Sun Type 5 Keyboard on PC

Please note, I didn't invent this adaptor, this valueable and far to less advertised work was accomplished by Ove Risberg and Peter Enderborg. They own the copyrights on the assembler code, layout deisgn and deserve the gratitude of all us who love those Copy and Paste keys :-)

When I noticed that the Website Peter and Ove used to publish (quite sparse) information on their converter has gone, I decided to put together information I still have and make them available to other "Sun Type 5 Keyboard" fans.

Be warned, it is not that easy.

To be able to make it you have to have some electronic and soldering skills. Or a friend who has some.
I wouldn't be able to make it without great help from my old friend Bertrand Galley who showed me how easy it is when you know how ;-)

I spent about 100 CHF (~ US$70) for the adaptor (parts and printed board) plus few hours work.

You can see the result on this picture

Things to be collected before starting:

• Electronic parts from this list
• A picture of the component layout in PostScript format.
• The 68HC11 assembler source code
• The tools to program the 68HC11 as11.zip and loadall.tar.gz
• A slooow PC, not kidding. Explanation follows.

Building the hardware

• You need the printed circuit board (PCB).
  Make it or better let an electronic shop make it for you. The PCB's layout in PostScript format is here.
• Don't expect much help from me. You should be able to solder all those components youself with help of the provided pictures.

Software

• Extract the files loadall.tar.gz and as11.zip
• Translate the hc11.asm assembler code using (under DOS) the as11.exe program
• Connect the D-SUB 9 male connector to the printed circuit and connect it with COM2 port of the PC
• Connect the printed circuit to a 5V power source.
• Don't connect anything else to the board at this time
• Remove the "programming" jumper
• Push the reset switch on the PCB
• Start the loadall.exe program
• Select load. If it doesn't work check the hardware again, is the serial D-SUB 9 connected correctly?
  And make sure you use a slow PC.
  If the loadall program sends data to fast, the circuit cannot handle it. I succeede using a 386 laptop, anything faster than that didn't work.
• Download the program by entering the filename hc11.s19
• Put the "programming" jumper back
• Use xev to discover how your X-server interprets what it gets from the new keyboard. Under XFree86 I use the following in the .xmodmaprc file (loaded from .xnitrc):
  • keycode 121=Redo
  • keycode 122=SunProps
  • keycode 123=SunUndo
  • keycode 124=SunFront
  • keycode 125=SunCopy
  • keycode 126=SunOpen
  • keycode 127=SunPaste
  • keycode 128=SunFind
  • keycode 129=SunCut
  • keycode 130=Help

• Have fun :-)

Disclaimer

Comments contributions etc. welcomme.