mark@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu (Mark Boyd) (06/09/89)
I'm typing this on a DEC LK201 keyboard connected to an Atari 1040ST
through its midi port. Now I won't have to get a Mega to have a
decent, detachable, keyboard! Besides, this keyboard has a better
layout and ( IMHO ) feel than the one that comes with a Mega.
LK201 keyboards are used on all current DEC products, including
terminals and workstations. Moreover, they were used on the DEC Rainbow
PC's and on the previous generation of DEC terminals. As a result,
they are fairly common at ham and computer fests. You could also get a
new one from DEC as a replacement part, albeit for too much money!
If you are willing to use your serial port, no modifications to the ST
or keyboard are required. All it takes is a small, external, power
supply and a RJ11 ( modular phone plug ) to DB25 adapter. The
limitation when using the serial port is that you can't use the ST as a
terminal with the external keyboard. The midi port interface doesn't
have this limitation but it does require minor internal modifications to
the ST. The TSR programs that support the new keyboard take about 700
bytes of memory.
I'm sending documentation on the hardware and assembler sources for both
versions to computer.sources.atari.st. I'll send the binaries to
computer.binaries.atari.st. The whole works is < 20 K as a uuencoded
arc file, so if you would like a copy before it makes it out on
computer.{sources|binaries}, please email your request.
Mark Boyd, Computer Science
Univ. of North Carolina at Asheville
Asheville, NC 28804
mbunca@ecsvax.uncecs.edu
mark@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu