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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: erricrice on Sat, 19 September 2009, 09:46:22

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: erricrice on Sat, 19 September 2009, 09:46:22

Many model Ms have an SDL to AT cable, but the one I've got has SDL to PS/2.  If I were to get a Model M with an AT cable, would my SDL to PS/2 cable work on it without any other adapters, or would it not work properly(or possibly hurt the keyboard)?

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: skriefal on Sat, 19 September 2009, 10:15:31

The SDL-to-mini-DIN ("AT") and SDL-to-PS/2 cables are interchangeable.

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: rdh on Sat, 19 September 2009, 11:50:17

Quote from: skriefal;119219

The SDL-to-mini-DIN ("AT") and SDL-to-PS/2 cables are interchangeable.

I didn't realize that IBM wasn't the only company to make SDL-to-PS/2 cables, but I just bought a space saving M, and the cable I was given has "COMPAQ" molded into the PS/2 end.  Works fine in both my M's: a 1931401 (1989) and a 1391472 (1987)

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: erricrice on Sat, 19 September 2009, 12:06:25

Quote from: skriefal;119219

The SDL-to-mini-DIN ("AT") and SDL-to-PS/2 cables are interchangeable.

Awesome, that's much better than having to buy an AT to PS/2 Cable haha.

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: pfink on Sat, 19 September 2009, 12:23:13

Quote from: rdh;119226

I didn't realize that IBM wasn't the only company to make SDL-to-PS/2 cables, but I just bought a space saving M, and the cable I was given has "COMPAQ" molded into the PS/2 end.  Works fine in both my M's: a 1931401 (1989) and a 1391472 (1987)

Some Unisys and Honeywell keyboards also used SDL cables with the same pinout as the Model M's.

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: skriefal on Sat, 19 September 2009, 14:07:52

Yep... I have an SDL-equipped Compaq rubber dome keyboard in storage.

Title: SDL Cable question
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 19 September 2009, 14:39:30

HP used SDL too.