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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: nakey on January 04, 2003, 11:48:45 AM
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Since my old Amiga 1000 Keyboard is practially dead, does anyone know where i can get an adaptor so that i can use a PC keyboard instead?
IF not, does anyone know how to make one? i don't mind soldering stuff together.
I'm in Australia BTW
Nakey
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Seems to me that Software Hut here in Pennsylvania I think offers something to adapt an Amiga to a PeeCee keyboard. Can't remember what it's called but I think it's about $49.95 USD. Don't know what Amiga keyboard it adapts to, but if you don't mind soldering, the pinouts of the various Miggies are easily attainable. :-D
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Of course, the 1000 has that phone jack connection, not a din plug. I don't ever recall seeing anything for it, but maybe someone else has?
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Looking at the socket on the Amiga, tab down, you get this
pin1: +5Volts
pin2: clock
pin3: data
pin4: GND
Would just wiring the relavent pics from the PC keyboard to the Amiga one work? I recall that oen of the pins on the 5 pin DIN isn't connected
Nakey
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No you need a controller. The Amiga keyboards have a controller chip in th unlike PC "dumb" keyboards. If you get a "din" plug and wire it up to a A1000 keyboard it will work on any amiga. They are all the same.
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Acill wrote:
No you need a controller. The Amiga keyboards have a controller chip in th unlike PC "dumb" keyboards. If you get a "din" plug and wire it up to a A1000 keyboard it will work on any amiga. They are all the same.
Actually, a PC keyboard is just as intelligent as an Amiga keyboard.. The protocol is slightly more complex, involving bidirectional data transfer. The Amiga keyboard just spits out keycodes, but the PC keyboard wants some responses back from the computer every now and then..
A little googling around will give you the AT/PS2 protocol, the Amiga protocol can probably be found in the hardware manual.
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nakey wrote:
Would just wiring the relavent pics from the PC keyboard to the Amiga one work? I recall that oen of the pins on the 5 pin DIN isn't connected
No, you need an adapter to convert the AT/PS2 protocol to the Amiga keyboard protocol.
You CAN fit any Amiga keyboard, however, if you just connect the correct lines together. :-)
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Please don't ANYONE even think of connecting a PC keyboard to an Amiga without a suitable adapter. Did that myself one time and paid dearly for it. Promptly fried the keyboard caps on the mobo, only got it running again with the help of Tm-D-Tek. Your Amiga is much to precious to risk mucking up. Do it properly the first time. :-D
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There were adapters by 3rd party companies that allowed you to use a A2000/3000 keyboard on an A1000. Watch eBay, they show up from time to time.
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Check out the Hardware Book, it'll give the pinouts of the various Amiga's keyboards, very easy to solder up a new connector if you know what you're doing. But believe me, "KNOW" what you're doing before you do it.
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Thanks everyone :-)
Does anyone know where i can get an Amiga KB in Australia?
I miss playing Silkworm (http://animenation.net/forums/images/smilies/bawling.gif)
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artman wrote:
Please don't ANYONE even think of connecting a PC keyboard to an Amiga without a suitable adapter. Did that myself one time and paid dearly for it. Promptly fried the keyboard caps on the mobo, only got it running again with the help of Tm-D-Tek. Your Amiga is much to precious to risk mucking up. Do it properly the first time. :-D
Heh, we did that with an A4000 back in the day, but with no ill effects.. The PC keyboards have the same pinout, but of course we didn't get anything on the screen because of the protocol differences.
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some sort of PIC controller would be in order there, I think.
anyone fancy having a go ?
I believe there was an article (possibly with a keyboard adaptor in) in an old issue of AF.
I'll have a look tonight...
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Sorry for bringing an old thread up again but is there any way really to connect an old PS/2 KB to an Amiga 1000? I can't find an original one online and I am getting tired of waiting TBH. Is there any DIY adapter available?
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http://www.amigawiki.org/doku.php?id=en:service:upgrades:keyboard_adaptor_a1000
this link shows a A2000 keyboard to A1000 but I have never tried it.
http://www.sacc.org/mouse-joy-keyb/a-keyboard.html shows the different keyboard pin outs.
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Thanks Amiwest! What about an old PC serial mouse? Does that need to have the pins rerouted or it's the same RS232 Standard?
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That won't help connecting a PC keyboard to a classic Amiga. The adapter needs to have a microcontroller in it programmed to convert the PC keystrokes to the Amigas. If you search Aminet for "pc keyboard" you'll find several examples, like this one: http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/ATkeyboard
You'll have to have the ability to program a PIC chip though.... someone should revisit this idea and write a program for the Arduino or Teensy to do this...
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That won't help connecting a PC keyboard to a classic Amiga. The adapter needs to have a microcontroller in it programmed to convert the PC keystrokes to the Amigas. If you search Aminet for "pc keyboard" you'll find several examples, like this one: http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/ATkeyboard
You'll have to have the ability to program a PIC chip though.... someone should revisit this idea and write a program for the Arduino or Teensy to do this...
What if the KeyBoard is an Amiga 2000 KB pin adapted for the RJ11 connection on the Amiga 1000?
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This link shows how to build an adapter for A2000 to A1000
http://www.amigawiki.org/doku.php?id..._adaptor_a1000
link to buy a adapter for PC key keyboard to Amiga but you still need to build adapter for A1000
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228
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What if the KeyBoard is an Amiga 2000 KB pin adapted for the RJ11 connection on the Amiga 1000?
That will work fine... it's probably a lot easier to find an A2000 keyboard than an A1000 model.
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What about a wireless keyboard?
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What about a wireless keyboard?
I guess it would need an adapter for Ps/2 or USB. In that case the cocolino would work I think.