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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: 1391406 on Sat, 08 June 2013, 00:29:36

Title: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 08 June 2013, 00:29:36: No brand on the front or back. Just a serial number. I like it. Anyone know what it is?
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 08 June 2013, 07:48:36: Terminal keyboard DEC LK201 alike. They were sold under several terminal equipment brands. It have MX black and SP doubleshot. I had similar Cherry G80-1306 version of that type of layout and there is earlier G80-0535 version too.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 08 June 2013, 08:27:55: I think this one is a "Falco".
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: rootwyrm on Sun, 09 June 2013, 15:54:05: Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 08 June 2013, 07:48:36
Terminal keyboard DEC LK201 alike. They were sold under several terminal equipment brands. It have MX black and SP doubleshot. I had similar Cherry G80-1306 version of that type of layout and there is earlier G80-0535 version too.

Most likely that's a rubber dome LK201-alike. Those are the most common by far, and the original genuine LK201 is a rubber dome. (You can trust me on this one. I have a genuine DEC VT220 in the house.)
The DIN5 is odd though. The genuine article is RJ11.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 10 June 2013, 08:55:48: After a bit more googling, I am certain that it is the keyboard from a Falco terminal.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 10 June 2013, 10:22:16: Quote from: rootwyrm on Sun, 09 June 2013, 15:54:05
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 08 June 2013, 07:48:36
Terminal keyboard DEC LK201 alike. They were sold under several terminal equipment brands. It have MX black and SP doubleshot. I had similar Cherry G80-1306 version of that type of layout and there is earlier G80-0535 version too.

Most likely that's a rubber dome LK201-alike. Those are the most common by far, and the original genuine LK201 is a rubber dome. (You can trust me on this one. I have a genuine DEC VT220 in the house.)
The DIN5 is odd though. The genuine article is RJ11.

Not quite, the LK2** keyboards have a switch that is sort of like the Cherry MY (I think I used to have a picture of it here somewhere, but I have no idea if it lasted the move to the new forum software). The later LK4** keyboards use rubber domes made by Honeywell.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: rootwyrm on Mon, 10 June 2013, 13:19:40: Quote from: ch_123 on Mon, 10 June 2013, 10:22:16
Quote from: rootwyrm on Sun, 09 June 2013, 15:54:05
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 08 June 2013, 07:48:36
Terminal keyboard DEC LK201 alike. They were sold under several terminal equipment brands. It have MX black and SP doubleshot. I had similar Cherry G80-1306 version of that type of layout and there is earlier G80-0535 version too.

Most likely that's a rubber dome LK201-alike. Those are the most common by far, and the original genuine LK201 is a rubber dome. (You can trust me on this one. I have a genuine DEC VT220 in the house.)
The DIN5 is odd though. The genuine article is RJ11.

Not quite, the LK2** keyboards have a switch that is sort of like the Cherry MY (I think I used to have a picture of it here somewhere, but I have no idea if it lasted the move to the new forum software). The later LK4** keyboards use rubber domes made by Honeywell.

Uh, no. The LK201 comes in rubber dome and foam over foil. This is an absolute fact. Are there some with mechanical or semi-mechanicals? Most likely. It's DEC.

But don't try and tell me they don't when I've got the genuine article right here. (Shush about the filth, it's a spare. :P)
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 10 June 2013, 14:54:18: As an additional aside, this layout exists in a lot of different keyboards. I've seen tektronix-branded ones with unknown switches as well as WYSE branded ones that may have cherry mx blacks in them.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: rootwyrm on Tue, 11 June 2013, 04:18:19: Quote from: dorkvader on Mon, 10 June 2013, 14:54:18
As an additional aside, this layout exists in a lot of different keyboards. I've seen tektronix-branded ones with unknown switches as well as WYSE branded ones that may have cherry mx blacks in them.

Yup, though none quite identical to the LK201. Trust me on this one. They all have differences.
For example, the LK201-compatible Tektronix 119-2468-03 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-119-2468-03-Terminal-Keyboard-/321078104735) which is one of my favorite "oddities" uses a joy-pad for the arrow keys. Even though the layout's otherwise identical. Wyse did some oddities with the F/PF key layout, though I can't recall what exactly. Nobody exactly copied the LK201 - probably for fear of getting sued. When the VT220 was popular (1983-1987) is when DEC was at its financial zenith. IBM was #1, and DEC was #2 with VAXen.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 11 June 2013, 08:33:30: Really? Looks like Cherry 1306 is exact copy to me.
(http://deskthority.net/w/images/thumb/1/16/G80-1306_001.jpg/640px-G80-1306_001.jpg)
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: rootwyrm on Tue, 11 June 2013, 15:39:47: Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 11 June 2013, 08:33:30
Really? Looks like Cherry 1306 is exact copy to me.
Show Image
(http://deskthority.net/w/images/thumb/1/16/G80-1306_001.jpg/640px-G80-1306_001.jpg)

Check again, sir. Layout's exactly the same, yes, except not. The F-keys on the Cherry 1306 are 1x1's - the LK201's are 1.1-1.2ish x 1. Same deal with Help/Do.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 12 June 2013, 07:50:06: Quote from: rootwyrm on Mon, 10 June 2013, 13:19:40
Uh, no. The LK201 comes in rubber dome and foam over foil. This is an absolute fact. Are there some with mechanical or semi-mechanicals? Most likely. It's DEC.

But don't try and tell me they don't when I've got the genuine article right here. (Shush about the filth, it's a spare. :P)

So do I, in fact, I've taken one apart before. If you open it up, you'll see that the white plastic part in your pictures is just a keycap mount. Underneath them, there's a row of metal hammers sitting over a membrane sitting over a backplate (the whole thing is secured together with plastic rivets just like a Model M). It's kinda hard to describe the mechanism properly (again, I used to have pictures and a diagram up here on the wiki about 3 years ago, but it seems to have been lost) but there's no rubber dome, no foam, no foil, and no capacitance plate. It's a switch that's a lot like the Cherry MY, except it's not self contained.

Of course, it's possible than they have made some different versions with different switches (are definitely some variations, for example, I've seen some with double shot keys, and some with dye sub), but your one there looks identical to the ones I've used and examined. Also, it's next to impossible to see the mechanism unless you open the case and look at the assembly inside, the pictures are inconclusive.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: rootwyrm on Wed, 12 June 2013, 13:20:36: Quote from: ch_123 on Wed, 12 June 2013, 07:50:06
Of course, it's possible than they have made some different versions with different switches (are definitely some variations, for example, I've seen some with double shot keys, and some with dye sub), but your one there looks identical to the ones I've used and examined. Also, it's next to impossible to see the mechanism unless you open the case and look at the assembly inside, the pictures are inconclusive.

Dude. I know what a rubber dome feels like as compared to a linear. This one looks like the linear but types like a rubber dome. It's a rubber dome. Pop-membrane similar to Unicomp where the keystem actuates. The linears don't have the bounce. I have a linear LK201-AA (which honestly, I hate too) hooked up to the white 220. It may be a post-marketing replacement part though - I don't have real solid provenance on the amber screen it came with.

As I said, it's DEC. Identical PN, different part is the norm with them. ;P
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: tgujay on Wed, 12 June 2013, 13:56:33: Pop a key off please?
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 12 June 2013, 17:23:33: Quote from: tgujay on Wed, 12 June 2013, 13:56:33
Pop a key off please?

I don't have the keyboard. Just pics.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: tgujay on Thu, 13 June 2013, 07:25:29: Quote from: 1391406 on Wed, 12 June 2013, 17:23:33
Quote from: tgujay on Wed, 12 June 2013, 13:56:33
Pop a key off please?

I don't have the keyboard. Just pics.

You have failed me. I will spend the rest of my life never knowing what was under there.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: Aerendraca on Fri, 28 March 2014, 11:28:39: I couldn't let this go unresolved so I thought it was time to register with geekhack and provide my first bit of knowledge.

This keyboard is a Falco 5220 taken from a Falco High-Speed Infinity (LOL) Terminal. I can alos tell you that under the hood are 109x (if I remember correctly) Cherry MX Black switches.

Here's some pics (sorry about the orientations, was in a hurry):
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this keyboard?
Post by: Red October on Fri, 04 January 2019, 16:01:46: Sorry for the Ultra Gravedig, but I just pulled apart a junk one of these keyboards and I can confirm 100% it is for a Falco 5220 Terminal as it says "Falco 5220" on the bottom of the circuit board. Thought I'd add information to the thread for the enlightenment of future searchers.