Build a keyboard for Commodore 128D??

[Commodoreguy]

Folks, here's my dilemma:

I purchased a large collection of Commodore hardware and later discovered a 128D in great condition in one of the boxes. Unfortunately, the keyboard for the 128D was nowhere to be found. So here's my question:

Is it possible to modify a donor keyboard, say a standard 102 key PC keyboard or possibly even modify the keyboard portion of a standard Commodore 128? I have a few spare 128's around, but am somewhat hesitant to go splitting one apart (they all function). I have searched unsuccessfully for 128D keyboard pinouts.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Please reply without reservation!

Thanks!

 

[carlsson]

A pinout of the internal keyboard connector:

http://www.ntrautanen.fi/computers/hardware/misc/128_keyboard.htm

A document how to make a separate keyboard for the C64, and that the pinout will be kind of compatible with the C128D. However, it sounds a bit too simple. Perhaps he is bypassing the AT keyboard logic to get raw column/row data sent to the computer.

http://www.ntrautanen.fi/computers/hardware/misc/64_keyboard.htm

This document may help you further:

http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~schepers/MJK/c128_keyboard.html

There are a few other resources on how to build and use micro controllers to hook up an AT or PS/2 keyboard to a Commodore machine, or vice versa: how to reuse an old Commodore keyboard on a PC (see Keyrah for a commercial example of the latter).

Good luck! I'm in the process of doing something similar, but I will probably need to find out a way how to manufacture a CBM-II series (high profile) replacement keyboard as I might have a few working motherboards, possibly also cases w/ monitor and power supply but out of keyboards.

 

[Commodoreguy]

Thanks for the info, Anders. If I read that last link correctly, modification of a C64 keyboard is even possible to use with the 128D (assuming what the author states can be done in reverse).

I have LOTS of 64's sitting around; I'll employ one as a donor and will keep you posted on what I come up with.

 

[carlsson]

Hopefully at least the QWERTY section will work, even if you will miss a lot of special keys not existing on the C64. It is better than noting if you can make it work.