Simple plug-in CDTV keyboard adapter

[CDTV1991]

I can't find a known working CDTV keyboard for sale so I need to consider alternatives.

Is there a plug in keyboard adapter for the CDTV that will allow me to use a PC keyboard (PS/2 or USB)?

[cpiac64]

on ebay 50€ sold plus p&p, crazy

i remember compatibility with a2000 keyboard, but i am not sure.

[alexh]

All Amiga keyboards are AFAIR electronically compatible.

However there is no compatibility with each other at the pin level.

A2000 has a 6-pin AT DIN connector. A4000 & CD32 have 6-pin PS/2 MiniDIN. Each can be converted between each other using uber cheap PC adapters (PS2->AT and vice versa)

Problem is that the CDTV has a custom 5-pin Mini-DIN.

Amiga Keyboard Pinouts
Pin   CDTV      A1000   A2/3000   CD32   A4000
 1    GND       +5V     CLK       DATA   DATA
 2    DATA      CLK     DATA      TxD    n/c
 3    CLK       DATA    NC        GND    GND
 4    +5V       GND     GND       +5V    +5V (100mA)
 5    KBSE              +5V       CLK    CLK
 6                                RxD    n/c
GND is ground.
+5V is positive 5 volts.
CLK is keyboard clock.
DATA is keyboard data.
TxD is RS-232 Transmit data.
RxD is RS-232 receive data.
KBSE is keyboard sense.

A1000 is RJ12 jack.
A2000/3000 is a 5-pin DIN female. (AT)
CD32 is a 6-pin miniDIN female. (PS/2)
A4000 is a 6-pin miniDIN female. (PS/2)

This is a project where someone wants to use a CDTV keyboard with an A4000 keyboard :

http://www.rockus.at/Amiga/cdtv2a4000.html

You want to do the reverse and it should be simple :

Here are the CDTV 5-pin connectors.

http://www.dhwelectronics.com/Mini_P..._DIN_Line_Plug

Cut off the end of one of these PS/2 or AT cables and solder the CDTV connector on using the table above for the wiring guide and it will give you what you need to convert an A4000 or A2000 keyboard.

Cable to convert A2000 keyboard
Cable to convert A4000 keyboard

If you wanted to use a PC keyboard you'll need a standards converter to convert the PC into an Amiga keyboard first :

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=228

Unless you REALLY want to use a Black PC keyboard then a second hand white Amiga keyboard will probably be cheaper?

I'd still ask around for a CDTV keyboard in Market place or over at Amibay. Lots of users must have them sitting in their lofts where they bought them JUST to steal the black keys from them.

P.S. I'm sorry I couldn't get round (i.e. be arsed) to sorting out my CDTV keyboard for you.

[gibs]

Cool information Alexh

[CDTV1991]

I now have a keyboard!

[gehtjanx]

cool, I have those too hehe.

And now HxC is working?

[Amigan123]

I make a PS2 keyboard adapter that works with CD32,A4000, and CDTV

PM Me for further details

[spudje]

Originally Posted by alexh

Here are the CDTV 5-pin connectors.

http://www.dhwelectronics.com/Mini_P...lder_Terminals

Does someone have a valid link to a male miniDIN connector that fits the CDTV keyboard port??

[supaduper]

Originally Posted by spudje

Does someone have a valid link to a male miniDIN connector that fits the CDTV keyboard port??

You can get a CDTV to PC keyboard adapter below
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225034232...Bk9SR_6t2fa-YA

[Leon Besson]

Originally Posted by supaduper

You can get a CDTV to PC keyboard adapter below
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225034232...Bk9SR_6t2fa-YA

Those have been going up in price from that seller since I bought one at £9! £19 for a cable?!

I use something similar in a CDTV keyboard to PCkeys on my Amigas on a switch box. A good cable, but expensive in my honest opinion.

As for CDTV keyboards for sale. Keep an eye on EBay as they do come up for sale. 1 sold recently with a bid of £190.00.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Leon Besson

Those have been going up in price from that seller since I bought one at £9! £19 for a cable?!

It's not a just a cable though, it's an active adapter like a mouse adapter. It has a microcontroller inline. Presumably the price reflects the availability of microcontrollers?

Originally Posted by Leon Besson

As for CDTV keyboards for sale. Keep an eye on EBay as they do come up for sale. 1 sold recently with a bid of £190.00.

The last one I bought was from eBay in 2010 and was £14 + pnp (those were the days)

[Leon Besson]

Originally Posted by alexh

It's not a just a cable though, it's an active adapter like a mouse adapter. It has a microcontroller inline. Presumably the price reflects the availability of microcontrollers?


The last one I bought was from eBay in 2010 and was £14 + pnp (those were the days)

No microcontrollers in the ones I bought

£14! For a CDTV keyboard?! Wow! Mang! You’re not one of these old school EBay guardians who complain at EBay sellers about their prices then?

[grelbfarlk]

I have a CDTV->A4000 keyboard adapter I made which then I have an Amiga->PS/2 adapter for a Wireless keyboard, a fine setup. Same for the mouse.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Leon Besson

No microcontrollers in the ones I bought

The Amiga keyboard protocol is nothing like PS2 protocol. You can't passively wire a PC keyboard to the CDTV. The cable linked above that is £19.95 has a microcontroller in it.

You can get cheap passive adapters that allow Amiga keyboards to work with CDTV but not PC keyboards.

[spudje]

I have enough "normal Amiga" to PS/2 converters. So I only would need to make a cable myself from CDTV keyboard male to PS/2 female. But I don't know what component to buy that plugs into the CDTV.

[alexh]

Listed above. I think it is F275P

http://www.dhwelectronics.com/Mini_P..._DIN_Line_Plug

[spudje]

Sorry for late reaction. Thanks for answering!!

[Leon Besson]

Originally Posted by alexh

The Amiga keyboard protocol is nothing like PS2 protocol. You can't passively wire a PC keyboard to the CDTV. The cable linked above that is £19.95 has a microcontroller in it.

You can get cheap passive adapters that allow Amiga keyboards to work with CDTV but not PC keyboards.

But I use a CDTV keyboard with a PC-Key1200 Mang! Are you saying that’s not doable without a microcontroller?

Also how do you know about that cable having a microcontroller in it? Are you the EBay seller?

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Leon Besson

But I use a CDTV keyboard with a PC-Key1200

The microcontroller firmware in PC-Key1200 supports all Amiga keyboards AND PC keyboards. (According to the manual).

Originally Posted by Leon Besson

how do you know about that cable having a microcontroller in it?

Because I've been designing microchips for the last 23 years. I understand the Amiga and PC keyboard protocols are different. You can't convert from one to the other with just wires or even simple logic.

[Leon Besson]

Originally Posted by alexh

The microcontroller firmware in PC-Key1200 supports all Amiga keyboards AND PC keyboards. (According to the manual)


Because I've been designing microchips for the last 23 years. I understand the Amiga and PC keyboard protocols are different. You can't convert from one to the other with just wires or even simple logic.

Fair enough Bromigo!