Author Topic: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics  (Read 3751 times)

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Offline HalfSharkAlligator

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Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« on: Wed, 23 December 2015, 01:17:52 »
Just wanted to share this old beauty that I picked up recently.  It's the older style, with the nice thick domed doubleshot keycaps and I'm assuming linear ALPS switches.  It also has the older style font, which I really like.  The caps feel a lot like the Signature Plastics spherical ABS doubleshots (like the Round 4 and Round 5 Honeywell group buy keys).  It looks like they only made this older style a few years, as the "newer" ones look like this:  http://shrineofapple.com/blog/2011/05/27/appleiie-numeric-keypad/ .  It's also a pretty low serial number.

I know these aren't that rare and most of you have probably seen them, but I just wanted to have one and share it with y'all.  I grew up with an Apple IIe and it was how I first learned computing and BASIC, but I live in an apartment and move somewhat often, so owning a IIe rig is not in the cards right now.  Unfortunately by the time I can easily own one, they'll probably cost thousands.  So this helps give me a little slice of that nostalgia in a small package.   :)

It could use some retr0brite, but after doing that on a few old AEK's, I think I might actually not do it.  It ends up more like the original color, but a little bit splotchy looking in some areas so I'm on the fence.

I also found some info on the connector and pinouts, if anyone knows how to actually bring this to PS2 or USB let me know.  I already have an ADB to PS2 converter, if that helps.

Apple //e Numeric Keypad cable

(This is from a Csa2 post by Mark Wade.)

To construct a suitable internal cable for a IIe numeric
keypad you need a female Dsub-15 to 11 pin female header.
If the female Dsub-15 is numbered like this:

           Dsub-15 (female)
    ,-------------------------.
    \ 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 /
     \ 15 14 13 12 11 10 09  /
      `---------------------'

And the 11 pin header is numbered like this:
 _____________________________________
|                                     |
|  11  10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  |
|_____________________________________|

Then:

Dsub-15 | Header
________|_______
   12   |   11
   11   |   10
   10   |   9
    9   |   8
   NC   |   7
    7   |   6
    6   |   5
    5   |   4
    3   |   3
    2   |   2
    1   |   1

The header is as viewed on the motherboard. The Dsub-15 is the
female connector that you would plug the keypad into.


  :thumb:
« Last Edit: Wed, 23 December 2015, 01:20:15 by HalfSharkAlligator »

Offline hasu

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Re: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 24 December 2015, 02:54:44 »
You may be able to locate documentation you want here:
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/machines/

I hope you can get your old little friend revived in mordern computer world.
keep this thread updated with your research. :thumb:

Offline hasu

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Re: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 24 December 2015, 03:18:34 »
Found it ;D Looks like you can access key matrix directly with those pins.

Code: [Select]
Pin             Name        Description                               
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,5,3,4,6     Y0-Y5       Y-direction key-matrix connections         
7               n.c.                                                   
9,11,10,8       X4-X7       X-direction key-matrix connections 

See p.188.
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/machines/Apple%20IIe%20Technical%20Reference%20Manual%20(alt%202)_part%203.pdf

Offline HalfSharkAlligator

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Re: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 24 December 2015, 10:41:57 »
Thank you very much, hasu!

I will post back if I can make any progress.

Offline SamirD

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Re: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 31 December 2015, 11:48:25 »
Very cool!  I had no idea they made a separate num pad.

I remember us playing Oregon Trail on those machines back in the day.

Offline chyros

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Re: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 01 January 2016, 07:02:45 »
Ooh, Alps SKCC black! Never seen them before. How do they compare to other linear switches (and other SKCCs if you have them)?
Check my keyboard video reviews:


Offline newbold

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Re: Apple Numeric Keypad IIe - with pics
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 03 March 2019, 20:24:56 »
Thanks to the info in this thread (and a hefty dose of help from patient folks in the QMK Discord) I was able to successfully get a Numeric Keypad IIe working with QMK and connected via USB! The firmware is now in the QMK repo (in /converter/numeric_keypad_iie) and I've also shared some more info (and pics) on a page I published:https://adam.lol/bucket/numeric-keypad-iie/

Hope this helps anyone else trying to use one of these with a modern setup. :)