Keyrah USB converter for Commodore, etc.

nathanscribe · 06 Jul 2012, 22:11

Just came across this while looking at possible ways to house my Raspberry Pi using an old keyboard. Seems to be a small board that allows old 8/16-bit retro computer keyboards to be used with modern machines. Anybody tried it?

http://www.vesalia.de/e_keyrah.htm

Icarium · 06 Jul 2012, 22:12

Why would we, we have Teensys.

Plus those Commodore keyboards are horrible. Linear and actuate when bottoming out.

nathanscribe · 06 Jul 2012, 22:14

Icarium wrote:Why would we

Shits and giggles?

I don't remember what the C64 keys felt like, but I was curious about the fact somebody made this retrofit.

Half-Saint · 07 Jul 2012, 09:27

Yes, Teensy is cheaper but keyrah fits the Commodore joystick ports and you don't need to program anything. It works out of the box. Also, good idea nathan! A few people have done this with mini-ITX boards, none with Raspberry pi.

ripster · 07 Jul 2012, 10:16

nathanscribe wrote:
Icarium wrote:Why would we
Shits and giggles?

I don't remember what the C64 keys felt like, but I was curious about the fact somebody made this retrofit.

Mitsumi Rubber Domes with springs it sounds like.
http://www.commodore.ca/manuals/funet/c ... yboard.txt

Check this rare C65!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMMODORE-65-KE ... 3a76b74ed4

nathanscribe · 07 Jul 2012, 13:11

Half-Saint wrote:Also, good idea nathan! A few people have done this with mini-ITX boards, none with Raspberry pi.

Not my idea, I spotted someone else's efforts on the Raspi forum:

(image quite large, so it's a spoiler just in case your connection is slow)

Spoiler:

Original post at RasPi Forum.

IvanIvanovich · 07 Jul 2012, 16:49

Thats a cool idea, but I would want to put it in something smaller. It would be more work but putting a pi in an Apple M0110 would be just about right.

grasshopper · 07 Jul 2012, 21:02

I bought an old Acorn Electron off Ebay to house my Raspberrry Pi (once I've got hold of one). It's about the right size and I liked the idea of using an old Acorn machine as most of the people behind the RPi seem to be ex-Acorn employees.

The downside is that the keyboard switches are only so so. However, the Electron's keyboard is plate mounted and the keycaps are very nice doubleshots.

Half-Saint · 07 Jul 2012, 23:12

A non-working Acorn I hope?

mram · 09 Jan 2013, 12:30

You have to know the the keyrah DOESN'T work on windows/linux/other so outside VICE program... You can't move cursor to left or up on these so (and also on raspberry pi... against what they say)... I found nothing in the manual paper, their answer: use the joystick!?!? Very usefull, use to joystick to go back for 1 character or 1 line....

you have to pay the shipment and the use of credit card(!) so when I give this item back I should lose 2 times the shipment cost and the credit card fee...
Anyway, I sent back within 10 days but after 6 weeks I still having no money back and no answers...

My suggestion? There are projects below 10 euro with the atmel processor or with teensy doing the same...ops, not the same, just better!!

JBert · 09 Jan 2013, 13:05

You made an account just to tell us about this? That's odd...

fossala · 09 Jan 2013, 21:28

JBert wrote:You made an account just to tell us about this? That's odd...

I think the comment is valid if the converter won't work for everyday use and they have not given him a refund despite sending it back.

mram · 14 Jan 2013, 13:00

Look what happen before....

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vesalia- ... 1933948403

I didn't know about that

Yes, when you found a forum and you want to answer you have to make an account