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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: rdjack21 on Thu, 20 August 2009, 19:46:13

Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: rdjack21 on Thu, 20 August 2009, 19:46:13: I would cover those exposed wires on the PS/2 side with some liquid tape just to be on the safe side.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: MsKeyboard on Thu, 20 August 2009, 20:19:10: Ripster, You're the MAN!

I would really love to do this mode, just don't have the guts. Thanks for the detailed description.

Later........
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: rdjack21 on Thu, 20 August 2009, 20:48:26: Well I have to say ripster good work! I keep thinking that I would like to mount a usb connector inside the 87U case so I could have a removable cable on it. Removable cables really make it easy to switch boards out.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: pfink on Thu, 20 August 2009, 20:56:59: Quote from: ripster;110918
I recommend starting first with the blue cube. It'll give you some solder practice and if you screw up you're only out $7 instead of a rare Model M.

Where's the cheapest place to pick up the blue cubes? They're up to $15 clickykeyboards.com (http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/categories.main/parentcat/11298).
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: rdjack21 on Thu, 20 August 2009, 21:06:43: At the start of the article he linked to the site he bought it at. If you click the link you will see that he paid $7.29 for it unless as he advises he bought 10 of them then he paid $6.93 for them.

EDIT: that was kinda of rude sorry about that. Here is the link from the first page of the fine article Blue Cube (http://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=4850)
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: pfink on Thu, 20 August 2009, 21:25:17: Quote from: rdjack21;110940
At the start of the article he linked to the site he bought it at. If you click the link you will see that he paid $7.29 for it unless as he advises he bought 10 of them then he paid $6.93 for them.

EDIT: that was kinda of rude sorry about that. Here is the link from the first page of the fine article Blue Cube (http://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=4850)

Didn't see the link. Thanks.
Title: N-Key Rollover
Post by: Hakhu on Sat, 26 September 2009, 04:28:54: I was wondering how much the boards N-Key Rollover performance changed, when switching to USB. Do you have any numbers?

Thanks
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: JBert on Sat, 26 September 2009, 04:59:24: No model M's have N-key rollover AFAIK. It will only get limited down to 6 keys due to the default USB HID protocol.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 28 September 2009, 08:53:33: Aren't Fs NKRO?
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: JBert on Mon, 28 September 2009, 14:16:58: Yes, but you need to have an AT version or a converter supporting it.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: skriefal on Mon, 28 September 2009, 19:27:44: Am I the only Geekhacker to have converted an M to USB using a drop-in USB controller board from Chris Lee, as discussed here (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4391)?
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 29 September 2009, 07:39:32: Quote from: skriefal;121297
Am I the only Geekhacker to have converted an M to USB using a drop-in USB controller board from Chris Lee, as discussed here (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4391)?

I think that post predates most of us (even me, I think). I completely forgot about that one. Ripster's looks a little more fun to me, though.

Oh, I think you are the only one that's done it. I think that post is so old that many of the members that would have tried it aren't active anymore. Back then, too, Filcos and HHKBs were all the rage (does anything really change around here?), and Model M mods, while interesting, would have probably fell by the way side. We, now, have a lot more members with a wider diversity of preferences, so maybe some of these older mods could be ressurected.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: skriefal on Tue, 29 September 2009, 08:47:44: Yes, it's an older post -- although the related discussion did continue (slowly) for about a year after the initial post. Perhaps pointing it out here will help revive discussion on the topic of replacement controller boards.

(Typing this on an HHKB, btw... :smile:)
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: Mnemonix on Tue, 29 September 2009, 14:03:56: Quote from: skriefal;121297
Am I the only Geekhacker to have converted an M to USB using a drop-in USB controller board from Chris Lee, as discussed here (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4391)?

No, you are not alone. I've done it, too, and it worked great. But take a look here (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=121474&postcount=26)! :)
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: skriefal on Tue, 29 September 2009, 19:34:06: Thanks for the pointer to the other thread. That looks quite nice. I'll follow the development in the linked thread.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: JohnMD1022 on Mon, 02 November 2009, 16:24:53: I spent several hours checking parts sources for a mod like this, and here it is... lol
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 02 November 2009, 16:27:06: I'm glad you found us. Welcome to Geekhack!
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: JohnMD1022 on Mon, 02 November 2009, 18:25:41: Thanks for the welcome.. :)

btw... there may be nothing new here for a sophisticated group like you, but here's a links site:

http://classickeyboards.100free.com
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 03 November 2009, 07:58:45: Quote from: webwit;129991
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Good question. I would imagine that's due to a seemingly high processing cost. Trying to extract the little meat a mouse has from its tiny skeletal structure would be tedious and painstaking, so the cost of such food would be high.

That said, why is it when you send something by boat it' called "cargo," and when you send something by car it's "shipping?"
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: timw4mail on Tue, 03 November 2009, 08:00:36: Quote from: itlnstln;130080
That said, why is it when you send something by boat it' called "cargo," and when you send something by car it's "shipping?"

My guess would be the same reason that the Postal Service delivers the mail, and the Royal Mail delivers the post.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: MFGorilla on Wed, 04 November 2009, 10:48:58: why do you park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: MFGorilla on Wed, 04 November 2009, 12:49:02: There can never be enough Casablanca references.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: steeef on Tue, 23 November 2010, 16:38:32: Nearly finished with this. Had to pick up some heatshrink once I realized that liquid tape doesn't handle being compressed inside the case very well. Tested fine once I had everything plugged in, but after reassembling the case it must have shorted out somewhere.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 23 November 2010, 20:22:17: Back from the dead
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: turbocharged on Mon, 03 October 2011, 12:34:02: Most of the pictures in the OP are dead. Any plan to get these live again?
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: turbocharged on Mon, 03 October 2011, 14:08:47: Thanks man. After 8 months I'm FINALLY going to get around to doing this mod and getting my Model M working.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: turbocharged on Sat, 08 October 2011, 14:41:58: Awesome...thanks.
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: weenis on Tue, 29 November 2011, 13:46:10: I just converted my M, and I used the following USB B cable-

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-1-Feet-Panel-Mount-Cable/dp/B002M8VBIS
Title: Ripster's Ghetto Mod To Converting Your Model M To USB Using A Blue Cube
Post by: weenis on Tue, 29 November 2011, 22:12:27: I couldn't resist mod'ing my M for USB... with a B interface on the board.

I used the following USB B cable-

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-1-Feet-Panel-Mount-Cable/dp/B002M8VBIS

Here she is in all her lack of glory.... I also had the opportunity to make the weight of the board 1/2" lb heavier with 56 pennies and wood glue :D-

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gwI-n3sg_I8/TtWoMKT-p3I/AAAAAAAABIA/FPiOwO3k7WU/s912/IMG-20111129-00303.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F08ynG7XrWI/TtWoMK0WIUI/AAAAAAAABH0/Z_2-MroALSI/s912/IMG-20111129-00304.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMiQxFVFzM8/TtWoL7HOgiI/AAAAAAAABHw/Ppd0WgXsuZM/s912/IMG-20111129-00305.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Binne38trlo/TtWoM50oHPI/AAAAAAAABIE/rU_fSvWx9oo/s912/IMG-20111129-00300.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BUNpFeYPAIQ/TtWlMpMAyPI/AAAAAAAABHg/N6tKWfk7wrc/s912/IMG-20111129-00296.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3v1Hi6NnNaQ/TtWlMQ04P_I/AAAAAAAABHc/_5v_7QIc4hU/s912/IMG-20111129-00298.jpg)

I was really bummed that I drilled the holes 1/32" to once side. The tolerances were tight enough that just a smidge off and it's completely noticeable. :(