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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:36:24

Title: Alps Blues?
Post by: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:36:24
Hello! I was able to pull a keyboard from a rack before we took it out of service at work. I pulled the keyboard because it was mechanical and I have a cheap mechanical board at home that I thought this would make a nice partner to. I was told these switches are blue alps and that I would need to pull the switches to be able to make it work. I have experience soldering and could probably do the work. However I really don't know what would be compatible with what parts. Any help would be wonderful. I really want to use these switches if at all possible. Thanks people!

(https://i.imgur.com/ry56gYX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/am8mPqZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/K7BpyGH.jpg)
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: biothermal on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:53:15
They do look like Blue Alps, that's for sure, although that first picture must be blown out a bit, color-wise? The sliders usually are a blue/grey mix but that looks almost white/blue because of how light it is.

As for using the switches, if you wanted to desolder that board and reuse them in a modern board, there are plenty of boards out there that have alps compatible plates/pcbs, and any one of them would be a great home for those switches. What layout of board do you prefer? That would determine my recommendation for an alps-compatible board out there that you could try and obtain.

 Getting any blue alps board, for free nonetheless, is cause for celebration in my book. How do they feel and sound? Alps are pretty easy to open up and clean, so you can always try and restore them a bit to get some of their former glory back.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:56:48
I can post some better pictures here in a bit. I thought they seemed lighter than anything else I found that was blue. Some poster on Reddit said they were blue so I assumed they were correct. They are a very tactile switch. I can also post a video. Either way I am happy with them I just couldn't find anything that said use this PCB and case and it would work so I didn't want to gamble and be wrong.

EDIT- I didn't answer the layout question. I think I like my smaller board at home but with that said I wouldn't mind a full sized board. Not sure of what they typically call them.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: biothermal on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:10:39
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:56:48
I can post some better pictures here in a bit. I thought they seemed lighter than anything else I found that was blue. Some poster on Reddit said they were blue so I assumed they were correct. They are a very tactile switch. I can also post a video. Either way I am happy with them I just couldn't find anything that said use this PCB and case and it would work so I didn't want to gamble and be wrong.

EDIT- I didn't answer the layout question. I think I like my smaller board at home but with that said I wouldn't mind a full sized board. Not sure of what they typically call them.

The big tell for blue alps is the clicky-ness, there's nothing quite like it out there. It is true that they do look light, but that could be easily explained depending on where the switches come from originally, how the board was stored, and what the board actually was that the pcb was pulled from. Any idea about that?

My recommendation for a smaller board would be the GSKT-00 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=104130.0) which is entering into groupbuy within the next couple weeks, and is a very good price for what it is. That board has options for alps compatibility and could be a great home for the switches.

As for fullsize boards, there are a lot of options out there, but one very recent board is the hbcp by Hineybush (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=96158.0), which is an 1800 compact layout. It has alps compatability as well, but the groupbuy is finishing up right now and will be delivered to buyers soon, if they're not shipping already. I would look out for extras of that board or check mechmarket once people receive them. There are bound to be some people selling.

Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:17:20
Quote from: biothermal on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:10:39
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:56:48
I can post some better pictures here in a bit. I thought they seemed lighter than anything else I found that was blue. Some poster on Reddit said they were blue so I assumed they were correct. They are a very tactile switch. I can also post a video. Either way I am happy with them I just couldn't find anything that said use this PCB and case and it would work so I didn't want to gamble and be wrong.

EDIT- I didn't answer the layout question. I think I like my smaller board at home but with that said I wouldn't mind a full sized board. Not sure of what they typically call them.

The big tell for blue alps is the clicky-ness, there's nothing quite like it out there. It is true that they do look light, but that could be easily explained depending on where the switches come from originally, how the board was stored, and what the board actually was that the pcb was pulled from. Any idea about that?

My recommendation for a smaller board would be the GSKT-00 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=104130.0) which is entering into groupbuy within the next couple weeks, and is a very good price for what it is. That board has options for alps compatibility and could be a great home for the switches.

As for fullsize boards, there are a lot of options out there, but one very recent board is the hbcp by Hineybush (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=96158.0), which is an 1800 compact layout. It has alps compatability as well, but the groupbuy is finishing up right now and will be delivered to buyers soon, if they're not shipping already. I would look out for extras of that board or check mechmarket once people receive them. There are bound to be some people selling.

It was stored in a mostly dark room in a server rack. I would say the room got light once a week if that. It was in there for many years. It was in a case that has a track pad attached to it. That is what the wire is for. We used the keyboard I think once in the 4 years I have been here and It was used probably about that much in the years prior. I think those in server keyboard monitor setups are named like acnode? The system had been outdated for years and is now being replaced.

Thank you for giving me some ideas. Greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: quasistellar on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:18:16
Whoa, what is that keyboard out of?  That looks awfully modern to have blue alps in it. . .
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: biothermal on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:23:12
When you search the chip number that's on the front of the board it does provide some potential clues. For instance, this keyboard (https://pgrkbd.web.fc2.com/keyboard/filcoxmh.html) shares some characteristics with that one. And it has a very similar chip, with alps compatible grey switches.

EDIT: The problem with these keyboards sharing that chip, is that the Filco is from 2001 apparently, which means the switches certainly aren't blue alps.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:35:34
I'm going with grey alps then. I have the keyboard with me now and they look pretty grey. Not sure why the other person thought blue. I would also say that it was probably installed around that 2001 time frame. I still like the switches and would love to not just toss it. I dont know the rarity of grey either.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: Sup on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:38:24
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 14:35:34
I'm going with grey alps then. I have the keyboard with me now and they look pretty grey. Not sure why the other person thought blue. I would also say that it was probably installed around that 2001 time frame. I still like the switches and would love to not just toss it. I dont know the rarity of grey either.

Not sure about rare but not sought after. Grey alps are simplified Alps they don't feel that good or are on par with the older SKCM series. If you want more information about the switch you can visit this page.

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_SKBM_Grey
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: treeleaf64 on Thu, 16 January 2020, 16:40:20
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:36:24
Hello! I was able to pull a keyboard from a rack before we took it out of service at work. I pulled the keyboard because it was mechanical and I have a cheap mechanical board at home that I thought this would make a nice partner to. I was told these switches are blue alps and that I would need to pull the switches to be able to make it work. I have experience soldering and could probably do the work. However I really don't know what would be compatible with what parts. Any help would be wonderful. I really want to use these switches if at all possible. Thanks people!

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/ry56gYX.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/am8mPqZ.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/K7BpyGH.jpg)


THOSE ARE NOT BLUE ALPS! Your switches don't have the slits on the housing, and I don't think Blue Alps have the Alps logo either.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 22:19:01
Quote from: treeleaf64 on Thu, 16 January 2020, 16:40:20
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:36:24
Hello! I was able to pull a keyboard from a rack before we took it out of service at work. I pulled the keyboard because it was mechanical and I have a cheap mechanical board at home that I thought this would make a nice partner to. I was told these switches are blue alps and that I would need to pull the switches to be able to make it work. I have experience soldering and could probably do the work. However I really don't know what would be compatible with what parts. Any help would be wonderful. I really want to use these switches if at all possible. Thanks people!

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/ry56gYX.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/am8mPqZ.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/K7BpyGH.jpg)


THOSE ARE NOT BLUE ALPS! Your switches don't have the slits on the housing, and I don't think Blue Alps have the Alps logo either.

Correct. I figured out they are grey. I was told by another poster on reddit they were blue. I am ignorant to all this so I figured I would get a second opinion. You all seem to have a better understanding of all this. Thanks.
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: biothermal on Fri, 17 January 2020, 08:15:06
Quote from: treeleaf64 on Thu, 16 January 2020, 16:40:20
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:36:24

...and I don't think Blue Alps have the Alps logo either.

Most don't, some do. (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=86189.0)
Title: Re: Alps Blues?
Post by: treeleaf64 on Fri, 17 January 2020, 12:56:32
Quote from: biothermal on Fri, 17 January 2020, 08:15:06
Quote from: treeleaf64 on Thu, 16 January 2020, 16:40:20
Quote from: Cerokoss on Thu, 16 January 2020, 13:36:24

...and I don't think Blue Alps have the Alps logo either.

Most don't, some do. (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=86189.0)

I stand corrected. Thanks for the help! :)