I'm looking for a product that makes it possible to send any keyboard
signal to computerA from computerB, preferrably via the serial port of
computerB. Since the keyboard signal is comprized of keycode data plus
a clock signal, I suspect this product will require an addon card or
an inline module, obviously a special cable will be require to make
the connection. If an addon card is required, then I would really like
it to have support for linux, but I'll settle for a "Windows only"
solution. A cable with a builtin module that would simply convert
"bytes" to "keyboard signal" would be the perfect solution.

$500 would be considered expensive for this item, but I would still be
interested.

Hi ronrlinuxdude,

A device such as you describe is available from Market Central Inc. It
is a small box with a DB25 female connector for RS-232 input, and a
6-pin mini-DIN female connector for keyboard output. The RS-232 input
can be supplied as ASCII codes or as keyboard scan codes.

From the product description page:

"The Keyboard Data Converter ... translates RS-232 data and converts
it to send to a PC as if it were coming from the PC's keyboard. Now
you can take RS-232 data from a sensor, bar-code reader, or another PC
(anything with an RS-232 output) and send it into a PC's keyboard port
... The product converts the data to keyboard data, and then
automatically senses which keyboard mode to use. The RS-232 to PC
Converter derives power from the attached PC, so there's no need for
an external power supply.":
http://www.mctech.com/kbd232.html

This device is available for $155 as part number 5000080.

A less expensive device at $79 is the COV-001 from Fametech America,
Inc. It too converts RS-232 data to emulated keyboard data. However I
could not confirm that it handles extended scan codes - it might
handle ASCII characters only.

From the COV-001 product description page:

"This compact data converter transforms RS-232 data to keyboard data.
It allows an existing RS-232 input device, such as a CCD scanner or a
portable data collector, to interoperate with a standard I/O (keyboard
input and screen output) application running on a host PC.":
http://www.tysso.com/decoder.htm

If you are handy with a soldering iron and would like to "build your
own", there is a description of a keyboard emulator project using a
PIC16F84 micro controller at Niagara College Canada:
http://www.technology.niagarac.on.ca/courses/comp630/Projects/KeyboardEmulator/

Radovan Robotics sells a chip called "Easy input" which takes a
parallel data input and simulates a standard USB keyboard. The chip
costs under $10, although you need a few other bits and pieces to make
it into a functioning device:
http://www.radovan.org/EasyInput/index.htm

I trust that one of the above devices will meet your needs. Thanks for
an interesting question!


Additional links:

Home page of Market Central Inc.:
http://www.mctech.com/

Homepage of Fametech America, Inc.:
http://www.tysso.com/

Adam Chapweske's links for interfacing AT keyboards:
http://panda.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu/~achapwes/PICmicro/Links.html

PC Keyboard FAQ:
http://www.repairfaq.org/filipg/LINK/PORTS/F_Keyboard_FAQ.html#KEYBOARDFAQ_001


Google searches used:

"keyboard emulator"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22keyboard+emulator%22

"keyboard emulator" serial
://www.google.com/search?q=%22keyboard+emulator%22+serial


Regards,
eiffel-ga

maybe it would help if the actual application was described...
there are many ways to transfer data between computers, and if all
that is really needed is the keyboard scan codes - which actualy
indicate what keys are pressed ex: left shift aand right shift buttons
generate different codes) as opposed to the normal data output, a
fairly simple software driver should handle it and normal networking
arrangements would transmit it.Only cost would be the programming, no
hardware needed.

bobthedispatcher, the application is KVM over IP without the M, lol.

bobthedispatcher, as you may have figured out, it's not a computer I'm
sending keyboard signals to, it's dumb KVM box with no network
capabilities. I might also add that we recently purchased a KVM over
IP device (6Gs) and it died a week later.

The Cherry 3190 keyboard has this functionality, and is currently
available for $15 US here:
http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/viewproduct.asp?productid=ACC-CH3190

It has a DB-9 port on the back which takes ASCII (scan code acceptance
has not been specified, and I do not have the equipment with me to
test it) and outputs to a standard MINIDIN-6 PS/2 Keyboard port. 
though the website says AT connector mine is indeed PS/2.

This may be oversized for your application but for $15 you could
remove the interior circuit board and use it as your converter.

From your description I doubt your box has any expansion slots, but if
it did you might want to consider the PC Weasel (though it is more
costly):
http://www.realweasel.com/intro.html