Wonder why the pricing is so different on #2 and 3
Wonder why the pricing is so different on #2 and 3
Maybe a typo I didn't even notice it earlier...
Can you straight out use one of these on a modern PC (with USB adaptor)?They require a proprietary adapter box along with specific cabling. In their original use they run multiple machines.
Do the extra keys actually do anything?
Wonder why the pricing is so different on #2 and 3
Maybe a typo I didn't even notice it earlier...
Yeah unless someone bought it I think it was a typo...it is now closed.
EDIT: if someone bought it they got a good deal, the clears in these things are usually pretty awesome, not to mention the keycaps.
Can you straight out use one of these on a modern PC (with USB adaptor)?They require a proprietary adapter box along with specific cabling. In their original use they run multiple machines.
Do the extra keys actually do anything?
The only member I've seen talk about using one was photoelectric.
How much did they sell for?
lol the second one sold 1 minute after the other
w/e
Price is right and I know from PhotoElectric that the caps are really nice as well. But I'm just afraid that these boards are trashed from spending time in some transmission shop??
Price is right and I know from PhotoElectric that the caps are really nice as well. But I'm just afraid that these boards are trashed from spending time in some transmission shop??
I assume most people don't buy these to use the actual board just to harvest switches, caps, stabilizers etc.
yeah...
that was me.
I do have the adapter box but still need to figure out how to use it. I have another WEY kb as well, so hopefully I can get it going.
I do have the adapter box but still need to figure out how to use it.
I just bought one of these (accepted offer). Will have to wait to determine how good of a deal it is after I see how dirty it turns out. :))The same seller did have some of the boxes but I'm not sure where to get the right cabling.
I would love to actually convert this for proper use, I always get a kick out of using unique boards. If not, it will be a good source of some keycaps at the very least.I do have the adapter box but still need to figure out how to use it.
Is this adapter box hard to come by?
I just bought one of these (accepted offer). Will have to wait to determine how good of a deal it is after I see how dirty it turns out. :))There's at least 2 on eBay right now. I'm still trying to find the cable to connect them together. I think you also need a USB A - A cable to plug it in to "just" one host PC but I may be wrong on that. The connector box looks seriously expensive inside. The PS/2 ports on the connector box also connect to the KB port (big scsi looking connector on the side) so I will try to connect KB to connector box on PS/2 first, but I suspect it won't work. Just about all the pins on the connector connect to chips on the KB so I'm not sure.
I would love to actually convert this for proper use, I always get a kick out of using unique boards. If not, it will be a good source of some keycaps at the very least.I do have the adapter box but still need to figure out how to use it.
Is this adapter box hard to come by?
There's at least 2 on eBay right now. I'm still trying to find the cable to connect them together. I think you also need a USB A - A cable to plug it in to "just" one host PC but I may be wrong on that. The connector box looks seriously expensive inside. The PS/2 ports on the connector box also connect to the KB port (big scsi looking connector on the side) so I will try to connect KB to connector box on PS/2 first, but I suspect it won't work. Just about all the pins on the connector connect to chips on the KB so I'm not sure.
I think the HK2000 might use a different box (there are like 5 revisions, at least 2 of which are common) than that one I have but we'll see.
Well if it is an MDR 36 pos cable they sell connectors by themselves. May not be a great option but it would probably be the cheapest.
http://www.newark.com/3m/10136-3000pe/mini-d-ribbon-conn-plug-36pos/dp/69K7226
I looked into that but finding 36 conductor cable is not cheap. Also those connectors are $7 each, so it'd be cheaper to order from the UK and pay for international shipping at that point.
I looked into that but finding 36 conductor cable is not cheap. Also those connectors are $7 each, so it'd be cheaper to order from the UK and pay for international shipping at that point.
The price of 36 conductor cable is indeed expensive but there's no reason you couldn't just use some scrap cable you have laying around and make your own un-sleeved 36 conductor cable. The cable between the keyboard and the box wouldn't need to be very long.
That said I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. I'm hoping someone comes across a pre-made cable on the cheap.
Nice find! Did you order one? Are we sure the pinout of these cables in standard or are we just hopeful at this point?
I got my keyboard yesterday it's in pretty good shape. I still need a cable and a connector box at this point.
FYI I ordered from this link but I got a call this morning letting me know it was out of stock and discontinued.
http://www.nacwireandcables.com/index.php/hp-centronics-36-hpcn36-male-hp-centronics-36-hpcn36-male-18-pair-c-c-type-6-ft.html
I'll look around for another source. The second store you posted seemed a little sketchy.
Also a quick note regarding the power supply plug. It looks pretty similar to plugs I've seen on thermal receipt printers. Might be a vector for finding something compatible.
Well if it is an MDR 36 pos cable they sell connectors by themselves. May not be a great option but it would probably be the cheapest.
http://www.newark.com/3m/10136-3000pe/mini-d-ribbon-conn-plug-36pos/dp/69K7226
That's encouraging news! If I ever manage to find one of those down here.
Any idea how many similar WEY keyboards were made? Like, are they similar to Model M where nearly everyone knows someone with a few in their warehouse or basement? Or were they more specialised? I'm guessing the latter.
cable arrived from eBay it's 6 feet in length and the keyboard works perfectly. I hope to be able to reprogram it sometime, so I can use some functions and things other than just PC#2. Hopefully we can source cables eventually. I think buying a centronics to HPCN36 cable, hacking off the big end and replacing it with a $5 connector from eBay (or $7 from mouser / newark / digikey) is likely the cheapest way, but soldering all those 36 connectors will be a pain.
I also chopped the end off a 12v wall wart for an 802.11g 10/100 router and soldered it to the PCB. Works great, even if it's a little high in voltage (box is rated for 7-12VDC and the wall wart has poor regulation, so outputs about 13.1V with little load. Box draws 0.15A @ 12V according to the bottom, but W/E it works.
What did you use to determine the pin-out of the connector?Just my mad skills at engineering. I just looked at the PCB. Power is fused & GND connects to the GND plane. Simple as that.
I have a connector Box IV. On the bottom of my box it lists "9VDC 1,35A max". I tried following the pinout below(with 9vdc instead of 25) but I don't get any signs of life.I believe this is consistant with my picture above. Not sure why it didn't work for you.Show Image(http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/960/076/507/507076960_516.jpg)
I see a light pipe near the connector does it light up when you power the box? Assuming it lights, does it need to be connected to a keyboard to light up?On mine it lights up green even if nothing else is plugged in.
Okay cool I got it working! :thumb:They are Torx T6. I have a spare I can send you if you need. They aren't even pentalobe, torxplus or securitorx(harder to get).
I can't get my box open due to it having some small security screws that I don't have a driver for. But following your description of the pinout I realized the picture didn't match the actual pin out. Swapping them got me closer but the 9VDC at 500mA doesn't seem like it had enough juice to drive the keyboard as it would flash but not start up. I swapped in a 12vdc and that got the board started.
So now I'm able to switch keyboard modes and the display changes so it looks like I'm working. The keyboard does make a really high pitch noise maybe I can try some different power supplies to see if that goes away.
What connector are you using to connect to a pc? I tried both usb ports with no results. For reference this is the box I have (http://"http://www.ebay.com/itm/171157246318?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT").
EDIT: Oh and the cable I ended up getting was DB25 Male / HPCentronics 36 (HPCN36) Male, 18 Pair, A / C Type, 3 ft (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HDMVQ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). And I had a male to male coupler already so I just plugged the two together. I got them for $6.34 each but they've gone up in price since.
Thanks for the sizes on the Torx screws. Made it a lot easier to get the right ones. I pulled open the connector box and took a few photos (http://imgur.com/a/Qn2B2#0).
Still no luck on getting it to act like a basic keyboard. What are you connecting between the box and your pc?