[Techtoolslist] 9100FT Programmer’s Keyboard

[Ian Eure]

This has been done a couple times, but none of them are currently available or very well documented.  I’m sure it would be well-received if you produced a new version.

Personally, I’m interested in understanding the original, and replicating it, if possible, so a converter box is less desirable for me.


> On Oct 6, 2017, at 3:56 PM, Dave Riddle (Technical Dept.) <enginr at windstream.net> wrote:
> 
> Make an in-between box that accepts the new keyboard codes as is and converts them to the useful hex code at the useful baud rate.  What? Maybe five chips on a 2 x 2 board? Just need those custom keycaps, then.
> 
>> On 10/6/2017 3:20 PM, Andrew Finn via Techtoolslist wrote:
>> WOW many thanks for taking the time and trouble to take and upload the pics of the unit, was very interesting! I emailed keytronics for information or the rom data but as expected they don't have any info now earlier than 2000 so that's out the window!!
>> 
>> It is a copy of a keytronics KB101 early keyboard and with the detailed pics have started mapping the keys to the fluke, I am also looking into getting a modern keyboard made with these fluke key legends on them, it has rekindled me to look into all this and devise a pic chip to change the baud rate so a modern keyboard can be used, now I have done the fluke video cards I still need a keyboard so this has inspired me to look into it all again!
>> Getting hold of those old style clicky keyboards seems a very expensive exercise!! But there are company's that will print anything you want on key caps for them, so even that is a option if KB101 keyboards can be found!!
>> 
>> The project goes on!!!!!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>>> On 4 Oct 2017, at 2:07 am, Ian Eure <ian at retrospec.tv> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> On Oct 3, 2017, at 5:21 PM, John Robertson <jrr at flippers.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 2017/10/03 5:05 PM, Ian Eure wrote:
>>>>> I finally tracked down a Programmer’s Keyboard for my 9100.  I don’t
>>>>> know how widely it’s known, but there were two different versions
>>>>> of the keyboard.  The only photos I’ve seen are the earlier model,
>>>>> which meant that I almost let this one slip away.  It was on eBay, new
>>>>> old stock, for $36 shipped!
>>>>> 
>>>>> All the info is in the manuals, if you look.  I had always wondered
>>>>> why the keyboard illustrations in the Programmer’s Manual didn’t match
>>>>> the photos of the keyboard I’d seen.  It’s because I read scans of a
>>>>> later (1991) printing, which has illustrations of the later revision
>>>>> of the keyboard.  I haven’t seen a 1988 printing, but I bet it shows
>>>>> the earlier keyboard layout.
>>>>> 
>>>>> The various 9100 service manuals list different part numbers:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 9100A Supplemental Parts List (May 1988), fig. 5-21, p. 5-53
>>>>> ----
>>>>> Lists p/n 5-64995-131.  This seems to be the more common version of
>>>>> the keyboard.  It has a block of (mostly) 2u keys on the far right,
>>>>> angled RETURN key, and arrows by the SHIFT and RETURN keys.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Photo: https://i.imgur.com/undefined.png
>>>> Broken link.
>>> Here’s what I was trying to share: http://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6456.0;attach=11160
>>> 
>>> I’d be interested to know what’s inside one of these, maybe it uses normal switches and could be used to reproduce one.
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