asshat Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 i have an atari 400 with a broken keyboard, would it be possible to hack an atari 800 keyboard to work? i know it will not physically fit without modifications but would it work electrically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qix_maniac Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 just buy a new old stock keyboard for the atari 400. Will cost you about $25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asshat Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 just buy a new old stock keyboard for the atari 400. Will cost you about $25 i know best sells them but what i really want is a proper keyboard, i was hoping i could solder something up for fun if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubular Gearhead Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 (edited) i have an atari 400 with a broken keyboard, would it be possible to hack an atari 800 keyboard to work? i know it will not physically fit without modifications but would it work electrically? I did this modification way back in 1983- I used an atari 1200 keyboard (bought @ flea market) and velcroed it where the old membrane keyboard was. Electrically, yes, the number of pins is the same on several of the Atari 8-bit keyboards, although the actual connector may be different. It seems like I had to change the end on the 1200 keyboard to plug it into the edge connector for the old membrane one. It wasn't too hard... Replacement 800 keyboards pop up all the time for around $20 I believe. Seems like a good way to go. Edited January 3, 2011 by Tubular Gearhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobus Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 i have an atari 400 with a broken keyboard, would it be possible to hack an atari 800 keyboard to work? i know it will not physically fit without modifications but would it work electrically? I have a few 400 keyboards lying around. If you pay for shipping I'll send you one. PM me if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asshat Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 i have an atari 400 with a broken keyboard, would it be possible to hack an atari 800 keyboard to work? i know it will not physically fit without modifications but would it work electrically? I did this modification way back in 1983- I used an atari 1200 keyboard (bought @ flea market) and velcroed it where the old membrane keyboard was. Electrically, yes, the number of pins is the same on several of the Atari 8-bit keyboards, although the actual connector may be different. It seems like I had to change the end on the 1200 keyboard to plug it into the edge connector for the old membrane one. It wasn't too hard... Replacement 800 keyboards pop up all the time for around $20 I believe. Seems like a good way to go. i kinda thought that might be the case, i looked through the atari 400/800 service manual and the keyboard interface schematics for the 400 / 800 are almost identical. does anyone know where i can get a readable copy of this manual? mine is so fuzzy its worthless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 myatari.com sell "proper" keyboards for the 400 (homevision I believe) cost about $25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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