IBM PC3270 display was Re: IBM PC3270 (5271) keyboard connector?

From: Dr. Ido <drido_at_optushome.com.au>
Date: Mon Jun 23 03:14:00 2003

At 06:14 AM 6/22/03, you wrote:
>> > > I just picked up an IBM PC3270 with the 122 key keyboard. The 122 key
>>
>> On Sat, 21 Jun 2003, Tony Duell wrote:
>> > I can't rememebr if it's this machine, but one of the more 'exotic'
>> > original PCs has a somewhat strange keyboard conenction.
>> >
>> > There's a card in one of the expansion slots which contains (at least)
an
>> > 8051 microcontroller. It has a couple of DE9 connectors on the bracket
>> > with one hole (at least) blanked off in each one). There's a 3-ended
>> > cable that connected to one of the DE9s, to the keyboard connector on
the
>> > motherboard, and to the cable from the special keyboard.
>>
>> ... and somebody else told me that that card is meant to go into the
>> "special" slot of the XT (in place of the serial card place holder)
>
>I can't see why it would _have_ to go in that slot (unless it's something
>like the cable will only reach to the motherboard keyboard socket if it's
>there :-)) but I can well believe it can assert pin B8 and therefore
>would work in that slot....
>
>I mentioned I had the cable. I have the card and keyboard as well. I will
>have to dig them out _sometime in the distant future_ and investigate

I've found the cable, so no need to go digging. Once I had that card out
and noticed one of the connectors was marked kbd I knew what to look for.
Prior to that I thought it was just an adapter. Any idea what the other
connector on that card is for? It's marked S.PORT from memory.

Any idea if the video card can do graphics at all? I vaguely remember
seeing CGA on one once, but while the card is detected at CGA any attempt
to use a graphics mode gets me a blank screen.
Received on Mon Jun 23 2003 - 03:14:00 BST