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Keyrah USB converter for Commodore, etc.

Posted: 06 Jul 2012, 22:11
by nathanscribe
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

Posted: 06 Jul 2012, 22:12
by Icarium
Why would we, we have Teensys. :)
Plus those Commodore keyboards are horrible. Linear and actuate when bottoming out.

Posted: 06 Jul 2012, 22:14
by nathanscribe
Icarium wrote:Why would we
Shits and giggles? :lol:

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

Posted: 07 Jul 2012, 09:27
by Half-Saint
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.

Posted: 07 Jul 2012, 10:16
by ripster
nathanscribe wrote:
Icarium wrote:Why would we
Shits and giggles? :lol:

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

Posted: 07 Jul 2012, 13:11
by nathanscribe
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:
Image
Original post at RasPi Forum.

Posted: 07 Jul 2012, 16:49
by IvanIvanovich
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.

Posted: 07 Jul 2012, 21:02
by grasshopper
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.

Posted: 07 Jul 2012, 23:12
by Half-Saint
A non-working Acorn I hope?

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 12:30
by mram
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.... :evil:
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... :cry: :cry:

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

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 13:05
by JBert
You made an account just to tell us about this? That's odd...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 21:28
by fossala
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.

Posted: 14 Jan 2013, 13:00
by mram
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 :D