PS/2 & RS232 to ASCII Keyboard Interface Update

Well I bit the bullet and ordered a lifetime supply of these boards. I’m sure I’ll have enough that someone will end up throwing them away when I die. Economics of these small boards is such that increasing numbers does not significantly increase cost. You can get 50% more for 15% more cost. Actually the curve is so steep that it is kind of nuts.

These boards are going to solve 2 problems for Apple 1 owners. First is finding a keyboard, which is a harder problem for many people than I originally anticipated. The second problem is loading software. The RS232 part of the interface is write only, but it will allow you to dump a program into memory using monitor commands using a PC’s application such as hyperterm. I plan on putting some programs for the Apple 1 on my website in “monitor format”, such as Apple Basic.

I’m thinking that the price for a kit will likely end up at around $39, postage paid for shipments within USA. You will need to provide a PS/2 keyboard and/or a serial interface to your PC along with the right cable.

Including the RS-232 cable adds a lot to the cost and weight of shipping, so I’m not including it as an option. Many of you may have such a cable laying around or be able to build one. Digikey sells the cable I’m using:part # AE9879-ND. I’ll post specs soon on my website.

One thought on “PS/2 & RS232 to ASCII Keyboard Interface Update

  1. Sounds neat. A couple days ago I ordered a Briel SuperEncoder so I could use a PS/2 keyboard with the Apple 1 until I found a suitable keyboard. The next day I found someone selling a dirty but working Apple II+ for $50. He showed me a picture of the computer plugged into a TV, and he pressed every key on the keyboard. It works so that’s what I’m going to be using once I build the wooden case.

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