I Bought a Soviet Era Gaming Mouse - MARS UKV-01

Summary

In a recent video, Linus showcases the Mars UKV-01, a rare Soviet-era mouse he purchased on eBay. He humorously explores its quirky design, including a rubberized ball and unique button clicks, while detailing its historical context tied to the BK-0010 computer. After initial struggles connecting it to modern systems, the team ingeniously uses a Raspberry Pi Pico to translate inputs, allowing for gameplay despite its impracticality. While the Martian serves as an interesting piece of retro tech, Linus concludes it's more of a collector's item than a viable gaming mouse, emphasizing the quirks and challenges of old technology.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker enthusiastically introduces the Mars UKV-01, a Soviet-era mouse, highlighting its rarity and unique design.
• 😀 The mouse was primarily used with the BK-0010, a popular Soviet home computer developed during the late 80s and early 90s.
• 😀 It features a ball that users must install themselves, along with quirky button designs, one being clicky and the other mushy.
• 😀 Initial attempts to connect the mouse to modern systems reveal that it requires a detailed understanding of its pin configuration.
• 😀 The documentation for the mouse is in a foreign language, complicating the troubleshooting process.
• 😀 A Raspberry Pi Pico was ultimately used to translate the mouse input into standard USB signals for compatibility with modern systems.
• 😀 The team successfully manages to get basic functionality, allowing the mouse to be used for simple games like Flappy Bird.
• 😀 Despite its operation, the mouse's usability and ergonomics are significantly inferior to modern gaming mice.
• 😀 The project serves as a demonstration of the lab's expertise in retro technology rather than a viable gaming solution.
• 😀 The video concludes with a promotional message for Circuit Specialists, which provides electronic components and tools for the STEM community.

Q & A

What is the main subject of the video?

The video centers around a Soviet-era mouse called the Mars UKV-01, detailing its unique features, historical context, and the challenges of using it with modern technology.

Why was the Mars UKV-01 mouse significant?

The Mars UKV-01, also known as the Martian, was one of the few mice produced in Russia during the late 80s and early 90s, serving as an input device for the BK-0010 home computer, which was part of a government initiative to promote computer literacy.

What technical challenges did the team face when connecting the mouse to a modern computer?

The team discovered that the mouse's connector was not a standard external serial connector, requiring them to access the header and decode its pin configuration to interface it with modern systems.

How did the team identify the functions of the mouse buttons?

Using a multimeter, the team was able to test the connections for the mouse buttons, confirming their functionality by measuring the voltage states when the buttons were pressed and released.

What was the solution used to translate the Martian mouse input into standard signals?

The team utilized a Raspberry Pi Pico to convert the Martian mouse's input signals into USB HID signals, enabling it to communicate with modern computers.

What historical context did the video provide regarding the BK-0010 computer?

The BK-0010 was part of a Soviet effort to improve computer literacy and was notable for its minimal specifications, featuring a 16-bit CPU and no operating system, which led to a vibrant homebrew programming community.

What did the team learn about the integrated circuits in the mouse?

The integrated circuits, identified as K561TM2 flip-flops, provided information about the mouse's last movement direction, enabling the team to develop a method for tracking motion.

What limitations did the team encounter while using the Martian mouse for gaming?

While the Martian mouse was technically usable for gaming, it proved to be slow and ergonomically uncomfortable, leading to difficulties in gameplay due to its limited functionality compared to modern gaming mice.

How did the team feel about the final outcome of their project with the Martian mouse?

The team acknowledged that while they successfully got the mouse working, it was more of a fascinating piece of retro technology than a practical gaming device, falling short of the performance of contemporary mice.

What did the video mention about the price of the Martian mouse?

The Martian mouse was purchased for about $350, which reflects its rarity and historical significance, although this cost does not compare favorably to the performance of modern gaming mice.