LGR - IBM PCjr Freakout!

Actually, a CCFL with an electronic ballast could be oscillating at 400Hz, several kilohertz or more.

RetroSwim

Interesting. I wonder what wavelength of infra-red that your florescent bulb is emitting to cause a keystroke on the IBMJr? It makes sense though, seeing as florescent tubes flicker light very fast, and an IR receiver picks up flashing infra-red light in different frequencies. I'd hate to think what would happen if banks had IBMJrs that could get broken into using a flashing light! lol!

Ian Guebert

This is why modern systems use 400hz coding on the IR. That way 50 or 60 hertz light wont be detected as signals

John Arild Lolland

Haha, thats a crack up! ps Cheers the floppy disc! was most excited :D

Another of the same keyboard but with a mouse included for a better price <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-compaq-vocalyst-keyboard-148080-101-With-Mouse-From-working-computer-/261444728004" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-compaq-vocalyst-keyboard-148080-101-With-Mouse-From-working-computer-/261444728004</a>

Nick Schafer

Found another but Compaq branded but apparently it will work with the computer <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Compaq-Vocalyst-Keyboard-Spares-148080-101-/391141170426?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b11d49cfa" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Compaq-Vocalyst-Keyboard-Spares-148080-101-/391141170426?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b11d49cfa</a>

Nick Schafer

Excellent, sent you an email!

Andrew Buffenmyer

I certainly am. Email me at Clint@lazygamereviews.com!

LGR

I have a few pieces of IBM PC Jr software in their original hard plastic boxes I'd be willing to donate if you're interested just let me know.

Andrew Buffenmyer

My other CFL bulbs don't affect it!

LGR

XD Actually, not all CFLs put out the same spectrum of light, so different branded bulbs may or may not produce the same result. You can actually see the specific colours put out by a CFL by shining the backside of a CD at just the right angle and focusing your eyes on the colours. Incandescent bulbs produce a nice, perfect gradient, but CFLs will actually show points of single colours shaped like the bulb itself!

Kris Asick

Oh wait, I got it, it's a Gremlin. "BRIGHT LIGHT! BRIGHT LIGHT!"

Alyxx the Rat

PCjr: "DO NOT WANT!"

Alyxx the Rat

Funny. More reason not to use CFL. The camera even shows some of the IR from the CFL that the human eye can't see.

Jesse Marcon

Not a bad price actually

LGR

I've also read that you can make your own keyboard cable. Go to page 253 on this pdf <a href="http://classiccomputers.info/down/IBM/IBM_PCjr/IBM_4862_PCjr_Technical_Reference_Nov83.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://classiccomputers.info/down/IBM/IBM_PCjr/IBM_4862_PCjr_Technical_Reference_Nov83.pdf</a>

Nick Schafer

This is what I could come up with. You'd just have to keep the spare or resell without the cord. <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-PCjr-keyboard-cable-Model-7257-/391190894505?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b14cb57a9" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-PCjr-keyboard-cable-Model-7257-/391190894505?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b14cb57a9</a>

Nick Schafer

Even if she was, no batteries in the keyboard :)

LGR

And you're sure your cat isn't just sitting on your keyboard every time you turn on the light?

Joseph Coco

For some reason this kind of makes me think about Wall-E and future junk. Imagine the robots of the future stumbling upon what you just figured out where the computer screams when light is shining on it, but then it quiets down when you turn the bright lights off.

Adrian LaTrace

Probably a good idea

LGR

Ah yes, I heard about that!

LGR

Haha, well I'm glad it brought a lil amusement

LGR

Been looking for a PCjr keyboard cable ever since I got the machine many years ago. Hard to find indeed.

LGR

That was um.... let's just say it was "um." I can't really process much now. My brain is fried from too much thesis work due to an upcoming deadline. I was probably way too amused by this video than necessary because of being nearly brain-dead. Have fun coming up with a solution for that problem! Unless you just wanna shoot in the dark... but maybe you already figured out what to do! I'm sure you did figure out a solution or you at least will soon :)

Lindsay Michelle

"More useful"? Them's fightin' words!

dan2304k

Can't say I use the system enough to make the investment worthwhile! But I have similar things for my more useful machines :)

LGR

BTW, you should really consider getting one of these: <a href="http://www.brutman.com/jrIDE/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.brutman.com/jrIDE/</a> and one of these: <a href="http://www.brutman.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=484" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.brutman.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=484</a>

dan2304k

Hmm, I wonder if it'd react any differently to LED bulbs.

ReeseRiverson

i was just thinking the same thing

Randall Strye

Had this problem years ago when the sun would be at just the right (wrong) angle. I ended up pulling out the IR receiver and using a cable for the keyboard instead. Those cables are probably a bit harder to find these days.

dan2304k

You might need to call an exorcist

Ryan Miller

That is crazy! There were some reports that the new Raspberry Pi had a weird thing where a camera flash would lock it up.. Apparently the light was bleeding through one of the chips on the board.

Lon Seidman