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Compaq Portable Keyboard Hack

Covert Compaq Portable keyboard to USB with mechanical switches

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Wanting to use this keyboard on a modern computer I went though some things getting this working. First I tried adapting the PC/XT signal to USB or PS/2. Shelved that after not being able to get it working. Then I noticed the holes in the back-plate were about the same size as the mechanical switches from my current keyboard .

This is the journey I had wiring up the matrix of keys and programming the firmware. The Compaq Portable I got for $8 from a thrift store and was not working and I currently still have all of the original parts. I got the other keyboard for free from the trash.

I used a Teensy LC for the controller board and a bunch of magnet wire from an old transformer to wire up the keyboard matrix.

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