Re: Keyboard

[Wayne Stewart <waynes@intergate.bc.ca>]

The II plus keyboard is a bit different in that the keyboard encoder is on or
attached to the keyboard where the IIe encoder is on the MLB. With the IIe
all you have is a collection of switches and 2 resistors with a 26 lead ribbon
cable going to the MLB with only 22 of those leads being used. The simplest
way to do this seems to be to simply cut all the traces on a IIgs keyboard and
just rewire it as a IIe keyboard. Then just run a 22 or 26 lead cable back to the
keyboard connector on the MLB. Maybe a few extra wires to connect to the
mouse card and add a DB 9 connector to the side of the keyboard. Once it's
wired repair would be easy enough but to put it together I'll need to solder
around 225 connections which feels a bit daunting so I'd better get started
today before I feel too overwhelmed.

    Wayne

Mike Pfaiffer wrote:

>         I'm going to chime in with my $0.02 here. As you and others suggested a
> GS or Mac keyboard would be easiest if you could figure out the various
> pinouts on the keyboard and the keyboard plug on the motherboard.
>
>         According to a book I have the ADB is a circular 4 connector with the
> following functions...
>
>         1) Data line - Bidirectional
>         2) Reserved
>         3) +5v
>         4) GND
>
>         My hardware reference for the ][+ gives the following pins for the
> keyboard...
>
>         1) +5v
>         2) Strobe (for keypress at least 10 microseconds long either polarity)
>         3) Not Reset. Pull low when reset is pressed.
>         4, 9, 16) No connection
>         5 - 7, 10 - 13) Data. 7 bit ASCII
>         8) GND
>         15) -12v. Keyboard should draw less than 50 milliamps.
>         14) missing from the manual
>
>         Looks as though a circuit may be needed to adapt a GS/Mac keyboard for
> a //e. Would it be easier to adapt a PC keyboard? This might be an
> interesting project. A universal keyboard adaptor. As long as you know
> what each bit of hardware expects it should not be difficult to build
> the parts you need.
>
>                                 Later
>                                 Mike
>
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