Atari 130XE 800XL keyboard compatibility

[exoshell]

Are the internal keyboard connectors on the 130XE and 800XL compatible? Can I use an XL keyboard with an XE motherboard? I working on a custom Atari system using a 130XE motherboard and an 800XL case with keyboard. I realize that the connectors are oriented differently and I will have to do some fabrication to mate the XL keyboard to the XE board. And the entire back of the case too.

[+rdemming]

Are the internal keyboard connectors on the 130XE and 800XL compatible? Can I use an XL keyboard with an XE motherboard? I working on a custom Atari system using a 130XE motherboard and an 800XL case with keyboard. I realize that the connectors are oriented differently and I will have to do some fabrication to mate the XL keyboard to the XE board. And the entire back of the case too.

 

The connectors are not wired the same but of course you can try to make an adapter. According to the schematics of Jerzy Sobola the connections are as follows:

 

.. 130XE	800XL
1 +5V . 	OUT 1
2 C95/R95 	OUT 4
3 GND. 	OUT 6
4 IN 6 	OUT 2
5 OUT 3 	OUT 7
6 OUT 5 	OUT 0
7 OUT 7 	OUT 3
8 IN 2 	OUT 5
9 IN 7 	RSC
10 IN 5 	IN 4
11 IN 1 	IN 6
12 OUT 6 	IN 2
13 OUT 1 	IN 7
14 OUT 4 	IN 5
15 OUT 2 	IN 1
16 IN 3 	IN 0
17 IN 0 	IN 3
18 OUT 0 	GND
19 IN 4 	+5V
20 RSC. 	START
21 START 	SELECT
22 SELECT 	OPTION
23 OPTION 	RESET
24 RESET 	R95

 

As you can see, it is not just swapping some wires. The connections are mixed all over the place.

 

Robert

Edited April 25, 2010 by rdemming

[atariksi]

Are the internal keyboard connectors on the 130XE and 800XL compatible? Can I use an XL keyboard with an XE motherboard? I working on a custom Atari system using a 130XE motherboard and an 800XL case with keyboard. I realize that the connectors are oriented differently and I will have to do some fabrication to mate the XL keyboard to the XE board. And the entire back of the case too.

 

The connectors are not wired the same but of course you can try to make an adapter. According to the schematics of Jerzy Sobola the connections are as follows:

 

.. 130XE	800XL
1 +5V . 	OUT 1
2 C95/R95 	OUT 4
3 GND. 	OUT 6
4 IN 6 	OUT 2
5 OUT 3 	OUT 7
6 OUT 5 	OUT 0
7 OUT 7 	OUT 3
8 IN 2 	OUT 5
9 IN 7 	RSC
10 IN 5 	IN 4
11 IN 1 	IN 6
12 OUT 6 	IN 2
13 OUT 1 	IN 7
14 OUT 4 	IN 5
15 OUT 2 	IN 1
16 IN 3 	IN 0
17 IN 0 	IN 3
18 OUT 0 	GND
19 IN 4 	+5V
20 RSC. 	START
21 START 	SELECT
22 SELECT 	OPTION
23 OPTION 	RESET
24 RESET 	R95

 

As you can see, it is not just swapping some wires. The connections are mixed all over the place.

 

Robert

 

May be better to use a A400 or A800 keyboard which as wires rather than a ribbon cable. That RSC must include the BRK key.