#Northgate Keyboard
17 messages in this thread
What Amiga models will it work with?
Thanks
Bob
Robert:
The Northgate will work with either the A2000 or A3000 series computers
directly. It will also work with the A1000 or CDTV with the appropriate
adapters. If anyone ever makes an adapter to use an A2000 keyboard on the
A4000 then it should work with those as well.
The Northgate keyboards are probably the finest keyboards available for
any computer, at least in my opinion!
Another GREAT thing about the Northgate line of keyboards is that they
come with a 5 year garrantee, so if anything happens to it in that time
they'll replace it free!
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike,
Does it map the Amiga keys correctly and are you able to use num lock etc
just like on an IBM. Also, (I may have asked you this before), does it
work with a BridgeBoard?
Mike
It does not work correctly with the bridgeboard…on ANY platform.
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Michael:
Yes, it maps the Amiga keys properly. You have to get the Amiga keycaps
from Northgate for about $16.00. The only 'lock' key that works in this
setup is the shiftlock. There are also several 'dead' keys, and the only
way to make them work is with a special Northgate keymap, of which there
are a couple of them floating around. There are actually 2 different
series of keyboards, the older style ones with the DIP switches located on
the back side of the kb, of which the highest rev is 6.05, and has some
problems with accelerated Amigas, and needs the ticknorthgate program in
the startup-sequence to wakeup the kb. This makes booting off of game
floppies a real pain in the rear! The newer style keyboard has the DIP
switches underneath a small trapdoor on the top of the kb, and it's ROM
revision is 7.0x, and with this one the problem of the kb not syncing to
the Amiga is gone. Normal policy at Northgate is if a user has a problem
with a keyboard while it under warrantee they replace it with the same
version kb that they originally had, but I was able to convince them to
upgrade me from an old style kb to the newer more compatible one.
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike,
Northgates will NOT work on A3000's or A4000's properly
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Dave:
YES THEY WILL. You need to get a copy of a program called TickNorthgate
and add it to either the Startup-Sequence, or the User-Startup. I don't
know for sure if it'll work on the 4000, as I don't have one, and the
connector is different, but I KNOW it will work on an A3000, cause if it
didn't, then I couldn't have typed this message into my computer. I've
been using a Northgate keyboard for about 2 years now, on first my A2000
(and I've had 2630's & GVP's 33mhz combo in it), and later on my A3000
when I got it. I will agree that if not booting off of the HD it could be
a real pain in the rear, but it does work.
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
well….I have one sitting right here, lead me to that program.
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Dave:
The file's on it's way to you.
// -Mike Schiller
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Thats…got it
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Dave:
Their newer style keyboards (the ones with the switches under a small flip
up door on the front of the kb) seem to have a newer revision ROM in them
that's NOT available for the older style keyboard, and it works great with
the Amiga without requireing the file I sent you. Unfortunately they
normally won't replace an older style kb with the newer style under
warrantee (they replace your kb with a like one that works), so for many
folks the file will still be needed. I was able to talk them into
upgrading me to a flip top kb (I also ordered an additional kb at the same
time, so that might have had some influence), and I should have it here by
Monday, I'll let you know if I think it's as nice as my older style one
is.
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
I have one with the little door on top. REV 7.03 And it loves to make R1 heat
up to about 500 degrees
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Dave:
Did the file I sent you do anything for you? If you're using the 7.03 rev
kb it shouldn't be needed. What trouble were you having with the kb?
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Well as I said it makes R1 heat up real high…blew it once too.
And it goes Ape$&!^ when I try to type with the bridgeboard window
highlighted.
Both my 3000's havethis problem….both also won't let me use a KB extension
cable…even with the stock KB.
Dave
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Forgot…I didn't try the program yet.
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I have a NorthGate connected to my 2000. I was sort of hoping they had a A4000
compatible model.
Bob
All of them, as far as I know…..Nancy