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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: mcdonc on Thu, 08 July 2010, 13:33:45

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: mcdonc on Thu, 08 July 2010, 13:33:45

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Clicky-Keyboard-IBM-5155-Portable-PC-excellent-1984-/140425215974?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b1febfe6#ht_4690wt_1471

That thing looks cool.  Doubt it works with AT computers.

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: EverythingIBM on Thu, 08 July 2010, 15:42:04

No it doesn't. Just a reconditioned XT. Unless you really like XT keyboards or still use a 5150/5155, there's no point of getting it. Unless it was like $10.
But the price it's at is decent.

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 09 July 2010, 20:01:27

It's got a handy RJ45-AT adapter though which would be useful for terminal keyboards.

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 13 July 2010, 06:38:13

RJ11, not RJ45.

There's also no guarantee that it uses the same pinout as the terminal keyboard.

Also -

Quote

Removed from a working IBM 5155 a while ago.

Although I have no way to test it, I've no reason to believe it wouldn't work.

Lolwut?

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: J888www on Tue, 13 July 2010, 10:53:47

IIRC, that should be a 6 pin RJ11 rather than the usual 4 pin phone plug, also with fractional difference in size.

Sold already, I quite like the two tone colour, seems very very familiar, just can't recall where I've seen this colour scheme casing, alas the grey matter inside my cranium is disappearing fast.

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: kishy on Tue, 13 July 2010, 11:11:52

Nah CH the terminal keyboards (which MW was referring to) do in fact use RJ45 (when they don't use the DIN connector).

I tested that by plugging an ethernet cable into the keyboard port on my InfoWindow II before I shipped it off to a new home.

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 13 July 2010, 13:32:59

Well, you learn something new every day.... I always assumed that they were RJ11 because just about every RJ-style keyboard connector I've seen in RJ11.

Title: IBM 5155 Portable Computer Keyboard
Post by: mr_a500 on Fri, 08 July 2011, 13:55:28

This is an old thread, but... the 5155 does indeed use a 6 pin RJ11. I'm thinking of getting a Teensy board and a 6-pin RJ11 socket and making a USB adapter for it.

The thing is: why 6 pins? If the keyboard is basically an XT, then shouldn't it have 5 pins? What is the extra pin for? (and which pin is what?)