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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: mbob on March 20, 2017, 10:26:03 PM
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I just picked up an Amiga 2000 keyboard on eBay. Testing on my 3000 found it's not working. The A key toggles caps lock light for example and while some keys work others produce a string of garbage characters. Any ideas where to start to attempt a fix?
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Here's a quick video of the symptom started by my working 3000 keyboard.
https://youtu.be/3vlZK8CjKi0
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I am the seller of this keyboard. It was a spare as I ended up with a bad A2000 but a good keyboard (well, it WAS good) and figured I'd sell it off on ebay in order to fund stuff for my good working A2000. It worked fine before it shipped, so this issue perplexes me. If anyone has any idea as to what would cause this we both would greatly appreciate any advice.
@bob: I sent you a message on ebay in an attempt to try to make the deal "right". Feel free to PM me here as well.
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Probably an obvious question but does your A3000 work correctly with a different keyboard? Any battery damage to its motherboard? Bent or missing pins on the connector?
I've heard that this problem is usually caused by internal damage to the keyboard membrane, but it doesn't hurt to explore all possibilities. Good luck! :)
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If I recall correctly, the very first A2000 models that came out of Germany, had "non-standard" keyboards.
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I watched your video. So it can't be your A3000, since you have another keyboard that works fine.
I noticed in your video when you press certain single keys you get a bunch of characters. That look to me like hardware signaling/wiring. Your "A" key works. Other don't, etc
It must be related to something different about the A2000 Keyboard vs the A3000 keyboard you have.
I actually just bought a A2000 replacement Keycap (Left Shift Key) from a person who 100% confirms it was a A2000 Keyboard. But the Cap is totally different. The Stem on the other A2000 Keyboard works on Carbon type of contacts. My Amiga 2000 Keyboard works on Gold Metal Contacts that you can see right under the KEYCAP (so there are at least two different Amiga A2000 Keyboards out there).
On my A2000 Keyboard you can easily flip off he Keycap and look at the type of contact. Perhaps the A3000 keyboard isn't wired, or keymapped
the same, so you will have to find the keymap file to match it. I too am trying to figure out mapping (for my Bridgeboard since some keys don't map properly).
HOWEVER HERE is a (HANDY trick...Works on any keyboard any Operating system). I learned this just recently to at least get me typing when I really need to get a "\" which wouldn't type, so copying files in directories was impossible. (Works even if mapping is wrong).
HOLD the ALT KEY DOWN (Keep alt held down). Then punch in the (2-3 Digits of the ASCII code) that you want. (THEN LET GO OF ALT) .
The ASCII character for that ASCII code should show up.
Of course if the keyboard you have doesn't have "ALT" and "0-9" mapped properly, then this won't work. But if it does as least you know it's mapping.
Here is a handy ASCI table. http://www.asciitable.com/
Example. (HOLD-ALT) (065) (Let go ALT) should give you "A"
Example. (HOLD-ALT) (061) (Let go ALT) should give you "="
Not sure if you have Network/Internet on your Amiga, but you can also use a WEB based keyboard testing tool like http://www.keyboardtester.com/
--> I am looking for something like this as a standalone application for both Amiga and Amiga Bridgeboard PC (so if anyone knows of any, please passon)
This won't solve your problem instantly (and not the way you want to type :( ) , but gives you something to test and possibly type in commands to get a proper keyboard map loaded. Of course you could keep switching keyboards (changing keymap and trying again) to solve this (assuming you don't need to reboot each time)
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I actually just bought a A2000 replacement Keycap (Left Shift Key) from a person who 100% confirms it was a A2000 Keyboard. But the Cap is totally different.
Just because it's an "A2000 keyboard" doesn't mean it's the same. C= used different manufacturers over the years, with many slight variations.
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Looking at the video it seems something is wrong with the keyboard on the left side. I would assume its an internal issue with the keys being shorted by the way A turns on and off caps and Q and 1 also causing issues and not working as well.
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Great news. I opened it, nothing obvious and powered up with the top off. Still the same. So removed all of the screws on the back of the membrane and tested. It worked. I put all the screws back gently and all of the keys work, only the 2 on the number pad is iffy which is not a big deal. I do some more tests tomorrow as I need to work on something else.