Sometimes I think Amstrad loved cross-model incompatibility as much as Compaq!

As I recall the keyboard of my PC2386 (I was an early adopter) was clearly marked, both on the top decal and on the underside label, as 'PC2386'. Sadly I can't recall the DIN layout, but a quick search by keyboard model shows mine might have been 7220000503 whereas yours is 7220000824. Problem with that is I'm seeing the latter with a standard 5-pin DIN as well as what you've got???

Here's just a couple of links I found

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_evDCMoxnNA
https://oldcrap.org/2019/06/27/amstrad-2386-keyboard/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triplehaata/set … 57660046906073/

Thanks!

Actually, I found those links myself already.

The mystery continues, because after taking the keyboard apart (mostly to clean it), it revealed the controller PCB is MK0006A - that corresponds to that PC2386 keyboard mentioned in the second of your links. The controller is exactly the same, just the manufacturing date is different - but the other numbers on the controller, which I assume is mask ROM identification, is the same on my keyboard and that PC2386 keyboard.

The only difference I could see between my PCB and the one from PC2386 keyboard is that light blue component just above the controller - it's not present on the PC2386 keyboard and it's replaced by a wire. I am guessing that might be some sort of fuse that's blown off. I'll do some testing later and will report back.

Hi there

I was wondering did you get the keyboard working as I have a Amstrad PC2386 and no keyboard, I was wondering if you knew any way I could get a different keyboard working

I just bought one of these machines on local flea market but without keyboard. I am thinking why nobody made some converter using for example arduino like for AT keybord to XT? Is it so complicated? I will do AT to XT converter soon based on some project from internet for my XT. Maybe, if we know signals which are sent for each key, it would be just a matter to do some changes in AT to XT project to made it working with Amstrad? I can build some projects form internet but I am not so good to create it on my own.

I know that it is old topic but now I had a time to come back to this computer. I also heard just a bipping and info about problems with keyboard on screen so I disassembled this keyboard. It is really hard to do it because there is no bolts and this old plastic is very brittle. There are two layers of foil like in other keyboards so I cleaned their connectors to the PCB. It didn't help so I started to think that there is no other way just to buy HIDMan and use some standard keyboard. Last thing which came to my mind was to separate these two layers of foli. They may be squeezed too much (some key still pressed) and after mounting everything back together keyboard started to work. I am very happy that I did it and now I will restore whole computer and add coprocessor. I am also thinking about better CPU because there is only 20 MHz 386DX. There is a lot to do because I see some IDE connector on mainboard but it is not used. Instead of this computer is using MFM drive. Plastic case needs to be glued in some places.
My keyboard on top have informations that it is 4MB Personal Computer and on the right side PC2386. The type on a sticker is: 7220000503 and on a PCB inside this keyboard I see: MK0006A.

Tomek TRV wrote on 2025-11-30, 13:51:

It didn't help so I started to think that there is no other way just to buy HIDMan and use some standard keyboard.

HIDman is currently untested on 2386s but I expect it should work. You will have to build your own adapter though. Certainly hit me up if you have problems.