PC (or newer Amiga) Keyboard For A500?

Fingerlickin_B · 04 December 2006, 06:05

Hi folks,

You'll call me mad for bothering, but I want to do a tower conversion on one of my A500 machines.

Can a PC keyboard be modified to work with an A500?

Or maybe a later model Amiga keyboard?

Any input would be great

PZ.

coze · 04 December 2006, 09:03

you can use any keyboard from a desktop amiga (A2000-3000-4000) with a simple converter cable.

For pc keyboards, you need to make a device to translate the keycodes. I recently made the mmkeyboard interface and highly recommend it. You need a pic programmer, but the rest of the interface is very easy to build.

Fingerlickin_B · 04 December 2006, 09:33

Cool, the desktop keyboard option sounds good

Any idea where to find a schematic for the cable?

Sorry about all the questions

PZ.

Jope · 04 December 2006, 14:14

Find the pinouts at www.hardwarebook.net ..

Secret Vampire · 04 December 2006, 19:29

also note that soft-reset will (probably, I've only tried it with A500 keuboards on an A2000, not the other way round) not work with a standard Amiga external cable, as the controller on the A500 keyboard is slightly different to the external ones and sends the reset signal down a separate line, however you should be able to attach the reset switch on the tower to the appropriate pins on the A500 motherboard to achieve the same effect.
Another option is to externally house your existing A500 keyboard, it's only about 7 wires, so it's mostly a case of building or modifying a keyboard case to contain it, possibly by cutting the A500 case in half and fitting a back panel to it.

Zetr0 · 04 December 2006, 22:29

Looking at the board and the connector:

If you could find a 101/105 keyboard you could re-house the A500 keyboard in its entirety including the LED's as well.

To do this all you would need to do is extend the connector on the mobo to a ps2 connector port and then use a good quality 9pin cable to ps2..

I have a theory that would look a VERY nice MOD!!!

i may even draw a pic!

Zetr0 · 05 December 2006, 00:56

oh lookie....

kebab too ages so i did this...

using this you could easly re-house you a500 keyboard into an appropriate 101/105 keyboard case. you could even take the LED's over to it as well (this would look awsome ) OR you could just use the LED pins 7 and 8 and splice pin 6(GND) to have LED's in your tower... its upto you.

obviously your new(re-housed) keyboard would connect to your towered amiga via a joystick type 9pin serial cable

(thats just extra Retr0 style points)

anyway thats my idea for the day hope it helps.

Fingerlickin_B · 05 December 2006, 01:40

Super-cool!

Thanks heaps!

PZ.

*edit* - I wonder what would happen if I connected a PS2 keyboard to the plug at just the Clock, Data, 5v and Ground points?

Zetr0 · 05 December 2006, 01:46

I think that if you wanted to run any-other keyboard you will need a chip to translate codes for the amiga input.

I however i could be wrong but i dont think it would hurt to try.

good luck Fingerlickinn B

Fingerlickin_B · 05 December 2006, 01:53

Well I probably won't get a chance to try it out until the weekend, but I'll let you know how it goes

Thanks for all your help

Also, what is a 101/105 keyboard?

PZ.

Jope · 05 December 2006, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fingerlickin_B

I wonder what would happen if I connected a PS2 keyboard to the plug at just the Clock, Data, 5v and Ground points?

Nothing, the protocols are very different.

Quote:

Also, what is a 101/105 keyboard?

A PC keyboard. (the amount of keys)

Fingerlickin_B · 05 December 2006, 11:30

Spewing it couldn't be that simple.

Ah well, I'm on the hunt for a late(er) model Amiga keyboard now

PZ.

Zetr0 · 05 December 2006, 16:04

you know, you could just keep the keyboard in the A500 case and run a lead upto your tower...

You could even modify the A500 case so it wouldn`t be soo deep..

personally I would be VERY tempted to keep and modify the a500 case for the keyboard (and the LEDS in there two) and mount the motherboard into a media PC case (mod the front if no floppy bay exists).... i tells ya... it would loook yummy.....

do you have a lot to put in a tower Fingers?

Fingerlickin_B · 05 December 2006, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zetr0

do you have a lot to put in a tower Fingers?

Nah, just the 500 guts, RAM expansion card and two floppy drives for now.

Plenty of space to cram a couple of other machines in there too...hmm, I've got a spare C-64

PZ.

Fingerlickin_B · 06 December 2006, 05:07

The project has now changed and I'll be "towerising" an A600 instead as I just picked up a A600 mobo at a good price

This lends the question - are the A500 & A600 keyboards the same?
Of course they are not, due to the lack of number pad on the A600...but are the pinouts the same?

PZ.

coze · 06 December 2006, 05:35

you just got yourself into trouble mate. A600 keyboard cis way different than A500. it has a microfilm connector like the a1200. I think you can build an adaptor with a pllc socket fitting on a chip on the a600 mobo, but I'm not sure.

Fingerlickin_B · 06 December 2006, 05:44

Hahaha, nothings ever easy for me!

Well, when the mobo arrives I'll have to check it out.

PZ.

*edit* - On second thought, so long as I know which connection for the ribbon is which there should be no problem

Zetr0 · 06 December 2006, 08:05

Heys fingers,

www.Amigakit.com have lots of vairing keyboard adapters for your project. If you are considering towerising and using a 101/105 keyboard I would probly opt for the (easy key) or (lyra) ps2 keyboard interface.

as adjunct to your project I would recomend a cocolino so you can use high-definition PC mice *makes using amigas so much better!!!*

(micie comparison: Amiga native mice = 300dpi)

Fingerlickin_B · 06 December 2006, 08:48

Stuff from the UK costs an arm and a leg...1 Pound being worth about 3 Australia Dollars! Ouch...

Might do that anyway, I'll wait on the mobo and see what happens.

Cheers man.

PZ.

Fingerlickin_B · 06 December 2006, 13:06

Problem solved...I just bought an A600 keyboard

I'll just make a cable to connect it externally (easy part) and put it in a case of some sort (tricky part, 'cause I'm crumby at plastic fabrication

).

Maybe if the holes match up I can use the old yellowed A500 case...cut it up, add aluminium panels to the sides/rear and paint the whole thing matt black

PZ.

04 December 2006, 06:05	#1
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	PC (or newer Amiga) Keyboard For A500? Hi folks, You'll call me mad for bothering, but I want to do a tower conversion on one of my A500 machines. Can a PC keyboard be modified to work with an A500? Or maybe a later model Amiga keyboard? Any input would be great PZ.

05 December 2006, 00:56	#7
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	converting A500 KB header to DB9 M oh lookie.... kebab too ages so i did this... using this you could easly re-house you a500 keyboard into an appropriate 101/105 keyboard case. you could even take the LED's over to it as well (this would look awsome ) OR you could just use the LED pins 7 and 8 and splice pin 6(GND) to have LED's in your tower... its upto you. obviously your new(re-housed) keyboard would connect to your towered amiga via a joystick type 9pin serial cable (thats just extra Retr0 style points) anyway thats my idea for the day hope it helps.

05 December 2006, 01:53	#10
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Well I probably won't get a chance to try it out until the weekend, but I'll let you know how it goes Thanks for all your help Also, what is a 101/105 keyboard? PZ. Last edited by Fingerlickin_B; 05 December 2006 at 01:59.

06 December 2006, 05:44	#17
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Hahaha, nothings ever easy for me! Well, when the mobo arrives I'll have to check it out. PZ. edit - On second thought, so long as I know which connection for the ribbon is which there should be no problem Last edited by Fingerlickin_B; 06 December 2006 at 05:50.

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04 December 2006, 09:03	#2
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	you can use any keyboard from a desktop amiga (A2000-3000-4000) with a simple converter cable. For pc keyboards, you need to make a device to translate the keycodes. I recently made the mmkeyboard interface and highly recommend it. You need a pic programmer, but the rest of the interface is very easy to build.

04 December 2006, 09:33	#3
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Cool, the desktop keyboard option sounds good Any idea where to find a schematic for the cable? Sorry about all the questions PZ.

04 December 2006, 14:14	#4
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,911	Find the pinouts at www.hardwarebook.net ..

04 December 2006, 19:29	#5
Secret Vampire Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Birmingham UK Age: 43 Posts: 214	also note that soft-reset will (probably, I've only tried it with A500 keuboards on an A2000, not the other way round) not work with a standard Amiga external cable, as the controller on the A500 keyboard is slightly different to the external ones and sends the reset signal down a separate line, however you should be able to attach the reset switch on the tower to the appropriate pins on the A500 motherboard to achieve the same effect. Another option is to externally house your existing A500 keyboard, it's only about 7 wires, so it's mostly a case of building or modifying a keyboard case to contain it, possibly by cutting the A500 case in half and fitting a back panel to it.

04 December 2006, 22:29	#6
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	Looking at the board and the connector: If you could find a 101/105 keyboard you could re-house the A500 keyboard in its entirety including the LED's as well. To do this all you would need to do is extend the connector on the mobo to a ps2 connector port and then use a good quality 9pin cable to ps2.. I have a theory that would look a VERY nice MOD!!! i may even draw a pic!

05 December 2006, 01:40	#8
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Super-cool! Thanks heaps! PZ. edit - I wonder what would happen if I connected a PS2 keyboard to the plug at just the Clock, Data, 5v and Ground points?

05 December 2006, 01:46	#9
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	I think that if you wanted to run any-other keyboard you will need a chip to translate codes for the amiga input. I however i could be wrong but i dont think it would hurt to try. good luck Fingerlickinn B

05 December 2006, 11:30	#12
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Spewing it couldn't be that simple. Ah well, I'm on the hunt for a late(er) model Amiga keyboard now PZ.

05 December 2006, 16:04	#13
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	you know, you could just keep the keyboard in the A500 case and run a lead upto your tower... You could even modify the A500 case so it wouldn`t be soo deep.. personally I would be VERY tempted to keep and modify the a500 case for the keyboard (and the LEDS in there two) and mount the motherboard into a media PC case (mod the front if no floppy bay exists).... i tells ya... it would loook yummy..... do you have a lot to put in a tower Fingers?

06 December 2006, 05:07	#15
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	The project has now changed and I'll be "towerising" an A600 instead as I just picked up a A600 mobo at a good price This lends the question - are the A500 & A600 keyboards the same? Of course they are not, due to the lack of number pad on the A600...but are the pinouts the same? PZ.

06 December 2006, 05:35	#16
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	you just got yourself into trouble mate. A600 keyboard cis way different than A500. it has a microfilm connector like the a1200. I think you can build an adaptor with a pllc socket fitting on a chip on the a600 mobo, but I'm not sure.

06 December 2006, 08:05	#18
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	Heys fingers, www.Amigakit.com have lots of vairing keyboard adapters for your project. If you are considering towerising and using a 101/105 keyboard I would probly opt for the (easy key) or (lyra) ps2 keyboard interface. as adjunct to your project I would recomend a cocolino so you can use high-definition PC mice makes using amigas so much better!!! (micie comparison: Amiga native mice = 300dpi)

06 December 2006, 08:48	#19
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Stuff from the UK costs an arm and a leg...1 Pound being worth about 3 Australia Dollars! Ouch... Might do that anyway, I'll wait on the mobo and see what happens. Cheers man. PZ.

06 December 2006, 13:06	#20
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Problem solved...I just bought an A600 keyboard I'll just make a cable to connect it externally (easy part) and put it in a case of some sort (tricky part, 'cause I'm crumby at plastic fabrication ). Maybe if the holes match up I can use the old yellowed A500 case...cut it up, add aluminium panels to the sides/rear and paint the whole thing matt black PZ.

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