The Terminal Model F thread.

[sethstorm]

Well, here are the pictures from the Terminal Model F from recycledgoods:


Looks like another 'Aircraft Carrier' 3179 on from the top.  Aside from the hat keys, it is another 3179.


It is a lot simpler to disassemble - Use a normal 7/32 nutdriver for these, then a 9/32 nutdriver for the internal 4.  While it has a sturdier frame to it, I would NOT use power tools at all.  They will give you more pain than they are worth.


No, that is not dust, it is corrosion.  The good side? About every key that should have a stabilizer bar(large keys) has a stabilizer bar.  Keycaps are present on normal sized keys but not on hat/etc. keys.

Compared to my Terminal Model M, it has a distinct 'spring' sound versus the 'flat' Model M sound for each key.  

More pics upcoming.

[sethstorm]

Yes folks, it does have a 3179 pin block. Kishy, yes, this means you can mod one of these to your delight.


It is a jumper block, set to 0000 0000.  It is detachable, should you want/need your own pin block.  If this is the same pin block as the internalized M blocks, I would not be surprised.


If you had any doubt as to the non-use of rivets, look closely for the curved circuit board.

I'm just waiting for the berg strip parts to appear in the mail.  Then I can see as to how well it functions.

[ch_123]

EDIT: Ignore, looked at the pics wrong.

Nice find btw!

[sethstorm]

Correction.. is the same size as the older M 122-key, only much heavier.

Yes, it is noticeably heavier.  The frame is sturdier too.

Though, not easier to open...looks exactly the same as a Model M 122, at least the earlier ones like you and I have. Can fit a normal socket on them if you want.

It is easier in that I only have 3 easily accessible 7/32 bolts to deal with.  Removing the internal deck is not necessary to mod it (unlike the Model M 122).

I see DIP switches and the same cord plug as the Model Ms. I detect easy conversion potential...and you won't even need a pile of jumpers because this time you've got switches.

That, and it has a metal strain-relief of sorts that is usable with about any keyboard cable.  

I decided to use the old NCR (not the Cherry) cable as the donor. Not only is it easier on my hands to strip and crimp, it is about the same thickness and makes the thing look a bit more close to the original AT/XT.

[microsoft windows]

How does the cable attach to the keyboard controller?

[sethstorm]

How does the cable attach to the keyboard controller?

Soldered ribbon cable, or a more rigid version that was available in the 80s.  As soon as I saw that, I was not going to open it up any further.

[ch_123]

Does the Model F terminal have HHKB feet? (i.e. it has two-part feet which allow you to set it to a very slight angle, or quite a high one)

[sethstorm]

Photos say yes.

M does as well, btw.

Note the "slight" angle is already about the height of normal feet, and the high setting is absurd.

It's not that bad of an angle when fully extended.

[sethstorm]

I'm not understanding something here...the cable appears to connect to the controller with a 6 position berg connector.

You are correct.  I was talking about how the keyboard's circuit board connected to the controller.

The dip switches connect onto the same Berg strip to the left of the 6-pin block; there is another unpopulated block (7x2?) to the left of that.

[sethstorm]

It's all in the feet. Model F is the same size as the old Model M - except for the feet. Two part btw.

That XT looking board that's a bit huge, is that a 3178?

Big boards..

I like big boards and I cannot lie.

[ch_123]

That XT is a bit of a weird one, label:

Apparently the Model F 122 key was available as late as 1994, so there's probably a few made by Lexmark kicking around too.

[microsoft windows]

That label you showed in the quotes is not a capacitive Model F. The capacitive Model F 122-key editions had part numbers along the lines of 6110xxx. The 139xxxx and 138xxxx lines of keyboards are just Model M's, internal-wise.

I'd probably say it's safe to say that any buckling-spring keyboard made by IBM after 1985 would be membrane buckling spring. However, if anyone here has an IBM that says Model F from after 1986, a camera, and the ability to take it apart, it would be interesting to see if my idea is true.

[ch_123]

Webwit has said his one uses the capacitive BS. I have yet to hear of a Model F that wasn't... well, a Model F.

I've seen a few of those 'spacesaver' terminal keyboards for the 3290 which were made in the early 90s, and had the Model F label too. You could be right about the 122-key ones though. The source I'm referring to used the product number, so they were probably talking about Model M ones.

[ch_123]

I'm tempted to make a joke about 'blue label' Model Fs, but let's not go there...

I don't suppose it has drainage channels?

[ch_123]

I'd be really surprised if there were internal differences between the terminal boards and the consumer ones... Spring wear?

[ch_123]

That would either mean it had the low-height keycaps, or no backplate... M2 has the same springs as a regular Model M.

[ch_123]

I think you might have just had a strange or dud board... I'm not convinced that there was any intentional difference between that part numbers and others. After all, why would there be?

[microsoft windows]

I've checked it, steel bottom, steel back plate with foam (like new, Ripster) and those nibs of which you need to fold back two to open the keys module. Interestingly, you can say this is a relabeled old F by Lexmark. The cable has a label from 1984 on it. The back plate has an old label, but also a new stamp and date mark on it from Lexmark from 1994. So I think they did not produce anything new but just built those from existing elements from old stock.

Now that I hear more about it, I believe that these Model F's from the 1990's are most likely refurbished units. 122-key Model F's were probably made until some point in 1984 or 1985, when they were replaced by the Model M.

I've seen the labels on the tenkeyless Model F's and their part number looks to be that they have Model M-like internals like I said before. But, then, what explains them being called "Model F" instead of "Model M"? It will take someone here who has one to solve the mystery!

[ch_123]

Maybe they were also refurbished? Unless someone proves conclusively otherwise, I'm going to assume that anything that says Model F uses the capacitive buckling spring variant.

[msiegel]

It's just the label

"this keyboard may have been converted from another part number"

XD

[sethstorm]

Well, I wired it up to an AT barrel with no change in jumpers, and it works.  

YMMV if you have a machine that requires changed jumpers.

Ripster: Thanks for that source for proper pins.  It made my job a LOT easier.

"this keyboard may have been converted from another part number"

XD

That would apply in about every case here at geekhack.org.

My rewrite of it:
"This keyboard may have been converted into an unknown part number."

[sethstorm]

Looking at Sandy's 6110344 page results in some more interesting information if only to consolidate it with the information I have in this thread:
 http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/model_f_6110344.html

Apparently that jumper block is used for KBD ID A/B.

[sethstorm]

*facepalm*

This has been well-known information for quite a while...

lol.

It's more for the link and not so much for that particular bit of information.

[ch_123]

Plate mounted DIP switches are better than PCB mounted ones.

Discuss.