geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: MadSage on Mon, 18 April 2011, 19:50:43
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So I've had this Model M (from 1989) lying around for a while, I found it in the server room at work gathering dust so I nabbed it. Unfortunately, it has an RJ45 ethernet-type connector, which I assume was for one of the terminals back there. Is there any way to interface the connection to USB or PS/2? If not, is it worth anything cashwise?
Thanks
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Thanks for the welcome! =) I've actually been an avid keyboard hoarder for some time now, and I even had an account by this same username a year and a half or so ago, but it appears to have been deleted, and so I'm rejuvenated as a junior member once more.
That's what I thought about this keyboard, but I wasn't sure. I've done a little bit of electrical work myself (having been born to two electrical engineers, it was inevitable), is it something that's been done and documented at all? I'd imagine that simply swapping the cables wouldn't be enough (if only), but with a little registry tweaking, is it a feasible task?
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Member jpc knows more about this, but you might be able to swap controllers and use a standard Model M PS/2 controller.
If it works, buy a cheap rubber dome M (71G4644) and use its controller.
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Thanks for the more accurate welcome! =)
I'll check out the mods forum. It may end up being more time consuming and costly than simply buying another Model M, but that's half the fun of it, isn't it?
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Member jpc knows more about this, but you might be able to swap controllers and use a standard Model M PS/2 controller.
If it works, buy a cheap rubber dome M (71G4644) and use its controller.
You know, this would actually probably work rather well. I wonder if you could do this to a 122 terminal board, using a 1397000 controller to do it...Obviously without lock lights, of course. But really, who uses those?
Edit: Does Unicomp sell just controllers, do you think? Obviously, then it would be a terminal emulator, rather than a terminal, but that shouldn't really matter for most purposes.
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You know, this would actually probably work rather well. I wonder if you could do this to a 122 terminal board, using a 1397000 controller to do it...Obviously without lock lights, of course. But really, who uses those?
Edit: Does Unicomp sell just controllers, do you think? Obviously, then it would be a terminal emulator, rather than a terminal, but that shouldn't really matter for most purposes.
wouldn't that defeat the purpose though? the 1397000 is a terminal keyboard that works with modern PCs (I'm typing on one now), so why risk damaging it to use another terminal keyboard that might not even work?
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This should apply to the same process as linked to from my sig, and the USB converters that are floating around. What's the part number?
I'll check out the links. I don't recall the part number, and the keyboard is sitting in the office at work right now. I'll check it out tomorrow and let you know.
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wouldn't that defeat the purpose though? the 1397000 is a terminal keyboard that works with modern PCs (I'm typing on one now), so why risk damaging it to use another terminal keyboard that might not even work?
Because the older ones are a much heavier duty construction. Having disassembled both, the older ones are definitely of higher quality. If nothing else, the steel plate is quite a bit more substantial.
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Doesn't the removable SMK (SDK, BDSM, or whatever) cable resemble a RJ45 on a non-terminal Model M?
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Do you mean SDL port? It looks like ethernet but almost all Model Ms have it. You can find SDL->AT or SDL->PS/2 cables all over the place.
Looks like RJ-45 but thinner and a little wider.
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(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/techpics/SDL_cable.gif)
(http://www.9999hp.net/keyboard/IBM/SDL_plugs2.jpg)
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Is that a third party SDL cable on the far right? I've never seen an IBM version in black like that.
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Is that a third party SDL cable on the far right? I've never seen an IBM version in black like that.
Probably. I haven't seen one like that either.
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RJ-45 cables were used on 5250 and 3151 style terminals. The keyboard should be easy to convert.
Is it a 122-key, or a standard sized one? If the latter, can I see a picture of it?
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I missed my boss today, it's in a locked room in the office. I'll try to grab it tomorrow and bring it home, then I'll take pictures and post the model number and everything. I think he was planning on throwing it away anyway.
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All right, just grabbed it. Here are pictures of the keyboard, connector, and birth certificate:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17495[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17494[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17496[/ATTACH]
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that doesn't have num/capslock LEDs... doesn't that imply that it only has single-way communication? Ie incompatible with modern PCs?
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No, just because it doesn't have LEDs, doesn't mean it's not AT / PS/2 compatible. I've got an IBM 1390120 right here next to my desk that works fine with my PC and doesn't have any LEDs. I looks very similar to the board being discussed here, but has a different controller inside and obviously a different cable on the outside. IBM SSKs are another example of Model M keyboards without LEDs but which work with modern PCs.
It's the original IBM PC XT keyboard and clones that don't have LEDs and don't work with modern computers.