Mystery Mod

[peterfleeman]

I found this console with a DB25 port on the back. Does anyone know what purpose this might serve?

 

[Opry99er]

Interesting...

[+jedimatt42]

That connector appears to be tapping into the keyboard and possibly joystick pullups... Probably someone built a custom external keyboard.

 

-M@

[Omega-TI]

That connector appears to be tapping into the keyboard and possibly joystick pullups... Probably someone built a custom external keyboard.

 

-M@

 

...or possibly a super joystick.

[+acadiel]

It's hacks like this that makes me love this computer... check this one out: Super DM(4), TI Writer and E/A...

 

 

[+Ksarul]

I've got a similarly modified console with a TI Keyboard in a wooden box at the end of a flat cable. This was apparently a published mod, as I've also seen one or two others with the exact same modification.

 

@Acadiel, that looks like a modified version of one of the TI EGROM Boards.

[Opry99er]

Close to a decade ago:

 

 

[peterfleeman]

I swear I have encountered this video before. You guys are great. Now I have to see if I can find one of those calculators! Im also hunting through my old newsletters to see if I can find a published version of the Mod.

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F142757078331

[sparkdrummer]

 

99'er Magazine May/June 1981

[x24b]

That external numeric keypad would be ideal for a flight simulator. Microsoft's Flight Simulator used the pad for control.

 

The 4, 5 and 6 keys were for ailerons. The 5 key is the brilliant innovation. It would stop the ailerons in a neutral position while in a turn. The angle would hold and degrade over a little while, just like in an aircraft. It was a very natural and useful solution.

 

The 8 and 2 keys were for up and down elevator.

To TRIM the elevator during level flight (cross country) the 7 and 1 keys trimmed for up and down.

The 9 and 3 keys were for throttle, up and down.

 

The best flight simulator on the TI was Spad VIII. Bar none.

It would have been even better, than it was, with a numeric keypad.

I wonder if possible, where one could tap in to the TI using only a port, not requiring a solder job? Maybe a jumper between a socket and a chip?

 

Just a thought...

[Omega-TI]

 

I wonder if possible, where one could tap in to the TI using only a port, not requiring a solder job? Maybe a jumper between a socket and a chip?

 

Just a thought...

 

 

If you can get someone to build you a Tursi PS/2 keyboard interface there is minimal soldering required for power. But if they make it for you, maybe they could install it too>

 

 

Of course you will need to drill three holes in your case for mounting the PS/2 connector. There are a couple of extra OPTIONAL soldering requirements if you want to use the load interrupt and reset options. If you're interested in more detail you can << CLICK HERE >>.

 

There is also a USB keyboard adapter by JediMatt42 that is really cool as it can use a wireless keyboard. Some thread activity on that project

<< STARTS HERE >>

 

 

Your message got me pondering about a TIPI related issue...

 

When you buy a wireless mouse, it comes with a receiver that you can plug into the Rpi. That's easy.

When you buy a wireless keyboard it comes with a receiver that goes to JediMatt42's keyboard interface. That's easy too,

 

But I'm wondering, say you buy a wireless keyboard with a touchpad built-in... could you also buy a second replacement receiver from Logitech and use that on the Rpi? Are all the receivers for a model number the same, or is there a different code for every individual keyboard? It would be cool to have one keyboard/unit controlling both the keyboard mod and the RPi's mouse.

[x24b]

If you can get someone to build you a Tursi PS/2 keyboard interface there is minimal soldering required for power. But if they make it for you, maybe they could install it too>

 

<snip>

 

Of course you will need to drill three holes in your case for mounting the PS/2 connector. There are a couple of extra OPTIONAL soldering requirements if you want to use the load interrupt and reset options. If you're interested in more detail you can << CLICK HERE >>.

 

There is also a USB keyboard adapter by JediMatt42 that is really cool as it can use a wireless keyboard. Some thread activity on that project

<< STARTS HERE >>

Wow! Beautiful. I'll be reading all of that. I am good at soldering and sorta good at understanding and building things at the component level. I'm just thinking of an easy way for a normal everyday person, with just a console, to add a numeric keypad. If all you had to do is add a connector between the keyboard and the Mobo, it would be an easy mod for even a beginner.

 

More...

http://ti994a.cwfk.net/TiUsbKeys.html

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/242816-usb-keyboard-adapter-warduino-style-components/

Also, there were a group of very nice photos on Google Photos, but the link is kind of crazy;

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPbU1s-x9WMO916g8pZiMQmZUEVdlbs_b4CS8jfjEjhfnGXTsQjLbn30rkcFSmc1Q?key=elQ5NjJGWjhhN25fc1dqMXlOc1NPbXNwOU0taFF3

 

Here are some of the images from these links:

 

 

 

 

I'm all about flight simulators and the keypad idea is outstanding.

 

The wireless mouse and wireless keyboard make perfect sense. I do believe the device and the dongle are tied together with a super cheap ID chip pair. Maybe there are only a few different kinds. That would make it easy to add a jumper to set it up. That said, I think you can get thousands of ID chip pairs for REAL cheap, each one individual to themselves. So I'd say it's unlikely to be an easy fix. But, someone prove me wrong and test, test, test hardware and find out.

 

I'm too busy with my ZX Spectrum Next 'board only' right now adding all the mods. Whew!

[Omega-TI]

Also there is a cheaper low tech solution if you are good with a soldering iron...

 

 

You could also obtain an old mechanical keypad someplace and solder some wires onto the back side of the TI's keyboard, route them to a 15 pin connector and then put the other gender plug on the keypad side, similar to the solution that Opry99 has. I once toyed with that method myself. Now that said, if you simply wanted a USB keypad, Matt's solution should work with << one of these >> too. It would certainly give you greatest flexibility, especially if you ever wanted easily plug in and go with another PC keyboard someday in the future.

 

Sometimes the cheapest solution is NOT the best, I only mentioned it so you could be fully informed.

[x24b]

Also there is a cheaper low tech solution if you are good with a soldering iron...

 

You could also obtain an old mechanical keypad someplace and solder some wires onto the back side of the TI's keyboard, route them to a 15 pin connector and then put the other gender plug on the keypad side, similar to the solution that Opry99 has. I once toyed with that method myself. Now that said, if you simply wanted a USB keypad, Matt's solution should work with << one of these >> too. It would certainly give you greatest flexibility, especially if you ever wanted easily plug in and go with another PC keyboard someday in the future.

 

Sometimes the cheapest solution is NOT the best, I only mentioned it so you could be fully informed.

 

Thanks! I'll have a lot to digest.

 

WOW, THAT GAMER NUMERIC KEYPAD IS SCREAMING AT ME!

 

I like quiet hardware, by and large.

[matthew180]

A keyboard mod was my first guess based on the location of the wires.

 

BITD I did my own keyboard mod to be able to sit back away from the console. Being a technically limited teenager, I did it the easy way and just removed the keyboard and put about 4-feet of ribbon cable between the console and keyboard. I also built a wood and plastic enclosure for the keyboard with help from my dad. I still use that keyboard today on my 99/4A, uh, "setup" (if you can call it that, see the "everyday TI" thread).

[jjh76]

But I'm wondering, say you buy a wireless keyboard with a touchpad built-in... could you also buy a second replacement receiver from Logitech and use that on the Rpi? Are all the receivers for a model number the same, or is there a different code for every individual keyboard? It would be cool to have one keyboard/unit controlling both the keyboard mod and the RPi's mouse.

 

I have a Logitech M720 wireless mouse and a K375s wireless keyboard. They've both got buttons that let you switch between 3 different receivers. You'll need to put the receivers into your pc to sync them up, but once that's done most devices will think you've just plugged in a wired usb mouse an keyboard. I've got mine set to switch between my pc, my ps4, and and whatever Pi i'm currently using.

 

The M720 mouse works great on all 3, but I can't really recommend the K375s as it seems to lose connection quite frequently.

[x24b]

A keyboard mod was my first guess based on the location of the wires.

 

BITD I did my own keyboard mod to be able to sit back away from the console. Being a technically limited teenager, I did it the easy way and just removed the keyboard and put about 4-feet of ribbon cable between the console and keyboard. I also built a wood and plastic enclosure for the keyboard with help from my dad. I still use that keyboard today on my 99/4A, uh, "setup" (if you can call it that, see the "everyday TI" thread).

 

It reminds me of Steve 'The Woz' Wozniak's Apple I.

 

Very Cool vibe on your old keyboard mod!

[Omega-TI]

 

I have a Logitech M720 wireless mouse and a K375s wireless keyboard. They've both got buttons that let you switch between 3 different receivers. You'll need to put the receivers into your pc to sync them up, but once that's done most devices will think you've just plugged in a wired usb mouse an keyboard. I've got mine set to switch between my pc, my ps4, and and whatever Pi i'm currently using.

 

The M720 mouse works great on all 3, but I can't really recommend the K375s as it seems to lose connection quite frequently.

 

Nice!

 

I'm stuck in a hybrid situation. I already had my PS/2 keyboard adapter in my TI before Matt came out with his USB gadget, and the holes have already been drilled... I'm sticking with that. When I got my Logitech MK710 keyboard and M705 mouse for my PC, I retired the Logitech M310 wireless mouse. Now, since TIPI has a driver for TI-Artist, the old M310 has found new life supporting the TI. Of course the Black & silver coloring of the Logitech mouse fit's in perfectly with the TI.

 

[Tursi]

If you can get someone to build you a Tursi PS/2 keyboard interface there is minimal soldering required for power.

The current released PCB, if you get it made, is actually zero solder. The trick is you need a 4-pin to 4-pin cable for the power from the power board. (It then passes through to the motherboard cable )

 

I don't have any at the moment, though. But I did build one to prove it worked.

[sparkdrummer]

 

[+OLD CS1]

Well, well, well. 3M Whisper Writer 1000 keyboard.

[Omega-TI]

The keyboard needs a new label...

(resize to fit)

[sparkdrummer]

I'm not even going to into what a pain in the ass it was to hack the thing together - desolder about a million points then resolder. Works though. Always wanted to hang a different cable and connectors on it....