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AT to XT Keyboard Converter

Hello,
I am totally new to the forum and relatively new to retrocumputing world but I recently got off ebay an IBM 5160 that comes without keyboard so I am interested in those AT to XT Keyboard Converters; anyway I have limited experience with electronics, finding and soldering the components is not a problem but making pcb's is still quite hard for me and I have no experience in programming chips (Arduino is the only exception)... So like holdencars11 I am asking if someone can build it for me.. we can arrange details by PM..
 
zinamo said:
Hello,
I am totally new to the forum and relatively new to retrocumputing world but I recently got off ebay an IBM 5160 that comes without keyboard so I am interested in those AT to XT Keyboard Converters; anyway I have limited experience with electronics, finding and soldering the components is not a problem but making pcb's is still quite hard for me and I have no experience in programming chips (Arduino is the only exception)... So like holdencars11 I am asking if someone can build it for me.. we can arrange details by PM..
Click to expand...

I embedded directly into the keyboard case:
8af305bb5c981360e08d2f8bf9ebfc45.jpg

Looks like shit, but worked. -))
 
Firstly thanks everyone for the answers, then

I embedded directly into the keyboard case:
Click to expand...
it is a good idea, but don't you fear shorting some terminals if your keyboard gets shaken? In any case, this is very clever for avoiding the use of pcb but in my case I'd like to use a KVM switch so an external converter would be better..

Ooookay...ever hear of perfboard?
Click to expand...
yess, used them for a few projects :) but looked fragile to me..in any case I can magae to use one, my real problem is programming the controller

As mentioned earlier in this thread, I can sell you a PCB that I made, based on the cooperative design, posted on this board.
Click to expand...
this can be good, but can you provide also the programmed controller?
 
Is there anyone that can provide me the programmed controller and the pcb from europe? because I live in Italy and ajacocks that kindly answered my request lives in the US so shipping is quite expensive..
 
You might get some results if you posted a separate thread in the "wanted" section, as in "Wanted--someone in Europe who can program a PIC12F629 MCU"

I'm in the US, so can't help you.
 
Well, for what it's worth, if you go back to the photos (way, way back in this thread) of the prototype, it was built on a small piece of perfboard. There weren't many connections.
 
One quick question. Is the cable between this adapter and the computer a simple pin to pin cable? i.e. Pin 1 - Pin 1, Pin 2 to Pin 2, etc.

Heather
 
Yes; I use an old MIDI cable to connect the board to the PC.

Given the small number of components and the availability of SMT versions of the MCU, it should also be fairly simple to package this thing in the form of a molded mini-DIN-to-DIN adapter.
 
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