Date   : Sun, 26 May 1985 06:31:47 GMT
From   : Robert Dale <rda%epistemi.uucp@BRL.ARPA>
Subject: Microcomputer Keyboard Help Wanted (Long)

I have a problem for which I would appreciate some advice.

I have a home micro, a Memotech MTX machine with the manufacturer's CP/M
dual-floppy upgrade.  The CPU lives in the same case as the keyboard:  this
case (hereafter, the MTX unit) is therefore connected to the floppy box
(hereafter, the FDX unit) via a 60-way ribbon cable.  From the back of the
MTX unit, there are also the power cable, the printer cable and the modem
cable.

The MTX unit is about the same size as a typical detachable keyboard.
Except, of course, with all these leads attached to it, it isn't detachable
in any real sense.

Now, I feel more at home when I can move a keyboard around.  Add to this the
fact that I'm not entirely happy with the feel of the present keyboard.  I
can see several possible solutions to the problem.

1.     Remove everything from the MTX unit except the keyboard; put these
       guts into another case, which will sit underneath the FDX unit, and 
       then connect the keyboard in the MTX case to the new case with a fair
       length of cable.  The keyboard PCB is attached to the main PCB via a
       20-pin connector, so it looks as if I won't find a coiled cable to
       do the job.  Other friends have recommended only ribbon cable as
       suitable anyway.

       But .. ribbon cable is not as flexible as one might desire, and is a
       touch unsightly; and I still have the keyboard I'm not in love with.


1a.    As above, but remove and replace all the keyswitches with ones that
       feel nice.  Gets me a nice keyboard, but means burning my fingers
       with a soldering iron in a big way.


2.     Find an alternative keyboard that will be compatible with the 20-pin
       connection used, sit the entire MTX unit under the FDX unit and then
       connect the new keyboard to where the old one was connected.  

       Potentially gets me a keyboard I like, but still unsightly, inflexible
       ribbon.  Also, I'm told that my chances of getting a keyboard that is
       compatible at this level are very low (still trying to get information
       out of reluctant manufacturers).


3.     Buy a nice serial keyboard, and connect it to one of my RS232 ports;
       write an appropriate driver for it and hack the BIOS so that this
       port is read instead of the normal keyboard port.  I don't even know
       if this is possible:  although I'm a fairly competent programmer, I
       haven't mucked about with bits like this (I do my programming on
       real machines :-)).  I'm much happier with software than hardware,
       so I would prefer this solution provided it doesn't involve too much
       work.

       This could get me a very nice keyboard and a flexible cable.


So:  any ideas?  Yes, I know I should have tried the keyboard more before I
bought it.  Please don't tell me to sell the thing:  it has some nice
software, and I don't think I'd get much for it in these 16-bit days.

All suggestions, comments etc. very gratefully accepted.


Robert Dale (rda@epistemi)

Snail: University of Edinburgh
       School of Epistemics
       2 Buccleuch Place
       Edinburgh
       EH8 9LW

Email: ...seismo!mcvax!ukc!cstvax!epistemi!rda