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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: compgeke on Wed, 20 February 2013, 18:58:23

Title: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: compgeke on Wed, 20 February 2013, 18:58:23

I found this oddball within keyboards, but I can't seem to find much on it. I find references to the EMR II, but what about the EMR (Probably I)? It's heavy (entire metal case, no plastic except the key caps) and has a thicker cable on it, and appears to be based off the PC Model F (if not just a toughened up version). I have not yet tested it yet, but

Here are some pics of it:
Front:
(http://goput.it/etp.jpg)

Back:
(http://goput.it/uwv.jpg)

Connector:
(http://goput.it/y6e.jpg)

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: bazemk1979 on Wed, 20 February 2013, 19:15:29

YOU NEED TEENSY TO MAKE IT WORK WITH TODAYS PC'S, THATS IBM XT

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: compgeke on Wed, 20 February 2013, 19:20:21

I kind of figured it was PC/XT, which is no serious problem as I own both two PCs and an XT.

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 21 February 2013, 09:18:50

Are you able to open up the keyboard? I would be interested to see if there's any additional shielding inside it. These things were designed not to minimize the amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted, as it is possible (given some fancy equipment) to use these emissions to see the contents of someone's screen, or what they are typing on the keyboard. These sort of systems were mandatory for certain government tasks, and it may still well be the case.

This is quite an interesting one, the EMR II has a D-SUB connector which I assume is electrically compatible with the DSUB connector. This one seems to have a standard cable with thicker shielding and some grounding to try and get rid of any emissions from the wire.

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: compgeke on Thu, 21 February 2013, 18:27:36

Here is what the bottom looks like after removing the case:
(http://goput.it/ogo.jpg)

Here's the top without a case:
(http://goput.it/t0n.jpg)

And here is how thick the white stuff is:
(http://goput.it/rcs.jpg)

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: Parak on Sun, 03 March 2013, 11:59:41

Wow. That' really neat. I've seen these massive shields on some other older IBM boards as well, but I'm also really curious as to what the other (terminal) end looks like. Did they put a faraday cage around the whole thing?  :))

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: mr_a500 on Sun, 03 March 2013, 12:06:24

I love the fact that the case is entirely metal. If there's any wear on it, you can just remove the paint and repaint it.

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: h2gofast on Wed, 06 March 2013, 07:07:55

What's the difference between an EMR and an EMR II?

Title: Re: IBM EMR Keyboard (Not EMR II)
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 07 March 2013, 06:19:03

The EMR II keyboards I've seen used D-SUB connectors, but I would be willing to bet that they used the same signally protocol. It's likely that the substantial differences were at the computer end, and not the keyboard.