Date   : Sat, 25 Jun 2005 19:19:58 +0100
From   : "John & Helen Simpson" <john@...>
Subject: Membrane type keyboards

I wonder if there is anyone on the list who has experience of problems
with the membrane type keyboard used on the A3000? OK, I know this is
somewhat off topic but the A3000 was marketed as a BBC Micro! And, more
relevantly, I think some Masters have a similar keyboard.

The problem with mine is that only the Break and Shift/ctrl keys seem to
work. F12 appears to be pressed down constantly such that when the
machine boots it goes into command line mode after the desktop appears.
No keys function properly except for Break, and when I press shift or
ctrl I get some top-bit-set characters, but I can't press anything else.

I've taken the keyboard apart and mechanically its fine. There is some
dust and fluff between the keyswitches and the membrane, which I'll
clear out. The membranes are lightly stuck together. Is this normal or
should I separate them and clean between them?

john