Author Topic: Info request on Memorex terminal keyboard  (Read 8215 times)

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Offline Neit

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Info request on Memorex terminal keyboard
« on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 12:29:39 »
Hi everyone,

Today I found a terminal Memorex keyboard never used and in it's original box :happy:.

The plug is a standard 180° DIN with 5 pins. I can't get it working on my PC with a DIN -> PS/2 adapter.
I've read the 122-key Terminal Keyboard Conversion guide but I cannot determine if it applies to this keyboard.
Any advice is welcome!

BTW, I can get more of these and with other layouts (US, FIN, etc.) so if I can get it to work and if you're interested by one, I can pick up for you and ship it.

Here's some pics (some are linked to 1MB hires) :










Maybe something to do with this?

Switches and keys :




Couldn't find any infos on the switches.

An here's the DIN -> PS/2 adapter I'm using (is it looking okay? I'm a bit worried about the big hole, looks like something has been folded).

« Last Edit: Sun, 24 April 2011, 11:53:31 by Neit »

Offline Reaif

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 15:46:05 »
Those are some very interesting key caps. Kind of looks like the black text is double shot and everything else is printed.
Currently own:
Das S Ultimate with Browns
Cherry G84-4100 with ML Linear switches
Memorex Telex with NMB Space Invaders
Leopold with Blues

Offline quadibloc

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 15:50:30 »
I have a Memorex 122-key keyboard that works with a normal PC, however, the key stem design is different, so I don't know about the one you have.

And you are fortunate to have a keyboard that has APL symbols on the keys! A French AZERTY keyboard as well... but unlike the traditional AZERTY keyboard, it does not go as far as to make the digits in the top row the shifted characters. Perhaps that's because it has enough extra keys for the accented letters to be on them instead.
« Last Edit: Fri, 22 April 2011, 15:52:53 by quadibloc »

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 17:21:25 »
Quote from: Reaif;335700
Those are some very interesting key caps. Kind of looks like the black text is double shot and everything else is printed.
Yup, I also noticed. I think the switches are also a sort of mix (2 little springs + rubber dome underneath the white plastic piece).

Quote from: quadibloc;335703
I have a Memorex 122-key keyboard that works with a normal PC, however, the key stem design is different, so I don't know about the one you have.

And you are fortunate to have a keyboard that has APL symbols on the keys! A French AZERTY keyboard as well... but unlike the traditional AZERTY keyboard, it does not go as far as to make the digits in the top row the shifted characters. Perhaps that's because it has enough extra keys for the accented letters to be on them instead.
Thank you, now I know what does mean these symbols :happy:
Yea this AZERTY is weird. I think it's a mix - again - of Portuguese and French layout.

By the way, I've tested the keyboard with the adapter and my PC don't recognize it.
I read the "122-key Terminal Keyboard Conversion" topic but I'm unsure what to do. Any help is appreciated.

Here's a pic of the internal design :

Offline gilgam

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 17:26:54 »
strange azerty layout indeed, How old is it ?

What are these symbols on the keycaps ? It's an alchemist keyboard ?
Nicolas Flamel get out of this !!!

Edit

Welcome to Geekhack !
Realforce 105 FR, HHKB Pro 2 black, 1 Raptor K1 Black Cherry and 1 Raptor K1 Red Cherry , Compag MX 11800  tBrown Cherry, G80-3000 Clear Cherry , G80-1000 Blue Cherry / Ghetto red, Lexmark 1992 SSK Buckling spring, Unicomp 2011 Customizer 102 Buckling spring
and a few rubber dome/scissors keyboards from Apple/Logitech

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 17:31:54 »
According to the inscription on the upper right corner of the PCB : 09 October 1987.

Thank you :)

Offline Lpb45

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 17:54:26 »
That thing is in amazing shapre for being that old.
Topre - 86U   |   Filco - Tenkeyless Linear Red
Filco - Tenkeyless Blue       |   Filco - Fullsize Non NKRO Blue (Work)

Offline CurtisLeon

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 20:01:06 »
What type of switches does it use?
Currently Using

Space Invaders: NMB RTRT8255CW+
Black ALPS: Dell AT101W
Foam & Foil: BTC 5339SX

In Storage

White ALPS (complicated): Focus FK-2001, Reveal KB-7061 (Chicony rebrand), PC Concepts KB-7000 (Chicony rebrand)
Orange ALPS: Apple Extended Keyboard (modded to ghetto Blue ALPS)
Peerless: Fujitsu FKB4700
Foam & Foil: LR 69497 (unknown make, terminal keyboard)

Offline quadibloc

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 22 April 2011, 23:06:27 »
Quote from: gilgam;335763
What are these symbols on the keycaps ? It's an alchemist keyboard ?
Nicolas Flamel get out of this !!!

No, alchemy is not involved.
http://www.quadibloc.com/comp/aplint.htm

Offline gilgam

  • Posts: 298
Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 23 April 2011, 01:56:03 »
Quote from: quadibloc;335939
No, alchemy is not involved.
http://www.quadibloc.com/comp/aplint.htm

Thanks ;-)
« Last Edit: Sat, 23 April 2011, 03:55:33 by gilgam »
Realforce 105 FR, HHKB Pro 2 black, 1 Raptor K1 Black Cherry and 1 Raptor K1 Red Cherry , Compag MX 11800  tBrown Cherry, G80-3000 Clear Cherry , G80-1000 Blue Cherry / Ghetto red, Lexmark 1992 SSK Buckling spring, Unicomp 2011 Customizer 102 Buckling spring
and a few rubber dome/scissors keyboards from Apple/Logitech

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 24 April 2011, 11:52:18 »
Quote from: Lpb45;335775
That thing is in amazing shapre for being that old.
It was stored in a warehouse NIB :happy:

Quote from: CurtisLeon;335863
What type of switches does it use?
Don't know. I was hoping someone here have the answer.

BTW, I can get more of these and with other layouts (US, FIN, etc.) so if I can get it to work and if you're interested by one, I can pick up for you and ship it.
I have updated the first post for better reading.


-edit-
Can't find where to modify the topic title. Is it unavailable?
« Last Edit: Sun, 24 April 2011, 11:58:12 by Neit »

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 24 April 2011, 14:18:45 »
Quote from: kishy;336599
I'm inclined to say these are not going to be the same as the similar looking IBM boards.

However, I was under the impression that they would 'just work' not only due to the plug, but because someone(s) has reported they do...I think.

Would be interesting to see if early examples used the XT protocol.

And thank you, neit, for trying to figure it out by reading first :)

Sorry, I'm completely new (and pretty lost) into the world of old mechanical keyboards.
If I understand well, my PC won't recognize the KB because it maybe uses the XT protocol (which is incompatible unlike the AT).

So, I have to figure out which protocol it uses or why the KB cannot communicate with my PC. But, how? (again sorry, I'm new to this and even after searching I'm still lost).

I found http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:7521 and http://www.xs4all.nl/~loosen/memorex_telex/index.html about XT protocol.
Makes me hoping that this KB is not using it :'(

Thanks to you, kishy, for your attention on my 122 problem :)
« Last Edit: Sun, 24 April 2011, 14:45:53 by Neit »

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 25 April 2011, 09:26:03 »
Thanks for the enlightenment!

So now, I have to:
1 - Test my DIN-to-MiniDIN adapter (I suppose with a multimeter, unfortunately, I don't know -yet- how to "configure" it for this purpose).
2 - If adapter's OK, test the keyboard's awareness. (which tool/material/whatever to use?).
3 - Adapter and KB are OK. Build the Soarer converter and finally start typing on this KB!

One more thing: I have read that some DIP switches could toggle between XT/AT protocols. How can determine if this KB support it and how to position the switches to AT mode?

PS: I know, I have a lot to learn.

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 26 April 2011, 13:42:09 »
News!

Quote from: kishy;337063
Wise and helpful words

Tested the adapter with the help of this image (thks kdbabel) + multimeter > seems OK.

I was prepared to that answer about how to test the keyboard :(
I'm going to build the Soarer's converter to sort it out (it will serve, even if the keyboard is dead).
I'll give some news as soon I progress with this.

Message received about DIP switches (seems no standard exists, sadly).
I went back where I found the KB, but the guy wasn't able to give any more info on it.

Again, thank you very much for showing me the path.

Quote from: ripster;337067
Boobs

Hehe, yours seems younger than mine ;)
You've got a nice fishy "A" although.

Anyway, I discovered an another Memorex 122 KB with APL today (Swidish or Finnish layout I think).
I'll post some photos.
« Last Edit: Thu, 28 April 2011, 15:23:24 by Neit »

Offline Touch_It

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 08 May 2011, 21:41:06 »
hmm i definitly might be interested in that board in a us layout.  the 122 key layout is so sexy


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline Neit

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 15 May 2011, 13:22:24 »
Quote from: kishy;343542
This might be relevant...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/220392818485

I kind of doubt the seller would be willing to skim through and tell you if the DIP switch settings are on the other page (listing does say it's only a 2 page brochure), but who knows...might be worth a shot?
Nice find, thank you! It might help cause I've build Soarer's converter and I'm still unable to bring life to this KB.

Quote from: Touch_It;343577
hmm i definitly might be interested in that board in a us layout.  the 122 key layout is so sexy
I'm going back to the place where I found it, will search for one. (and test if it works obviously)

Offline Soarer

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Info request about Memorex keyboard(s)
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 15 May 2011, 18:14:56 »
Well... it looks like a normal AT connector, but is it wired the same?

Here's where you can find power and ground on the circuit board - can you test to see which pins they connect to on the plug?