TI-99/4A Hi-Tek Keyboard Replacement

[GDMike]

5 hours ago, Duewester said:

I thought about using all the clear keys and putting labels on them but even painted black and labeled they're still low profile keys. So, I'll just keep my eyes open for a 0 key that doesn't have Insert or some other text on it too. Looking for a * key too.

its looking sweet!!

[Duewester]

Frankennine keyboard proto-type.

Reuse the Alpha Lock Key.

Kailhi Black and Kaihli Blue (You work with what's laying around) key switches.

Need some serious remod of my spacebar and the area around 7& key (that's where the backplane is split)

Need to paint extra functions on some keys.

Waiting for wiring harness from Arcadeshopper.

Ordered 100 Kaihli switches, vendor only sent 77 but, I only need 47 for this project.

Got some silicone covered wire for the traces.

[oddemann]

Why not take advantage of the keyboards of today and instead make a "translator" inside the TI that you can connect to? And then add a USB / PS/2 connection to the TI. And if one wants to be really cool one could add BT and other WIFI standards to the "translator".

Then you would have a smaller part to upgrade, if changes come along.

[Duewester]

5 hours ago, oddemann said:

Why not take advantage of the keyboards of today and instead make a "translator" inside the TI that you can connect to? And then add a USB / PS/2 connection to the TI. And if one wants to be really cool one could add BT and other WIFI standards to the "translator".

Then you would have a smaller part to upgrade, if changes come along.

@oddemann, I have considered the translator option but, I somehow got it stuck in my old brain that I wanted to make a keyboard. The TIPI does a pretty fair job of adding USB (via pi 02w). I may mod Frankennine some more later. 

[Duewester]

Frankennine can understand my fingers 😀

Still waiting on my permanent install keyboard connector from Arcadeshopper.

I have temporary connector installed and the wires are like the "Abby Normal" brain from Young Frankenstein.

But hey, i get what I typed, nothing more and nothing less.

 

If I did this again, I'd use solid core copper wire. I used some silicone wire I had a bunch of colors of and it is aluminum multistrand.🙁

[+dhe]

@Nelno   it's 2023 any hope of you finishing this product this year?

 

TI'ers need it, many of our boards are falling apart!

 

Thanks,

Dan

 

[visrealm]

Any news on this project? I just picked up a beige boy with a bad keyboard. Would love something like this.

[visrealm]

Do the original beige TI keycaps fit on modern switches? They look like they would, but I don't have any modern switches to try.

[RXB]

I think a $20 wireless USB keyboard from Wallmart is a great option.

Goes well with a 22 inch video flat screen monitor.

I can sit farther away and see the screen better.

[Kchula-Rrit]

That's what I've done, too.  In my case it's a Logitch unit.  Just plugged the little transmitter thingy into my USB-keyboard adapter and it worked!  Pleasant surprise.  That way I didn't have to cut any (more) holes in my console.

K-R.

Edited March 21 by Kchula-Rrit