• dn300 keyboard emulator progress (and q)

    From toshok@gmail.com@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 10 12:00:27 2023
    Hey all,

    I've been able figure things out to the point where I can connect an 8P8C (non-keyed) cable + rpi pico + usb keyboard and type things and they on the screen and they work. For instance `DI N` + `LD` prints out the node id + fails (the dn300 is the only
    token ring machine I have.)

    But here's the rub: I can't seem to locate a Vcc pin on the keyboard connector.

    State of my understanding:

    8P8C pin Function
    (kb side)
    =====================
    1 ??? (1 and 2 seem to be tied together)
    2 ???
    3 ???
    4 KB_DATA. 5v (from a pull up resistor?) from the apollo side
    5 KB_CLOCK. putting out 1200 Hz which matches the baud rate
    6 KB_GND
    7 ???
    8 ???

    KB_GND connected to the rpi pico's GND.

    KB_DATA connects to a level shifter (with 5V coming from the external supply powering the pico and 3.3V coming from the pico's 3.3V output), and is also tied to GND through a resistor.

    The 3.3V input to the level shifter connects to one of the pico's UART tx pins. the connection is (afaict) not bidirectional. 8N1 @1200 baud.

    Current theories about how the keyboard gets power, and why I'm not seeing +5V anywhere but KB_DATA, range from:
    1. Vcc is on one of the 5 unknown pins and there's something shot on the apollo side that I need to repair/replace.
    2. The keyboard somehow powers itself from the current it can steal from KB_DATA (diode + caps + .. whatever)
    3. There's an additional KB_SENSE that when asserted properly causes +5V on another of the pins.

    #1 is definitely plausible. I've had to replace other things (oscillator for the ACIA the keyboard connects to, in particular.)
    #2 Seems pretty crazy
    #3 I think I've ruled out. unless there's something like #1 affecting that pin too.

    Any thoughts?

    If there's anyone out there with a dn300 (there must be someone someplace :) I'd also _love_ to see photos of the circuitry inside the keyboard.

    Will get my schematic in order and put everything up on github shortly.

    -c

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