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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: dougal on April 01, 2009, 04:10:40 PM
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I just got my hands on an Amiga 4000 .
Problem is that it has no keyboard .
I do have a CDTV keyboard which doesnt seem to fit .
Do i HAVE to buy a A4000 keyboard or adapter or can i just use a standard pc keyboard and drivers of some kind ?
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Hi Dougal,
Not sure about the CDTV keyboard, it may be a minature din plug instead if the standard din on the 4000, in which case you would need a H/W convertor.
DONT us a PC keyboard altough the plug may fit the electronics aare not compatible, you will need to find a dongle on Ebay etc to convert PC/Amiga.
Good luck with your 4000
PS Check out the state of the internal battery and any surrounding corrosion!
Ian
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The Amiga generally had 2 types of keyboard connector, the large 5-pin DIN and the small 6-pin mini-DIN. While the PC equivalents fit, they don't speak the same language and so it just won't work. However, the adaptors for PC keyboards that convert 5-pin to 6-pin and vice versa work on the Amiga as well, so maybe that's all you need? They're usually quite cheap...
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Thanks Ian ,
I will def check the battery for corrosion etc..
Regarding the keyboard , my A400 uses the minature din , kind of like a ps/2 keyboard and not the older type .
dvvrue95 wrote:
Hi Dougal,
Not sure about the CDTV keyboard, it may be a minature din plug instead if the standard din on the 4000, in which case you would need a H/W convertor.
DONT us a PC keyboard altough the plug may fit the electronics aare not compatible, you will need to find a dongle on Ebay etc to convert PC/Amiga.
Good luck with your 4000
PS Check out the state of the internal battery and any surrounding corrosion!
Ian
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Daedalus ,
Just to confirm ,
My A4000 uses the small din , not the older type . I believe it is 6 pin . What type of converter would i need so that i can fit a standard cheap ps/2 keyboard and so that it will work properly (right signals and all) ?
Daedalus wrote:
The Amiga generally had 2 types of keyboard connector, the large 5-pin DIN and the small 6-pin mini-DIN. While the PC equivalents fit, they don't speak the same language and so it just won't work. However, the adaptors for PC keyboards that convert 5-pin to 6-pin and vice versa work on the Amiga as well, so maybe that's all you need? They're usually quite cheap...
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Daedalus,
Only 4000s I've seen have had the small keyboard port. I see Red has an A4K keyboard for $43.50. Red's Retro (http://www.redsretro.com)
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Amiga keyboards pinout (http://www.titan.co.nz/Amigaak/AA060132.htm)
I switched the wires inside of a CDTV keyboard to make it work with my A4000.
You just need a little screwdriver or pin to do it.
I we name the wires in the CDTV keyboard 1, 2, 3 and 4, you'll need to switch 2 - 3 and 1 - 4.
You'll need to brake of the little "safety pin" in the ps/2 connector.
I hope I have written this to be understandable!
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I love your idea and i am tempted .
On the other hand my CDTV keyboard is brand new and NEVER used and i feel it to be a little sin to modify it .
I dont know , for now i think i will try and get my hands on a real A4000 KB .
Unless , would it be possible to re-wire a pc keyboard rather than the CDTV one ?
taunusand wrote:
Amiga keyboards pinout (http://www.titan.co.nz/Amigaak/AA060132.htm)
I switched the wires inside of a CDTV keyboard to make it work with my A4000.
You just need a little screwdriver or pin to do it.
I we name the wires in the CDTV keyboard 1, 2, 3 and 4, you'll need to switch 2 - 3 and 1 - 4.
You'll need to brake of the little "safety pin" in the ps/2 connector.
I hope I have written this to be understandable!
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To use a PC keyboard, you'll need to use something like this (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=228)
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Otherwise just get a female DIN plug, a male mini-DIN, some wire & a soldering iron. ;-)
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If its possible and i get the pinout it would be great
:)
Zac67 wrote:
Otherwise just get a female DIN plug, a male mini-DIN, some wire & a soldering iron. ;-)