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From: hzatz@tybalt.caltech.edu (Harold R. Zatz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Misc
Message-ID: <2620@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>
Date: Fri, 8-May-87 13:47:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: cit-vax.2620
Posted: Fri May  8 13:47:04 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 9-May-87 19:09:42 EDT
References: <8705080919.AA08937@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
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Reply-To: hzatz@tybalt.caltech.edu.UUCP (Harold R. Zatz)
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Organization: Calfornia Institute of Technology
Lines: 32
Summary: Keyboards are tough to find.

In article <8705080919.AA08937@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> 8440827@wwu.EDU (lafitup!) writes:
>
>   Finally, I see adverts all the time from Radio Shack for replacement 
>keyboards, however I have yet to see one that they make that will connect
>to my 400.  Can you alter the output pins from the keyboard to match the
>Atari?  Is there a full stroke keyboard around that will connect to the 400?
>(Other than the b-key).

In general, no. I purchased one of the Radio Shack Keyboards once-- when
they had ADAM remnants. The reason you can't do it easily is that all
keyboards, in general, are matrixed differently. Computers send a certain
number of lines out to their keyboards, and require a certain number of lines
of responses. These lines vary from computer to computer. For example,
an Atari Keyboard might sense a letter "J" when it sends out on it's first
line and receives a signal on its first input line. Another Keyboard might
put "J" somewhere else entirely. Furthermore, even writing a translator
program is difficult, because different keyboards have different numbers of
input and output lines.

Does this mean you're stuck? Of course not. There are lots of mail order places
that you can order real Atari keyboards from. I'm sure the other people on
the net who know what these places are would be happy to tell you.

Good luck!
--"H"


"Twas brillig and the slithy toves   BITnet:     hzatz@citromeo.bitnet
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;     UUCP:       !ucbvax!hzatz@romeo.caltech.edu
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I'm Harold R. Zatz, a.k.a. "H".                  Pasadena, CA 91126