How can I connect A2000 (DIN5) keyboard to PC (PS/2)?

[ChaosLord]

How can I connect A2000 (5 pin DIN) keyboard to PC (PS/2 port)?

Due to my horrible disabling pain I cannot use PC keyboards.  A2000 keyboard much less painful.

Anyone know of any KVM switches with a manual switch on them?
Or any KVM switch that would somehow work with an A2000 keyboard?
(A2000 keyboard lacks a scroll lock key so it won't work with my current lovely KVM switch)

I cannot get back to writing Amiga software until these problems are solved.

Thank you for your assistance.

[Tahoe]

I don't think it is possible to do that in any standard way. There are converters for Amiga to use PC keyboard, but not the other way round.

What you could do; but it's not an easy solution is to use an Amiga 1200 keyboard, connect it to a Keyrah and place it in an A2000 keyboards casing. That will give you an USB keyboard you can use on your PC, but no PS/2 unfortunatly

[Fester]

How can I connect A2000 (5 pin DIN) keyboard to PC (PS/2 port)?

Thank you for your assistance.

Perhaps try a Cat MK3 or 4?

"A lot of users of that software wanted to use real Amiga keyboards on the PC, that's why the Catweasel MK3 has a mini-DIN connector for an A4000 keyboard. If you want to use an A2000 or A3000 keyboard, this can be done with a PS2 adapter that should be available in good PC-shops" - quoted from Jens Schoenfeld's website.

I don't know if that means you can use the keyboard on the pc side or in emulation of Amiga only. I have an mk4 and an Amiga 2000 keyboard. I'll give it a try and see.

[Tension]

How can I connect A2000 (5 pin DIN) keyboard to PC (PS/2 port)?

Due to my horrible disabling pain I cannot use PC keyboards.

If you simply must use an Amiga keyboard, there is this rather unelegant solution:

The Mikronik A1200 keyboard chassis converts the A1200 keyboard into a PS/2 keyboard that can be plugged straight into any PC.

Apparently the adapter only supports one keypress at a time.

And you probably wont find one anywhere.

[Matt_H]

Would a specialty keyboard be helpful?

[ChaosLord]

Ideally what I need is a keyboard that uses springs with zero-impact.
However I do not know how to find such a keyboard.

Most keyboards these days are made in China and very high-impact.
Especially the ones that claim to be "Ergonomic" seem to be the most painful ones of all.

The A2000 keyboard is not perfect but at least it uses SPRINGS.  Springs are shock absorbers.  They greatly reduce my pain.


p.s. I can't use an A1200 or A600 keyboard.

[tone007]

I've found some A2000 keyboards that use silicone-based springs, as well as ones that use standard metal springs (as my 1200 used.)  I swapped the metal springs in the 1200 for silicone ones, improved the feel (IMO.)  It might be worth determining just which type of springs your 2000 keyboard has if you haven't already, and perhaps it might be possible to outfit another type of keyboard with the same type.

[kolla]

I cant help you, but I do too miss the feeling from good old keyboards.

The best keyboards ever for me, hands down - the A2000 one, and the one from DEC that shipped with f.ex. VT220 (cant remember the name) - just the thought of those makes me soft with nostalgia :-)

[ChaosLord]

Hey Kolla,

Years ago (1996-2003) I used to chat with you all the time on IRC.  First on my A3000 with an A2000 keyboard then on my A1200T 060 with an A2000 keyboard.  Those were good times.

Then my horrible pain started and I had to ban myself from IRC. :cry:

[odin]

If you simply must use an Amiga keyboard, there is this rather unelegant solution:

The Mikronik A1200 keyboard chassis converts the A1200 keyboard into a PS/2 keyboard that can be plugged straight into any PC.

Apparently the adapter only supports one keypress at a time.

And you probably wont find one anywhere.

Actually I think I still have a Micronik keyboard housing somewhere in a box with the adapter circuit included. IIRC only the cable is deceased. I put it on E-Bay or some such many moons ago, but nobody wanted it for any price..