Amiga 1200 - keyboard options?

[patracy]

I have a 1200 eventually on the way to me. It's just a motherboard. So I'm planning to just tower it. But the issue is, how do I connect a keyboard? My custom 500/1000 hybrid I used a adapter that wedged under the chips to provide a USB port for the keyboard. But I realize the 1200 is pretty much all SMD. I have seen mention of the Sum A1200 adapter, but I haven't found any available for purchase. So that leaves me questioning which way to go. I'm told Sum A1200's will be available in a month or so. But with supply chain issues, who knows. I have also read that 500 keyboards can be modded to use on the 1200. While I don't have a 500 keyboard to do this with. I do have one of the plug in adapters for the 500 that plugged into the headers on the mobo to adapt to a PS2 keyboard. Is there a means to adapt that adapter to the 1200? I'd rather have a USB option, but if that could be pressed into service I'm fine with that. Or does anyone know where I could find a USB keyboard adapter?

[utri007]

If you have rev 2b motherboard, it has Amiga 500 style unpopulated keyboard connector.

http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=697675&postcount=7

I ques Amiga 500 keyboard would be easy to find? And you can make a cable yourself and case it with this https://www.checkmate1500plus.com/Products.aspx?id=354 and use this kit https://www.checkmate1500plus.com/Products.aspx?id=355



.

[Snoopy1234]

https://icomp.de/shop-icomp/en/shop/...-adapters.html

[BennehBoy]

You can get an A1200/A500 hard membrane and convert an A500 KB to work with the A1200, it's what I have done. Just a small dremel of the metal backing to be done.

[vulture]

@BennehBoy

Very interesting, how exactly? Is there a plce with instructions for this? Thx!

[BennehBoy]

I'm sure somebody thought of it before me, but I came up with my own solution.

I wrote it up on another forum: https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/v...p=97165#p97165

Not sure if that will work for non members... Happy to recreate here if it doesn't... Hopefully not broken any rules with that link.

[utri007]

Originally Posted by vulture

@BennehBoy

Very interesting, how exactly? Is there a plce with instructions for this? Thx!

http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=697675&postcount=7

It is not same than BennehBoy, but it has a guide for a every A1200 mobo revisions.

[BennehBoy]

Yeah, I had seen that guide but didn't want to do any mods to the motherboard, so this seemed like a really good option. You can either use the dual a1200/a500 membrane that I used, or the slightly cheaper a1200 one. Both hard membranes easily found with search. I guess it all hinges on whether to use a tower case or not.

[Lord Aga]

Originally Posted by utri007

If you have rev 2b motherboard, it has Amiga 500 style unpopulated keyboard connector.

Wow, I didn't know this

Thank you for making me a bit wiser today

[vulture]

@BennehBoy
@utri007

thx guys!

[Jope]

The benefit of using an A500 keyboard controller is, NKRO works the same as on every other Amiga, so you don't get endlessly frustrated when the A1200 controller eats your keystrokes when you're typing quickly. :-)

[patracy]

I'm going to tower this 1200. So I'll be using an external keyboard. Also I don't have any 500 keyboards.

[utri007]

Originally Posted by patracy

I'm going to tower this 1200. So I'll be using an external keyboard. Also I don't have any 500 keyboards.

So you can get some sort PC-key like Lyra from ICOMP, but notice that is much more easier to get Amiga 500 than Amiga 1200, and same with keyboards. So if you don't have one, you might get one easily.

Part of hobby is tinkering thing like this.