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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: buedi on Sat, 02 April 2011, 10:59:56

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: buedi on Sat, 02 April 2011, 10:59:56

Hello everyone,

since I was so addicted by the Sound of my Model F XT (but not able to use it on my PC), I was searching for a Model F AT for quite some months now. A week ago one was available at eBay and I bought it. Since I´m sitting in Germany I was happy to get one with a German Layout. Funny: The previous owner did not seem to be happy with the Layout and wrote the US Layout on the Keys with a waterproof marker.

I now hooked it up on my PC (though a DIN --> PS2 --> USB Converter since DIN --> PS2 did not work on my PC, maybe a power issue) and all the Keys seem to work.
But I have one issue.
When trying to write a @ or [ ] I have to press CTRL + the corresponding Key. The Problem here is, that when I do this I get ^[ and ^] instead of just the [ and ]. I wonder how I can tell the Keyboard or Windows 7 to not send the Escape Char before writing these special Chars.


Ah, nearly forgot that. If you own a Model F XT and suspect that the Model F AT will have the same noise, then let me tell you that they sound a little bit different. The AT Version (maybe because of it´s plastic bottom instead of the metal one) sounds more... plastic.
So maybe I should look out for one of those Converters which now seem to be available since 2011 from hagstromelectronics.com :redface:

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: kbdfr on Sat, 02 April 2011, 11:10:22

Try pressing AltGr (instead of Ctrl) with the corresponding key. As far as I know, this is the correct modifier key for those characters.

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: Soarer on Sat, 02 April 2011, 11:24:58

It doesn't have AltGr! Although, if Windows still thinks it's a German layout 102-key, it won't handle all keys correctly.

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: kbdfr on Sat, 02 April 2011, 11:31:34

Quote from: Soarer;323327

It doesn't have AltGr!

shame on me :frusty:

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 12:44:44

Last I checked, the PC/XT Model F has a plastic bottom too

(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2005/ibm_xt2/ibm_xt-009.jpg)

Complete with cork feet.

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: Soarer on Sat, 02 April 2011, 14:30:38

Quote from: ch_123;323361

Last I checked, the PC/XT Model F has a plastic bottom too

Rusty plastic at that! ;-p

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: JBert on Sat, 02 April 2011, 17:17:30

Quote from: ch_123;323361

Last I checked, the PC/XT Model F has a plastic bottom too

Complete with cork feet.

It's a painted steel plate, complete with cork feet.

@OP: tried pressing Ctrl+Alt+[ ? I believe Windows had something built-in to map Ctrl + Alt to AltGr.

Title: Finally, a Model F AT on my table
Post by: buedi on Sun, 03 April 2011, 13:28:06

Thanks all for your replies. Yes, I tried the CTRL-ALT+Key Command. I use that from time to time when I´m forced to type with one of the newer 104 keys Keyboards where ALT-GR is on another position because of the Windows Keys.

But the CTRL-ALT Trick does not work on the F. It throws out the same chars, no matter if I use CTRL+[ or CTRL+ALT+[.
I guess I´ll pull out one of my old DOS / Linux / whatever Boot CDs to see how it behaves in another OS. I don´t need the [ and ] very often, but @ and \ are also done with the CTRL Key, and these are essential :-(

So for you all Model F AT owners the Chars generated by the CTRL Key work for you without throwing a ^ in front of them?