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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: c.a.t. on Fri, 11 February 2022, 20:34:18

Title: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Fri, 11 February 2022, 20:34:18: Just found this keyboard on markletplace... It look like a Focus fk555 but iI think I will have to open it to be sure... But the problem is that I was sur it was Alps blue, but looking closer they have not the Alps name on it...
Is there any earlier version of blue alps that dont have the name on it? Is there Blue alps clones on these type of keyboard?

Thank you!!
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Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: Tactile on Sat, 12 February 2022, 13:47:16: The absence of a brand name on these switches might not mean anything. Here's a page at Deskthority (https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Alps_SKCM_blue_complicated.jpg) showing Alps switches without branding.
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Sat, 12 February 2022, 15:22:13: Ouff thanks!! There is still hope… 😂
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: chyros on Sat, 12 February 2022, 17:58:39: Almost certainly genuine blue Alps. They look like they're in pretty rough condition though Oo .

The board itself does also look like an FK-555 with the older pad-printed caps from the front, but if you want to be sure we'd need to see the back as well, I think. A lot of boards have a very similar look.
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Sat, 12 February 2022, 21:00:03: Hey thanks @Chyro, in fact I bough this keyboard after seeing your Fk-555 video! I'm a huge fan, love your channel!
Here pictures of the back panel, in metal... That sound like a fk555... But no model number... So I decided to open it...
Here what a found on the PCB: FK-B007... Already tested one of these??

Thanks again, and hello from Quebec City, Canada!

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Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: chyros on Sun, 13 February 2022, 08:38:50: B007 might just be a part number for the PCB. It definitely looks like an FK-555, it even has the serial number starting with 555.

Glad you're enjoying the videos :) .
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Sun, 13 February 2022, 20:16:00: Thanks Thomas!! That's a great news! :)
Will dismantle all the switches and clean everything with soap and water! Hope it will be fun to use after... Because for the moment it is Hoooorible...!

Take care!

JS
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: headphone_jack on Wed, 16 February 2022, 11:42:10: Yep, those are blue Alps. It's kind of unclear of the timeline of Alps housings, but usually the ones with logos on the top were much newer than blues. Very nice find!
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Wed, 16 February 2022, 13:33:52: Great thanks!! :)
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Thu, 24 March 2022, 14:27:08: Quote from: chyros on Sun, 13 February 2022, 08:38:50
B007 might just be a part number for the PCB. It definitely looks like an FK-555, it even has the serial number starting with 555.

Glad you're enjoying the videos :) .

Thanks again for the helps Thomas. Bought the keyboard, clean it up and he feel "Delicious" again.

Here the sound test video I've made with the Fk-555 if you want to see it:
And also here's the restoration video of the keyboard:

Cheers!

JS
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: ander on Sun, 27 March 2022, 22:36:05: Quote from: c.a.t. on Fri, 11 February 2022, 20:34:18
Just found this keyboard on markletplace... It look like a Focus fk555 but iI think I will have to open it to be sure... But the problem is that I was sur it was Alps blue, but looking closer they have not the Alps name on it... Is there any earlier version of blue alps that dont have the name on it? Is there Blue alps clones on these type of keyboard?

Do they feel marvelously fast and clicky? Then even if they're not true SKCMs—and you bought the board not as an investment to resell, but to enjoy using—you're a winner, right?
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Mon, 28 March 2022, 07:36:59: That’s right mate! But I was planning to do a sound test video, so I want to be sure to named the switches correctly… :p
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: envyy24 on Mon, 28 March 2022, 10:52:44: Quote from: c.a.t. on Fri, 11 February 2022, 20:34:18
Just found this keyboard on markletplace... It look like a Focus fk555 but iI think I will have to open it to be sure... But the problem is that I was sur it was Alps blue, but looking closer they have not the Alps name on it...
Is there any earlier version of blue alps that dont have the name on it? Is there Blue alps clones on these type of keyboard?

Thank you!!
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Early alps SKCM SKCL switches dont have logo on their top housing, I too wondered the same thing when I bought my first blue alps. There are not (yet) any alps clone that looks identical to blue alps so yeah should not be worried.
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: c.a.t. on Mon, 28 March 2022, 11:05:36: Thanks! :)
Title: Re: Is it a Focus Fk555 and are they Alps Blue??
Post by: jacobalbertus1 on Tue, 19 April 2022, 13:33:19: focus fk 555 is great i got one practicaly NOS and its great