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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SmallFry on Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:17:28

Title: Zenith XT keyboard
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:17:28

I found this nice Zenith Data Systems keyboard. Green ALPS :thumb: quite a nice feel to them, although I believe its XT. It doesn't have an XT-AT dip switch...Any ideas on how would i go about converting it to AT(PS/2)? I'd prefer not to use a teensy if necessary. Its my first mechanical keyboard, and I'd like to get off these rubberdomes... They dont feel near as good as these ALPS in my opinion.:hurt:

Title: Zenith XT keyboard
Post by: REVENGE on Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:22:47

I've heard good things about linear ALPS. You only have two (reasonable) choices: 1. Crack open the case and check for an internal switch or circuitry that does XT->AT and work with that, 2. Build a Teensy adapter. If you're into vintage boards, I would go with #2 because of how easy and useful a Teensy converter is. If you buy a Teensy or Teensy++ with pins, no soldering is required to breadboard a converter with a PS/2 port. Then, you can get a DIN5 (AT) to PS/2 adapter for a few bucks.

Another less reasonable option would be to buy the off-the-shelf active XT to AT adapter for $$$. Last I heard, it also has transposition error issues.

Title: Zenith XT keyboard
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:40:19

I dont see any sort of XT-AT circuitry... Anyone have any ideas on how to make a Teensy adapter?

Title: Zenith XT keyboard
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Tue, 02 August 2011, 11:42:41

The third option would be to spaghetti wire all the switches to a new ps/2 or usb controller. I've seen pics where people just took a random rubber dome controller and wired it up. I bet this would take awhile to do.

Title: Zenith XT keyboard
Post by: sealcouch on Mon, 22 August 2011, 16:40:41

Does this model have a speaker in the bottom that clicks when you type?

Title: Zenith XT keyboard
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 22 August 2011, 16:48:45

HAH! Yeah it did. I found it to be more than mildly annoying so I said figured "The hell with it!" The speaker now resides in the local landfill :pound: