There’s something undeniably satisfying about repurposing old hardware to make it new again. Why throw out that old Atari ST keyboard, when you can still use it with modern devices? Oh, that’s right, you can’t connect it to a current USB port. Now, that’s where the story would end for most people, but not for makers. We see a problem, and we craft the solution.
Say hello to the Atari ST USB keyboard kit. This controller board allows you to turn an Atari ST keyboard into something that will work with a modern desktop or a Raspberry Pi. Everything is fully mapped so it can work out of the box with sensible layouts to make it feel like a modern keyboard.
The two joystick ports on the back are also supported at USB game controllers. This is actually the second generation of the concept. The first was built using a generic board, but the one you see now is a custom PCB specifically for the Atari ST. One side takes the keyboard cable, while the other is a full-sized USB port to connect the USB cable included.
You can mount the board near one of the existing cutouts or elsewhere if you want to fit another device inside, like a Raspberry Pi. The kit includes the board, 4 self-adhesive mounting pillars, and a USB cable. You’ll need to bring the Atari ST keyboard to get the party started.
