Backlit keyboard

[Westozy]

Hi all,
I just installed one of these keyboards in the roof of my sim and it works great, no more torch required. The backlighting is a light sky blue and the keyboard has a button to turn the backlighting on or off. AUD$70.00
I'll get a pic of it working later.

http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=D2113

Gwyn

[Matt Olieman]

Gwyn, have you seen these in ergonomic style keyboards?

[Westozy]

Gwyn, have you seen these in ergonomic style keyboards?

I can't say I have Matt, I was alerted to this one by a mate. I had to modify the roof panel as it was a bit smaller than the old wireless keyboard which still works by the way, I can still use that for typing stuff. Here's a couple of new pics... http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1506

http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1508
Gwyn

[magicaldr]

Hi, I have used one of those before and found the keys not reliable. Hopefully I just had a dodgy one and yours will be fine. Must say it looks nice in a overhead, and will give you some gentle cockpit lighting as well :)

I am currently using red backlit saitek keyboard I got for £15 in maplin. Has added bonus of laser etched keys so they light up through the letters. It is much larger however, but works well for night flights. Will pop a pic up when I get home for comparison.

[Matt Olieman]

I like the idea of the laser etched backlit too, how about a link of who suplies these?

Gwyn, could you supply the manufactures name, perhaps this is available in the U.S.

[JBaymore]

Gwyn, have you seen these in ergonomic style keyboards?

Matt,

Lets see here...... you are talking "ergonomic"....and Gwyn is talking about a keyboard on the roof....... what's wrong with THIS picture? ;)

best,

.....................john

[magicaldr]

Saitek Eclipse Keyboard ( PZ30AU )

Saitek Eclipse Backlit Keyboard - Red LED ( PZ30AUR )

2 links for the different colours on amazon.com.

Photo from my keyboard below, keys are not as precise as my normal keyboard was, but I love the colour :) The eclipse 2 is now out, so they seem to be selling off the eclipse ones cheap which is why I got this at the weekend.


http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9669/snv32690ac8.th.jpg (http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snv32690ac8.jpg)

[Matt Olieman]

Matt,

Lets see here...... you are talking "ergonomic"....and Gwyn is talking about a keyboard on the roof....... what's wrong with THIS picture? ;)

best,

.....................john

LOL, :D

Thinking for my instructor station.... once I get it back together :roll:

OOPS!!! almost forgot... thanks for the links :)

[Westozy]

I like the idea of the laser etched backlit too, how about a link of who suplies these?

Gwyn, could you supply the manufactures name, perhaps this is available in the U.S.

The actual brand name is "I-Rocks", made in China. Model KR 68-10

[Matt Olieman]

Thanks Gwyn :)

[B738]

Hi Gwyn,

Just give you a heads up mate. I picked up one at the computers markets minus the keypad on the right for about $15.

[Westozy]

Hi Gwyn,

Just give you a heads up mate. I picked up one at the computers markets minus the keypad on the right for about $15.

Good score!

[RobiD]

Hi Guys,
Don't know if anyone is still reading this thread but I'll ask my question anyway.

I read this post about the i-rocks backlit keyboard a long time ago and it inspired me to include a back lit keyboard in my sim.

It has been a long process of building and I bought the generic backlit ps2 keyboard (at a very cheap price) some time ago. I have finally got to a point of connecting the computer up to my construction (2 dof single seater generic sim) to start testing the home made gauges, switches, yoke etc etc. I have mounted the keyboard at the back of the overhead and used a ps2 extension cable. Now after all that, here's the problem.

The ps2 keyboard works perfectly plugged directly into the computer but when I use the extension, it no longer works. I have checked the connections of the extension and it is wired correctly. I am let to beleive that you can extend a ps2 up to 45 feet before requiring an amplifier.

Does anyone have any suggestion why this keyboard won't work with the extension. (without is, it just won't reach the computer)

Thanks
David

[Michael Carter]

Have you tried the extension on another keyboard?

My guess is that it's bad. If not, don't know what could be wrong.

None of my computers are in this room, every box is located in the shop and I have extensions on everything. I've never had any trouble.

[RobiD]

Thanks for the reply Michael.

I know it should work but I thought I'd ask the question in case I was missing something simple.

I will try the extention on another ps2 keyboard and see how I go.

David

[RobiD]

Ok, so here's what it is doing on another computer, another keyboard etc

The other keyboard works fine with the extension including the multimedia buttons.

Pluged the backlit keyboard in, and without the backlighting, it works fine.
Turn the backlighting on and it is very dimly lit compared to plugging it directly into the computer, it misses key strokes and generally does wierd stuff.

Just a thought, should I isolate the backlighting circuit and run power directly to it rather than getting the power throught the ps2.

Thanks
David

[W9XE/Project777]

David

I think you may be on to something. The extension adds resistance to the PS2 port and I am sure thats why the dimming of the lights.

Back when the first PS2 keyboard came out they did not work with extensions. I am sure that has been resolved by now but there is still limited power from the motherboard for powering up lights. I am sure there is significant current draw over the span of the keyboard. The USB may be a better way to go on some motherboards and using external USB huds with their own power supplies.

Here is some additional links to backlit keyboards from a quick Google search.

http://www.viziflex.com/store/template.cfm/ses_/details.cfm,list,x,99,0,FireFly,x,x,x/Specialty%20Keyboards/All/FireFly%20Borealis/

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/a85c/ (This one is very interesting)

http://www.xoxide.com/blpsilke.html (Several choices good prices)

[RobiD]

I was hoping to not have to spend any more money on a keyboard.

Can I just hack the keyboard and run the backlighting with a seperate power supply?

Thanks
David

[RobiD]

I've hacked the keyboard and run a seperate 5vdc from an atx pwr supply to the EL on off switch before the transformer and it works fine.

Tested the extension with the EL on and it all works. Now to put it all back in the sim and run the extra power line.

Thanks everyone.
David

[Michael Carter]

Engineering at it's finest. There's always another way to do something when it comes to sim building.

I'm down to only needing about 7-10 functions on the keyboard and that's mostly for views and checking the wind.

I've been planning (forever it seems) to add a small programmable 20 or 25 key compact keypad to the forwart RT rack ahead of my trackball for those functions. I don't really need or want a full size keyboard integrated into the sim, or sitting in the FO's seat.