AMenard Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Hi, I was looking for some classic computer to repair and asked around in some of the facebook group I post on. I was especially looking for an Apple IIe since I have many spare parts for those. I've found one for cheap and as a bonus the guy gave me a couple of untested incomplete TI-99/4A. Both are missing keys (different keyboard mechanism on both) and one seems to have been modded. I don't have a PSU to test them yet, but since the non functional Apple IIe appears to be FULLY functionnal, I wouldn't be surprised that at least one of the can be rescued. I was wondering if somebody has a spare keyboard or the missing key(s) for me to complete one key set? I guess the one missing a single key would be easier to complete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FarmerPotato Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 (edited) I have dozens of replacement keyboards, as the result of taking on people's collections. PM me, I will share one, no cost. If you just want the M key, thats ok too. Now, those mods are pretty interesting. It looks like they brought out the video signals - my guess is composite on the BNC connector, and audio mini-phono plug. The 25-pin D-sub connector might be a "Joy-Print" interface, a mod that allowed printing (originally out the 9-pin, D-sub, joystick side port). Others will know that better (I never used one.) http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/joytalk/joytalk.html Hint: the 1983 author of Joy-Print is Urbite on this forum. Bit of TI-99/4A lore there. The red button... you must push it and tell us what it does. Two guesses: RESET button, or LOAD interrupt. The LOAD interrupt had many uses. One was to run software to print a screen dump. Requires 32k expansion to use because address $FFFC. To figure out what you have, you'll need some schematics. First, see the FAQ http://atariage.com/forums/topic/267055-new-to-the-group-ti-994a-faq-hardware-and-software-resources-read-first/ I like Thierry Nouspikel's TI Tech Pages http://www.unige.ch/medecine/nouspikel/ti99/titechpages.htm And the original TI provided schematics are in this document: http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/man/ti99_tech.pdf Other upgrades on that MainByte page: http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/upgrades.asp Have fun! Edited October 7, 2018 by FarmerPotato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AwkwardPotato Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 There was an article I saw once in (I think) 99er for an alternative keyboard for the 99/4 that used the same 25-pin connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I have a console with that mod to extend the keyboard on a 25-pin cable. It uses a standard TI keyboard in a box--but now you don't have to sit up close to the console to type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMenard Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 Well I'm officially back in the TI99 world. I've got a third TI-99/4a in trade today for a 1541-II I had gathering dust. Beside some minor scratches (the alu TI99 scratches just by looking at it funny) it's in very good condition. I pm'd FarmerPotato for my missing key on my other TI and if he's got one then I'll have two working TI99 and spare chips from the "modified" one. Now, I still have to source a PEB with 32k, rs232, FC and a second working floppy for it and software for it of course. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMenard Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 Well, I received a composite video cable today and tried both TI-99/4a on my 1702 and both work! So now I need a few other thing: A PEB (will know tomorrow if I got one) A FinalGROM (next month) A couple of good book on programming the TI (Asm and XB). I know there are some online, i may print them at work. I know it's a bit silly if I get the finalgrom, but I want actual carts of the programming languages (XB, A/E etc) with docs if available. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 Well, I received a composite video cable today and tried both TI-99/4a on my 1702 and both work! So now I need a few other thing: A PEB (will know tomorrow if I got one) A FinalGROM (next month) A couple of good book on programming the TI (Asm and XB). I know there are some online, i may print them at work. I know it's a bit silly if I get the finalgrom, but I want actual carts of the programming languages (XB, A/E etc) with docs if available. The FinalGROM cartridge is the must have. I have not had to change a cartridge since I got it installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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