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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: XDelusion on January 02, 2011, 03:07:42 AM

Title: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: XDelusion on January 02, 2011, 03:07:42 AM
So I fired up my A600 to install my new 030. All went fine and well, but I've noticed that when I'm typing, the Amiga seems to think that I want to type out a ";" every other word.

I have removed and replaced the Ribbon Cable but still have this issue. Should I take a part the keyboard and try to clean the contacts with rubbing alcohol?

Also, is there a place to order cheap replacement keyboards?

Thankx!
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: Tenacious on January 02, 2011, 05:24:57 AM
Are you saying the space key (or some other key) is mapped as ";",  or,  that ";" appears randomly in your typed text?

As you know, the A600 keyboard has no intelligence on the key side of the ribbon cable.  There is a simple matrix under the keys and keystrokes are interpreted by the circuitry on the MB.  Could there be an intermittent connection (contamination, bent pin) with the new accelerator? Did any other chips get moved or disturbed during installation?

Before I understood the clamping collar (lift the collar to unclamp the ribbon) where the ribbon cable connects to the motherboard, I damaged a ribbon.  Later, it was easily repaired by trimming a 1/16 of an inch from the end of the ribbon (so the connector would "bite" in a fresh location on the ribbon when reconnected).

I would not attack the keyboard with alcohol unless a particular keystroke fails to show on the screen, and maybe not even then.  I have never seen a failing key made reliable by cleaning it.  Maybe someone else has had success with this.
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: XDelusion on January 02, 2011, 09:03:30 PM
Well I cut a sliver off the end of the ribbon, and now nothing works. Guess that was one Ebay deal gone bad. Time to look for another. :)
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: zombi on January 02, 2011, 10:39:36 PM
If you remove the edge part of the cable then you should create a new connector edge by peeling of the insulator layer. I suggest to use adhesive tape.

Apply adhesive tape to the egge. Press firmly. Then remove it. Insulator layer will come of with the tape.
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: XDelusion on January 02, 2011, 10:44:58 PM
I tried that earlier, but the wrong side came un-done...

...in other words the side with the contacts would not peel back.
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: zombi on January 03, 2011, 07:45:56 AM
Quote from: XDelusion;603471
I tried that earlier, but the wrong side came un-done...

...in other words the side with the contacts would not peel back.

When I tried it was worked for me.
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: XDelusion on January 04, 2011, 05:49:18 AM
A lot of things seem to work for everyone but me, such as that "my mother's dying" story. ;)
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: amigadave on January 06, 2011, 01:32:03 AM
Quote from: XDelusion;603320
So I fired up my A600 to install my new 030. All went fine and well, but I've noticed that when I'm typing, the Amiga seems to think that I want to type out a ";" every other word.

I have removed and replaced the Ribbon Cable but still have this issue. Should I take a part the keyboard and try to clean the contacts with rubbing alcohol?

Also, is there a place to order cheap replacement keyboards?

Thankx!

What Kickstart are you using?  You and I might have the same problem, and now that I see others writing that the A600 keyboard has no internal components, other than switches and that all interpretation is done from the keyboard chip on the motherboard (perhaps this is how all Amiga keyboards are), I begin to wonder how this problem can be fixed, without having to replace the entire motherboard?
Title: Re: A600 Keyboard Acting Strange...
Post by: XDelusion on January 06, 2011, 05:55:17 AM
Kick 3.1