KeyRah

Photon · 08 February 2010, 03:20

I've thought about buying a KeyRah Amiga and a US layout A500/+ keyboard (green capslock led version, with springs). Some questions:

- Can I even connect the KeyRah to the A500 keyboard? What do I need?

- What's the remapping like? Any "showstopper" unmapped but necessary keys? I guess numpad is mapped to PgDn etc, since it says it has a "Daily Windows Use" mode. I want to use it as my main PC keyboard. I don't mind remapping keys and using AutoHotkeys to correct malplaced keys.

- Is it hard to fit inside an A500 case? I don't mind using the Dremel, and I might even try to mod it heavily to make it about normal PC keyboard size

- Any "bad" things about it?

Jope · 08 February 2010, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

- Can I even connect the KeyRah to the A500 keyboard? What do I need?

It will be tight. If your keyboard has only one flat cable to the controller board, it is electrically compatible, but the keyrah board's flat cable connector may be in such a position and orientation, that it doesn't fit. Then you might want to desolder the connector from the keyrah and solder a bunch of wires between it and the keyrah.

Quote:

- Is it hard to fit inside an A500 case? I don't mind using the Dremel, and I might even try to mod it heavily to make it about normal PC keyboard size

That's partially related to the above question. If you take the connector from the keyrah board and put it on the end of some wires, you get to decide where to position the keyrah board yourself.

No idea about the mapping I'm afraid, never tried the Amiga keyrah.. The C-64 one wasn't very nice for general PC use. (surprise)

Photon · 08 February 2010, 16:38

Yeah, I wouldn't want to type Ctrl+Alt+numpad keys to get Home/PgUp etc. But as long as it doesn't block me from remapping in Windows all is fine.

"- Can I even connect the KeyRah to the A500 keyboard? What do I need?"
That was mostly a solder/signal question, not a physical/mechanical question. I'll have a look.

Just dawned on me that I can use springy type A1200 keyboards instead. Cos the 'missing chars if typing fast' bug was in the controller only, right?

Jope · 08 February 2010, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

Just dawned on me that I can use springy type A1200 keyboards instead. Cos the 'missing chars if typing fast' bug was in the controller only, right?

Yes.

Photon · 09 February 2010, 14:42

Actually, all my A500s had springy keyboards, so I'm all set and gonna save some money

Any ideas for how to cut the cases off nicely and perhaps make the slant a little less severe?

Jope · 09 February 2010, 15:01

Dremel, sandpaper, epoxy glue, bondo, a coat of paint.

Photon · 09 February 2010, 20:32

Actually, I think I'll go with the circular table saw this time too. I guess since I cut off the back half I will make the angle slightly better too.

Photon · 10 February 2010, 22:34

After focusing my chi on a Shakti (tm) spike mat and convincing myself that A500s were the root of all evil, thereby temporarily inverting my personality, I took a deep breath and precision karate chopped the case in half.

(Or maybe I took it to a friend with a dulled 2mm circular table saw and turned away in horror as he cleft her in twain.

)

After much cursing at the chosen method to attach the A1200 keyboard cable, and replacing one of the wingnuts with an M3 nut because it hit the C128 port, carefully checking that I didn't bend the PCB too much when tightening, I put it all inside the A500 case and sniggered with delight as the keyboard was installed correctly as a HID unit.

All the doubts I had were swept away - it works flawlessly & I couldn't be happier, kudos to Jedi-Jens

Photon · 17 February 2010, 02:56

After extensive testing (and using it as we speak) I must say that Keyrah is lovely and great with only a few flaws, like the method of connecting the ribbon cable, but perhaps more seriously certain Ctrl+Alt+<key> combos that worked with my PC keyboards don't take anymore. But that could be the A1200 keyboard I'm using, of course. Maybe even likely.

All other keycombos I've tried work fine. Worked fine with keyboard registry hacks, WinUAE input panel remappings and Autohotkey (I'm running all three).

I bought mine from GGS-Data in Sweden, they have a good price specifically on the Keyrah.

Verdict: *** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *** top stuff

Update: Ctrl+Alt combos work, if you bind them to ctrl+win instead.

08 February 2010, 03:20	#1
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	KeyRah I've thought about buying a KeyRah Amiga and a US layout A500/+ keyboard (green capslock led version, with springs). Some questions: - Can I even connect the KeyRah to the A500 keyboard? What do I need? - What's the remapping like? Any "showstopper" unmapped but necessary keys? I guess numpad is mapped to PgDn etc, since it says it has a "Daily Windows Use" mode. I want to use it as my main PC keyboard. I don't mind remapping keys and using AutoHotkeys to correct malplaced keys. - Is it hard to fit inside an A500 case? I don't mind using the Dremel, and I might even try to mod it heavily to make it about normal PC keyboard size - Any "bad" things about it?

10 February 2010, 22:34	#8
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	After focusing my chi on a Shakti (tm) spike mat and convincing myself that A500s were the root of all evil, thereby temporarily inverting my personality, I took a deep breath and precision karate chopped the case in half. (Or maybe I took it to a friend with a dulled 2mm circular table saw and turned away in horror as he cleft her in twain. ) After much cursing at the chosen method to attach the A1200 keyboard cable, and replacing one of the wingnuts with an M3 nut because it hit the C128 port, carefully checking that I didn't bend the PCB too much when tightening, I put it all inside the A500 case and sniggered with delight as the keyboard was installed correctly as a HID unit. All the doubts I had were swept away - it works flawlessly & I couldn't be happier, kudos to Jedi-Jens Attached Thumbnails

17 February 2010, 02:56	#9
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	After extensive testing (and using it as we speak) I must say that Keyrah is lovely and great with only a few flaws, like the method of connecting the ribbon cable, but perhaps more seriously certain Ctrl+Alt+<key> combos that worked with my PC keyboards don't take anymore. But that could be the A1200 keyboard I'm using, of course. Maybe even likely. All other keycombos I've tried work fine. Worked fine with keyboard registry hacks, WinUAE input panel remappings and Autohotkey (I'm running all three). I bought mine from GGS-Data in Sweden, they have a good price specifically on the Keyrah. Verdict: * HIGHLY RECOMMENDED * top stuff Update: Ctrl+Alt combos work, if you bind them to ctrl+win instead. Last edited by Photon; 19 February 2010 at 16:41.

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08 February 2010, 16:38	#3
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	Yeah, I wouldn't want to type Ctrl+Alt+numpad keys to get Home/PgUp etc. But as long as it doesn't block me from remapping in Windows all is fine. "- Can I even connect the KeyRah to the A500 keyboard? What do I need?" That was mostly a solder/signal question, not a physical/mechanical question. I'll have a look. Just dawned on me that I can use springy type A1200 keyboards instead. Cos the 'missing chars if typing fast' bug was in the controller only, right?

09 February 2010, 14:42	#5
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	Actually, all my A500s had springy keyboards, so I'm all set and gonna save some money Any ideas for how to cut the cases off nicely and perhaps make the slant a little less severe?

09 February 2010, 15:01	#6
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Dremel, sandpaper, epoxy glue, bondo, a coat of paint.

09 February 2010, 20:32	#7
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	Actually, I think I'll go with the circular table saw this time too. I guess since I cut off the back half I will make the angle slightly better too.

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