USB Keyboard for A1000?

[MartinW]

Does anyone know if there is a hardware mod available for me to use my USB PC Keyboard (with amiga key layout) in place of an A1000 keyboard that has a couple of keys missing?

It's a bit difficult because it's not an A1000 motherboard, it's a GB-A1000 and I'm not sure if it's closer to an A1000 or an A500 as far as the keyboard circuitry is concerned? Obviously the final connector on the back is A1000

From what I can see, the keyboard connector is just +5V, GND, KBCLK and KBDAT straight out of the 8250 CIA chip. Ok, via a few resistors. the complication comes from the fact that one of the CIAs is very close to my Picasso card, the other CIA is very close to my 68060 card so I'm not sure if either might be a problem for any potential USB Keyboard adapter?

[Jope]

The signals are the same. If the CIA socket adapter doesn't work, perhaps get a big box adapter and change the connector?

[ajk]

The keyboard controller (and therefore, signaling) is the same on all of those (A1000, A500, A2000) so any adapter should work fine as well. They just moved to a DIN connector instead of the phone handset type.

Is your A1000 keyboard otherwise working, would you like to keep using it? I have some key caps and switches left over from restoring my A1000 keyboard, so depending on what keys are missing I might be able to help out.

[Jope]

Well there is a difference related to the keyboard reset. The A1000 and other big box Amigas don't have a separate reset line from the keyboard, instead the keyboard clock is held low for 500ms and a circuit on the motherboard generates the reset signal from that.

[spidi]

Originally Posted by MartinW

Does anyone know if there is a hardware mod available for me to use my USB PC Keyboard (with amiga key layout) in place of an A1000 keyboard that has a couple of keys missing?

It's a bit difficult because it's not an A1000 motherboard, it's a GB-A1000 and I'm not sure if it's closer to an A1000 or an A500 as far as the keyboard circuitry is concerned? Obviously the final connector on the back is A1000

From what I can see, the keyboard connector is just +5V, GND, KBCLK and KBDAT straight out of the 8250 CIA chip. Ok, via a few resistors. the complication comes from the fact that one of the CIAs is very close to my Picasso card, the other CIA is very close to my 68060 card so I'm not sure if either might be a problem for any potential USB Keyboard adapter?

Look at this https://retro.7-bit.pl/?lang=en&go=p...&name=sum_a234
You only need to make A1000->CD32 cable (female plug).

[MartinW]

Originally Posted by ajk

Is your A1000 keyboard otherwise working, would you like to keep using it? I have some key caps and switches left over from restoring my A1000 keyboard, so depending on what keys are missing I might be able to help out.

Yes, my keyboard is otherwise fine (ok, it's pretty dirty!) and I would very much prefer to use it - I actually think it's quite a nice keyboard apart from maybe the unusual arrows key layout.

I'm missing the '1' key and the larger key next to it which I think is the tilde '~' ?

Originally Posted by spidi

Look at this https://retro.7-bit.pl/?lang=en&go=p...&name=sum_a234
You only need to make A1000->CD32 cable (female plug).

That looks like a pretty sensible option otherwise as it's external and avoids any hassle with add-on boards getting in the way of the CIA's.