AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN #0856               08-16-93




                      POWER EXEC AND EXTERNAL KEYBOARDS


PROBLEM:       Some functionality may be lost on older style AST Keyboards
               when attached to the Power Exec.  The keyboards are
               manufactured by Compal and NMB.  All models of the Compal
               keyboard will not function properly with the Power Exec.  The
               NMB keyboards models are; NMB001A and NMB001D.

CAUSE:         These keyboards support both XT and AT modes by using an auto-
               sensing method.  The Power Exec does not support keyboards
               that use the XT/AT auto-sensing function.

AFFECTED
SYSTEMS:       All Power Exec systems.

SOLUTION:      The Power Exec will not be modified to support those
               keyboards.  Users wishing to connect an external keyboard
               should use a different model keyboard.  The current AST
               Keyboards function properly with the Power Exec.