Just got my first Amiga! A few questions...

[Tupin]

I saw it on Craigslist, and snagged it immediately. It's an Amiga 4000/040 with a Golden Gate DOS card, and I believe a Video Toaster. It came with a bunch of DD floppys with animation software on it, as well as an external 3x CD-ROM drive with a few "Club Toaster" CDs. The guy I bought it from said he used it for working on videos. I paid $25 USD for it. I'm pretty thrilled I could get one for that price.

I also got a 1040S monitor. It's the one that doesn't have a DB23 port, but that doesn't matter as I don't have one of the cables either. This is what the back looks like (example pic): http://betastart.com/SW/DSC01504.jpg

Could I use one of those two RGB input ports? I'm good at soldering, I could probably hack together a cable.

The only other problem is that the keyboard is for an Amiga 1000. If I get an adapter like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMIGA-4000-KEYBOARD-ADAPTOR-5-6-DIN-PINS-/270718972011?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f081bb06b

Could I use a PC keyboard by plugging an AT to PS/2 adapter into that? Or would it just be easier to get a 4000 keyboard?

I'm guessing I should check on the internal battery, too? Sorry for all of the questions, I just want to get up and running as soon as I can.

[trekiej]

The rgb cable that hooks to a 1084 monitor has both the 9 pin and the 23 pin.

[Cammy]

Wow, congratulations on your unbelievably good buy, and welcome to the community!

Unfortunately that keyboard adapter you linked to will only let you use an A2000 or A3000 keyboard with the A4000, not a PC keyboard. They use the same style plugs (AT and PS/2) but they are very different in the way they work. If you would like to use a PC PS/2 keyboard you will need to buy a special adapter, either the Lyra (available at online Amiga retailers) or one of these adapters, which are the cheapest I know of: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110723135382&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[dangermouse]

Congrats on your first Miggie!

Keyboard - personally I'd find a 4000 keyboard. Not that hard to come by and should be easier for you in the US than I find it in NZ

Internal battery - yup, check for the evil fuzz. Personally, I don't care about a clock in my 4000s so all 4000s I get have the battery removed first and foremost then I don't have to worry.

If it's got the original barrel battery I'd be removing it anyway personally and go for a coin holder/battery if you really want one. A dead Miggie that had a clock is far worse than a working Miggie without one

[Tupin]

Don't know what I'm going to do about a display, just found out this monitor has a problem with the power button where it turns off, and it also has horizontal lines.

[Heiroglyph]

Where are you located?

I've got monitors and keyboards coming out of my ears if you can pick them up in San Antonio.

[Tupin]

Bad luck, I'm in St. Louis. I would take a keyboard for the 4000 if you are looking to get rid of one. I'd imagine monitors would be too expensive to ship.

Anyway to tell if you have a multisync monitor? Or is it just guesswork?

[runequester]

25 bucks for a 4000? Thats the deal of the century

[Tupin]

I didn't believe him at first either, thought he meant $250. Yeah, I was lucky.

I think I'm going to wire up a DB23 to VGA cable, put it through one of those video converters, (like this one: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0315697) then hook it up to a VGA monitor. I'll use the 1084S for something else, maybe my C64 if I can get the power button to stay down.

[esc]

Here's what I would do if I were you:

Get a CV64/3D and scandoubler card.  That is, unless you plan to use the toaster...up to you  I have my toaster 4k in an a3k because I prefer to have the cv64/3d/scandoubler in my gfx slot.  I'm not a big fan of running the a4k through rgb...but that's just me I suppose.

The keyboard adapter that Cammy linked is not a bad idea, but you'd be better off scouring the interwebs for an a4k keyboard (IMO).

I'd also recommend cutting the battery out, scrub the area with some vinegar, let it sit overnight, and then you should be fine if there isn't too much damage.

One more thing to think of...I got ps2 mouse adapters for all of my miggies.  I absolutely loathe using a mouse that isn't optical.  I'm sure many folks can agree

Nice and easy upgrades for you would probably be an IDE to CF adapter, configure it inWinUAE and install it as your HD.  That's how I run all my miggies, and the a4k is probably one of the easiest to do that with.

Welcome!

[Tupin]

So just get the battery out with pliers? I don't want to have to deal with soldering on it until I have to, but that battery has to come out soon, hopefully it hasn't done much damage.

[Puni/Void]

Just wanted to say congratulations on a very good purchase! That was a true bargain!

[esc]

So just get the battery out with pliers? I don't want to have to deal with soldering on it until I have to, but that battery has to come out soon, hopefully it hasn't done much damage.

I use some strong wire cutters.  You may be able to use decent scissors, just be careful not to nick anything else  But yeah just snip the legs that connect it to the mobo and clean the area with vinegar or lemon juice.  Then wait until it's absolutely dry (like a day or two) before attempting to plug it in again!

[Jope]

The rgb cable that hooks to a 1084 monitor has both the 9 pin and the 23 pin.

Yes, but that is for a different revision of the 1084 than the one in the OP's picture.

So if the OP indeed has the 1084 that was in the picture, the cable he needs has a D23 in one end and a DIN6 in the other. You can clearly see the DIN6 above the "lin. RGB" text.

[curtis]

So just get the battery out with pliers? I don't want to have to deal with soldering on it until I have to, but that battery has to come out soon, hopefully it hasn't done much damage.

Go down to the nearest Radio Shaft (er, Shack) and get a pair of nippy cutters, aka flush cutters.  They'll become your best friend if you do any soldering/circuit board work.

I picked up 4 pair last time just to make sure I could always find a pair when I need them!