geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Karura on Tue, 23 September 2014, 06:05:15

Title: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Karura on Tue, 23 September 2014, 06:05:15

Just wondering how many of us are using coiled cables?

They have such a nice vintage vibe to me, but some vendors on the forum got awesome modern versions.

What do you guys think? Post your pics and thoughts!

Found this pic:
(http://i.imgur.com/nHxz2Ft.jpg)

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 23 September 2014, 07:21:20

Not here.

I hate coiled cables.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Tue, 23 September 2014, 07:22:04

I'd love to get a coiled cable for my keyboard.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Sent on Tue, 23 September 2014, 07:26:09

Been considering getting one but not sure if I'll actually like it.  I'm boring and just prefer straight cables that can be tucked away as much as possible.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 23 September 2014, 07:43:28

They look ok but it's a pain in the ass to use them. You don't want to stretch them to retain the coil but most of the ones I've used aren't long enough. I have a Model M cable that I've got stretched real far because of how my desk is setup and it's a bummer that I've pretty much stretched it straight. Looks nice but not as functional as a straight cable imo.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Arexxk on Tue, 23 September 2014, 11:52:06

I really want to buy one from zealpc, but I constantly get frustrated with all the options. Also spending ~$40 for a usb 2.0 cable, I wonder if it's more worth it to make your own at that point.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Puddsy on Tue, 23 September 2014, 13:06:18

I think I'd be more down if my tower was on my desk and not the floor

that or if i used my laptop primarily

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: JunkFace on Tue, 23 September 2014, 13:45:08

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Tue, 23 September 2014, 07:43:28

They look ok but it's a pain in the ass to use them. You don't want to stretch them to retain the coil but most of the ones I've used aren't long enough. I have a Model M cable that I've got stretched real far because of how my desk is setup and it's a bummer that I've pretty much stretched it straight. Looks nice but not as functional as a straight cable imo.

I feel the same way, I don't have issues where I would need to stretch them out, but I feel like after a while them dangling would take the nice coil out of them.  I hate cables on my desk and I feel tucking them away is the real solution.

That cable you have there is definitely aesthetically pleasing, but I would rather have it tucked away than taking up precious desk space.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 23 September 2014, 15:58:26

My model m has a coiled cable.  I keep the coiled section wrapped and tie twisted in its original sleeve to prevent it from being stretched out.  Would be easier to route it if it was a straight cable.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 23 September 2014, 21:53:33

They look cool, but they're a massive PITA.  I would never use a coiled cable if I didn't have to.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: tbc on Tue, 23 September 2014, 22:09:04

Quote from: Arexxk on Tue, 23 September 2014, 11:52:06

I really want to buy one from zealpc, but I constantly get frustrated with all the options. Also spending ~$40 for a usb 2.0 cable, I wonder if it's more worth it to make your own at that point.

you need to buy a soldering iron

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: taylordcraig on Tue, 23 September 2014, 23:08:09

Quote from: tbc on Tue, 23 September 2014, 22:09:04

Quote from: Arexxk on Tue, 23 September 2014, 11:52:06

I really want to buy one from zealpc, but I constantly get frustrated with all the options. Also spending ~$40 for a usb 2.0 cable, I wonder if it's more worth it to make your own at that point.

you need to buy a soldering iron

And buying parts less than 50 at a time costs about the same as a finished cable from any of the makers.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Premonition on Wed, 24 September 2014, 03:18:28

Definitely a coiled hater, it takes up so much unnecessary space and would get squashed (I take my setup with me everywhere in a laptop bag daily).

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: AverageHybrid on Wed, 24 September 2014, 06:54:51

Would definitely get it if my Filco had a removable USB cable. Would consider modding it to a coiled USB cable one day when I'm modding the switches.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Lurch on Wed, 24 September 2014, 07:14:42

I would love a coiled cable for my keyboard if it was a shorter distance between the keyboard and my pc.

I only use coiled cables on my headphones at the moment. ;)

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: osi on Wed, 24 September 2014, 07:28:12

Love my coiled cable. I kept the coil close to the keyboard while maintaining a traditional cable length. Allows for great freedom of movement without having to worry about adding extra tension

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: courtneyd42 on Wed, 24 September 2014, 08:42:13

Quote from: Karura on Tue, 23 September 2014, 06:05:15

Just wondering how many of us are using coiled cables?

They have such a nice vintage vibe to me, but some vendors on the forum got awesome modern versions. I guess at (http://www.losangelespersonalinjurylawyers.co/dog-bite-attorney/) this point I am just looking for opinions.

What do you guys think? Post your pics and thoughts!

It looks nice.  :thumb: I'm not a fan of coiled cables and they never looked pretty in my eyes but this one looks fine with me.  Does it come only in this length or are there longer ones too? 

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: sunshine on Thu, 25 September 2014, 02:07:44

it seems ok for me but I seldom use it .Maybe i will have a try one day :thumb:

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 25 September 2014, 05:48:13

I do not like coiled cables.  They stretch, get tangled, get caught when they spill over the edge of the desk.

They look ugly when they are over-stretched or so twisted they cannot return to their normal shape.

They are also heavier - more wire per cm than a straight cable.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: davkol on Thu, 25 September 2014, 13:34:15

I love the coiled cable on my vintage DT990 cans. Definitely want something similar for the ErgoDox eventually.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: taylordcraig on Thu, 25 September 2014, 15:42:20

Quote from: courtneyd42 on Wed, 24 September 2014, 08:42:13

Quote from: Karura on Tue, 23 September 2014, 06:05:15

Just wondering how many of us are using coiled cables?

They have such a nice vintage vibe to me, but some vendors on the forum got awesome modern versions.

What do you guys think? Post your pics and thoughts!

Found this pic:

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/nHxz2Ft.jpg)

It looks nice.  :thumb: I'm not a fan of coiled cables and they never looked pretty in my eyes but this one looks fine with me.  Does it come only in this length or are there longer ones too?

zealpc, pexon and mimic are all cable makers around here that can make you a custom cable.
these are hand coiled though so if you pull them out too much they will lose their shape.
i have two though and after morderate use only a few loops have been stretched at all, and not badly enough for me to not like looking at them.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: johndavis33 on Thu, 25 September 2014, 16:42:30

Quote from: osi on Wed, 24 September 2014, 07:28:12

Love my coiled cable. I kept the coil close to the keyboard while maintaining a traditional cable length. Allows for great freedom of movement without having to worry about adding extra tension

Freedom of movement? Do you like to type while moving around your room?

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 25 September 2014, 17:10:55

I really love the straight cable I have for my model M. It's made of very high quality category 5 cable and works great. It's also a little longer than most. I might clamp a ferrite on it just for kicks.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: C5Allroad on Thu, 25 September 2014, 20:40:28

Been considering if I should throw another $40 at Zeal for a coiled cable...
I'm starting to like how they look.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: tjcaustin on Thu, 25 September 2014, 20:42:28

I like making them now that I got them looking closer to perfect.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: osi on Fri, 26 September 2014, 10:00:43

Quote from: johndavis33 on Thu, 25 September 2014, 16:42:30

Quote from: osi on Wed, 24 September 2014, 07:28:12

Love my coiled cable. I kept the coil close to the keyboard while maintaining a traditional cable length. Allows for great freedom of movement without having to worry about adding extra tension

Freedom of movement? Do you like to type while moving around your room?

Not quite. Having a coil close ensures my cable will niot bother me too much if the other end gets snagged and restricts my movement. I make small adjustments all the time

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: larrymoencurly on Sat, 27 September 2014, 23:05:56

I'm not saying the coiled cable of my model F is long, but I can jump rope with it.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: ADFX_Pixy on Sat, 27 September 2014, 23:43:08

I'm considering one for my Ducky since my iMac is a little over a foot and a half away from me. The stock cable just gets too long imo.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: wes1099 on Sun, 28 September 2014, 10:29:13

Coiled cables are only for headphones IMO.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: Hypersphere on Sun, 28 September 2014, 11:17:15

I don't like coiled cables. I've replaced the coiled cables that came with some of my IBM Model M and SSK keyboards with straight cables, and I intend to do the same with my Wyse terminal keyboards.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: mogo on Sun, 28 September 2014, 11:22:16

If my computer weren't on the floor, or if i had a laptop on the desk, I hink coiled cable would be killer. But for any serious distance, they're impractical.

Title: Re: Any love for coiled cables?
Post by: FrostyToast on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:55:12

(http://i.imgur.com/fKYZaPz.png)