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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: webuser1200 on Mon, 08 September 2014, 20:37:52

Title: Need help with wiring access-is keyboard with tinsy ...
Post by: webuser1200 on Mon, 08 September 2014, 20:37:52
Hi Guys,

I wanted to use an access-is keyboard for some application I'm working on. However they are not supported on Linux or Mac. I got a couple of boards to test out. I have the following questions:

1. The ribbon that comes out of the the keyboard (see image). Is there a connector I can connect to attach to teensie or arduino?

2. Any idea on what the wiring is for the ribbon cable. It would be easy enough to test and figure out.

3. When I connect the keyboard to my mac laptop I get multifuction keyboard needs more power. I've tried connecting it to a usb hub as well with no luck

Last but not least. Is there another matrix keyboard which will accept these access keys? I need them for the financial application that I'm going to work on.

Title: Re: Need help with wiring access-is keyboard with tinsy ...
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 08 September 2014, 21:05:58
Hi Guys,

I wanted to use an access-is keyboard for some application I'm working on. However they are not supported on Linux or Mac. I got a couple of boards to test out. I have the following questions:

1. The ribbon that comes out of the the keyboard (see image). Is there a connector I can connect to attach to teensie or arduino?

2. Any idea on what the wiring is for the ribbon cable. It would be easy enough to test and figure out.

3. When I connect the keyboard to my mac laptop I get multifuction keyboard needs more power. I've tried connecting it to a usb hub as well with no luck

Last but not least. Is there another matrix keyboard which will accept these access keys? I need them for the financial application that I'm going to work on.



1. You can find connectors by measuring the cable. Search for ZIF sockets with the right number of pins and correct pin pitch (distance between pin) I think it would be easier to just desolder it and solder wires there instead.
2. no but I can probably help if you post picutres of the PCB th switches are soldered to.
3. No idea. Likely driver issue. Try connecting it to Windows (possibly only works in Windows XP)
4. If they are cherry MX then they will fit on any cherry MX switch. You can get another access-is KB and try it or tipro. Those are the most common.

Another option is relegendable keycaps for cherry MX: you can write whatever you want.