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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: newbrict on Thu, 14 February 2013, 15:33:29

Title: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: newbrict on Thu, 14 February 2013, 15:33:29
Hey so I recently became the new owner of an IBM Model M from 1995.

The issue is that the keyboard has a "8P5C (RJ-45)" out and I cannot use this.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to convert this to a ps/2 or USB out

whichever would be easier.


Thanks :)
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: funkymeeba on Thu, 14 February 2013, 15:57:08
I believe Soarer's converter might be able to help, if you're willing to get your hands a little dirty. http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: newbrict on Thu, 14 February 2013, 17:01:56
I believe Soarer's converter might be able to help, if you're willing to get your hands a little dirty. http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0

Hey thanks for the reply, I actually saw this earlier and was considering it. I guess that's the best way to go unless I could just rewire the connections to a ps/2 without having to modify the actual keyboard, only the cable
:)
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: x2o on Thu, 14 February 2013, 20:58:17
Hey thanks for the reply, I actually saw this earlier and was considering it. I guess that's the best way to go unless I could just rewire the connections to a ps/2 without having to modify the actual keyboard, only the cable
:)

I think the problem is most Terminal Model M's with the RJ45 connector send their output in Mode 3, which is why Soarer's converter is usually needed.

What's the P/N ?
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: rootwyrm on Fri, 15 February 2013, 02:33:36
I believe Soarer's converter might be able to help, if you're willing to get your hands a little dirty. http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0

Hey thanks for the reply, I actually saw this earlier and was considering it. I guess that's the best way to go unless I could just rewire the connections to a ps/2 without having to modify the actual keyboard, only the cable
:)

You can come close to it. But you need a donor board to provide the PS/2 Set2 controller. A circa '95 3151 uses the same matrix as an M, so you can do a straight controller swap. But, like I said, needs a donor board. (Or a Unicomp controller, that'll also work.)
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: newbrict on Fri, 15 February 2013, 10:02:20
I'll get the part number when I get back to my house

Is it possible to use the existing rj45 connect with my computer?
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: rootwyrm on Fri, 15 February 2013, 15:23:47
I'll get the part number when I get back to my house

Is it possible to use the existing rj45 connect with my computer?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0
or
Nope. Either that or controller swap. It is not a PS/2 keyboard.
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: newbrict on Sat, 16 February 2013, 02:55:56
I think the problem is most Terminal Model M's with the RJ45 connector send their output in Mode 3, which is why Soarer's converter is usually needed.

What's the P/N ?

The part number is 1392595
Title: Re: IBM Model M '95 Question
Post by: mich on Sat, 16 February 2013, 06:34:06
I'll get the part number when I get back to my house

Is it possible to use the existing rj45 connect with my computer?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0
or
Nope. Either that or controller swap. It is not a PS/2 keyboard.
Most likely it is a PS/2 keyboard and will work on PS/2 after cable swap.

There is a wiki article showing how to wire a PS/2 cable to these keyboards and linking to modified Windows driver which supports them.

Using them in Linux currently requires kernel recompilation with simple patch I've posted somewhere on this forum.