Detailed Instructions on Hacking

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: I did a keyboard hack and was pretty happy with the results. First I created table with about 15 rows and columns, my actual matrix was was around 8x12. I took apart the keyboard and on the green circuit board I noticed two groupings of contacts like this... : |||||||||||| |||||||| : X123456789... Y12345678 : (the numbers weren't there I added them with a grease pencil) : : I booted up a PC with Windows and started the KEYHOOK program, just a dialog box with an OK button on it. Took a while to figure out how to use it, just press a key and the description appears in the dialog box. I kept clicking OK and closing the program. I plugged in my keyboard that had only the the circuit board then used a wire to touch the contacts on the left to the ones on the right and fill in my matrix, X1 and Y1 equaled A for example. I would do X2,3, etc until I finished the row then go to the next one. After about 5 rows or so the matrix started to repeat. : I then created a separate matrix filling in only those boxes with the keys I needed. Pretty simple as I had 2 joys and 7 buttons. I checked my paper matrix for potential ghosting posibilities, it has been a while but I don't think I had any or I was able to use a different coordinate to avoid the ghosting. : Next, to solder the wires. I thought about using a ribbon cable but the idea of stripping all those little wires didn't appeal to me so I took some old phone wire, the kind you wire your house with that has 4 or 6 solid insulated wires inside a plastic cover, (I'm a real technical type of guy). I The individual wires were real sturdy. I would clamp a wire to the circuit board over the "|" I put solder flux on the area (a must!) and proceded to solder the wire to the board. I had to use a small screwdriver to hold the wire down to the contact when soldering as the aligator clip wasn't perfect. : The soldering took less time then completing the matrix. Not a bad way to go if you have a simple control panel. : Good Luck! : : : I am attempting to hack a keyboard and need some advice. : : To map out the matrix you check for continuity between the : : mylar under the keys and the terminal on the encoder board. : : Can I use a test light continuity tester, a standard : : needle ohm-meter, or do I need a digital ohm-meter? : : The LED's are mounted on the PCB and I don't plan to use : : them. Does this mean that none of the terminals on the board : : carry voltage? If not, how can I tell? Would I check for : : continuity between the led solder points and the PCB terminals, : : between the hot lead of the keyboard connector, or something completely different? : : When it is wired up, is there any way to tell if its ok, besides the smoke test (plug it in and : : see if you see smoke!)? : : Please don't tell me to buy an I-PAC. I've seen it, it's : : very impressive and I may still order one, before this is : : over, but the keyboard should work for me and is essentially free!! : : Thanks in advance, : : Marshall

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