Keyrah
USB Interface for Classic Keyboard Computers, predecessor of Keyrah_V2.
Keyrah makes keyboards of classic computers available to new computers. The board fits the case of a Commodore 8-bit computer (such as Commodore 64 (II), SX64, VIC-20, C128, C128D, C-16, C-116, Plus/4) or an Amiga 1200/600, and turns the computer into a USB keyboard. Keyrah gives new life to defective computers, or computers that have been moved to a different case, because the mainboard is no longer needed. In addition to that, two digital joysticks as Competition Pro Retro can be connected that will act as additional keys (for example cursor keys). The joystick ports show a special strength of Keyrah: The high data transfer speed. For the full gaming fun, Keyrah transfers its data ten times faster than some USB joysticks do!
As a special tidbit for fans of the C-64, the switch used for keymap selection is almost identical to the one of the original computer. It switches between two keymaps that are either adjusted to the daily use under Windows, or especially for emulators like Vice, Yape and UAE.
Keyrah has been successfully tested with all common operating systems like Linux, Amiga OS, Mac OS and Windows. It works on desktop and laptop computers, but also on the X-Box. Keyrah is a standard USB human interface device, so proper function is also ensured with systems that are not mentioned here.
In the picture above the connectors, beginning at the top right corner stepping clockwise are: the USB port, the switch, both joystick ports, the connector for the LED bord of Amiga 600, the contacts for Amiga 1200 (that one for A600 is on the bottom of the PCB), the socket for the C128D keyboard, the pin header for the C64 and the connector for the LED for C64 and A1200.
For the Commodore 128 (flat version, not the C128D model) there is a special version of Keyrah with a pin header for its internal keyboard.
Please note: Keyrah has to be programmed for the target device. The version for Amiga does not work with 8 bit keyboards neither the other way round. (Even the connector is on board.)
There are those five different versions of Keyrah:
- Keyrah for Amiga 600 and Amiga 1200
- Keyrah 8-Bit german layout for C-64, SX64(*), VIC 20, C-128, C-16 C-116(*) and Plus/4(*)
- Keyrah 8-Bit US layout for C-64, SX64(*), VIC 20, C-128, C-16 C-116(*) and Plus/4(*)
- Keyrah german layout for the external keyboard of the C-128D
- Keyrah US-Layout for the external keyboard of the C-128D
- Soldering required for those machines.
