy it into the MOUSTER directory on the USB Stick
• Plug the MouSTer into the Amiga, and power the Amiga on
• Insert the USB stick into the Amiga. The MouSTer will flash for a bit, but after five seconds it'll pulse out an R (.-.) in morse code.
• Power cycle the Amiga

The MouSTer's firmware has been updated, but it's not yet been configured to work on the Amiga:

• If you took the USB stick out of the MouSTer, reinsert it and power-cycle the Amiga again
• Wait until the MouSTer flashes out the R and unplug the USB stick.
• Inside the MouSTer directory, on the USB stick, is a INI file for the firmware version we've just flashed onto the device
• Open this up, and change the default type over to Amiga (01).
• Write the file and plug the USB stick back into the MouSTer, then power cycle the Amiga
• The MouSTer will import the new INI file and flash out an R when it's ready to reboot.

From here it's good to go.

Every mouse I've tried has worked with zero issues, even a cheapo wireless one with it's own wireless adaptor. I've tried a couple of USB joypads (XBox) and they work perfectly, as well! It's really quite remarkable.

So I guess that's the end of the road for my old tank mouse. I salute you, old mouse chum, and your fluffy mouse ball...

Further Reading: