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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Olumin on Tue, 29 November 2016, 10:31:15
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If you are German and are looking for a IBM model F keyboard, you are usually limited to the older XT variant, since these are practically the only ones to find in German layout, or at all. AT keyboards are very rare in germany indeed, in any layout, it appears like they don't exist. Now I've finally found another Model F AT in ISO DE layout, I've already got one, but you can never have enough of them.
(http://puu.sh/syrkc.jpg)
Picture from the Ebay auction.
I swear, there CAN only be like 1000 of them in the whole world.
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Now THAT is an enter key!
What is the link to the auction?
- Ron | samwisekoi
Auto-typed by my GH-122 keyboard.
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that keyboard looks like it came from an IBM Portable.
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Now THAT is an enter key!
What is the link to the auction?
- Ron | samwisekoi
Auto-typed by my GH-122 keyboard.
The auction is over, I bought it.
A big ass enter and small ass backspace, I plan to do something about that, layout mod.
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Now THAT is an enter key!
Just a BAE innit? Oo
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Now THAT is an enter key!
Just a BAE innit? Oo
I can live with anything on this keyboard but the small backspace and the big ass enter. It is possible to change that to regular ISO type backspace and enter by just swapping some key caps from my Model M's. However I would loose one key since the most left slider of the big ass enter has no switch under it, it only serves as a stabiliser. I did the same with my other Model F. I wonder if there is space for another switch on the PCB.
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Now THAT is an enter key!
Just a BAE innit? Oo
I can live with anything on this keyboard but the small backspace and the big ass enter. It is possible to change that to regular ISO type backspace and enter by just swapping some key caps from my Model M's. However I would loose one key since the most left slider of the big ass enter has no switch under it, it only serves as a stabiliser. I did the same with my other Model F. I wonder if there is space for another switch on the PCB.
I think you can ANSI-mod F ATs, but I don't think I've ever heard of someone ISO-modding one. That said, the F122 comes in ISO-only layout, why not get one of them? :)
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Now THAT is an enter key!
Just a BAE innit? Oo
I can live with anything on this keyboard but the small backspace and the big ass enter. It is possible to change that to regular ISO type backspace and enter by just swapping some key caps from my Model M's. However I would loose one key since the most left slider of the big ass enter has no switch under it, it only serves as a stabiliser. I did the same with my other Model F. I wonder if there is space for another switch on the PCB.
I think you can ANSI-mod F ATs, but I don't think I've ever heard of someone ISO-modding one. That said, the F122 comes in ISO-only layout, why not get one of them? :)
Like I said, it can be done but one would sacrifice two keys, hence why no one really does it. I don't really care about loosing the keys, I can just remap another one that I don't use.
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/epiguru/AssemblyIBMModelFPCATKeyboard.jpg)
Here you can see that a regular backspace and enter does fit, only that one key (the one you win loosing the big ass enter) could not be actuated, and the backspace has a switch too much, but you can remove the left spring and replace it with a stabiliser from a Model M and simply remap the key.
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Setting aside the horror of opening the sandwich, couldn't you swap the BAE stab for the extra Backspace spring?
Also, congratulations on getting the 'board. It is indeed awesome!
- Ron | samwisekoi
(Auto-typed by my GH36 Matrix Keypad.)
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Now THAT is an enter key!
Just a BAE innit? Oo
I can live with anything on this keyboard but the small backspace and the big ass enter. It is possible to change that to regular ISO type backspace and enter by just swapping some key caps from my Model M's. However I would loose one key since the most left slider of the big ass enter has no switch under it, it only serves as a stabiliser. I did the same with my other Model F. I wonder if there is space for another switch on the PCB.
There's a pad under each of the bottom BAE barrels. You can ISO it no problem.
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Setting aside the horror of opening the sandwich, couldn't you swap the BAE stab for the extra Backspace spring?
Also, congratulations on getting the 'board. It is indeed awesome!
- Ron | samwisekoi
(Auto-typed by my GH36 Matrix Keypad.)
Of cause you could, but there is no switch underneath that left stabiliser of the big enter key on the PCB (of at least I highly doubt that), so placing a spring there would either not work at all or would have no effect, it would just be a dead key. If there is indeed an option to mount a switch there, I have no idea how to do it.
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Now THAT is an enter key!
Just a BAE innit? Oo
I can live with anything on this keyboard but the small backspace and the big ass enter. It is possible to change that to regular ISO type backspace and enter by just swapping some key caps from my Model M's. However I would loose one key since the most left slider of the big ass enter has no switch under it, it only serves as a stabiliser. I did the same with my other Model F. I wonder if there is space for another switch on the PCB.
Well that sounds great, could you explain me how to do it?
There's a pad under each of the bottom BAE barrels. You can ISO it no problem.
That sounds great, would you explain to me how to do it, just put a spring there?
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There's a pad under each of the bottom BAE barrels. You can ISO it no problem.
That sounds great, would you explain to me how to do it, just put a spring there?
You have to open it up and move the switches to the proper barrels (i.e. the spring/pivot plate assemblies).
Take a look at the layout on an F122 as a guide.
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That sounds great, would you explain to me how to do it, just put a spring there?
Pretty much. About halfway down in my guide I discuss it for the 122-key terminal. Process is the same for any Model F.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48786.msg1048948#msg1048948 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48786.msg1048948#msg1048948)
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That sounds great, would you explain to me how to do it, just put a spring there?
Pretty much. About halfway down in my guide I discuss it for the 122-key terminal. Process is the same for any Model F.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48786.msg1048948#msg1048948 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48786.msg1048948#msg1048948)
Goes the Model F AT apart the same way or is it a different procedure?
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That sounds great, would you explain to me how to do it, just put a spring there?
Pretty much. About halfway down in my guide I discuss it for the 122-key terminal. Process is the same for any Model F.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48786.msg1048948#msg1048948 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48786.msg1048948#msg1048948)
Goes the Model F AT apart the same way or is it a different procedure?
Same idea. Make sure you have all the keycaps off before you attempt to separate the plates or you'll have flippers everywhere.
Plenty of info available:
https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=taking+apart+ibm+F+at
Here's a few:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=5492.0 (XT is similar)
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There's a pad under each of the bottom BAE barrels. You can ISO it no problem.
That sounds great, would you explain to me how to do it, just put a spring there?
You have to open it up and move the switches to the proper barrels (i.e. the spring/pivot plate assemblies).
Take a look at the layout on an F122 as a guide.
I'll also add that you're going to see a lot of warnings about how hard it is to reassemble everything, and warnings about disintegrating foam.
If you're just doing a single move of a spring and flipper, its much easier on a AT than it is on a 122. Unless the foam is totally destroyed you won't really be touching it enough to worry about it falling apart. Also, closing up an AT can be done without needing any extra tools if you're a bit careful (and have big hands).
Watch out for the spacebar. It doesn't come off like a normal key, so don't actually remove the spacebar before you take everything apart, but definitely take off the other keys. Once you open it all up, this will make much more sense.
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I'll also add that you're going to see a lot of warnings about how hard it is to reassemble everything, and warnings about disintegrating foam.
If you're just doing a single move of a spring and flipper, its much easier on a AT than it is on a 122. Unless the foam is totally destroyed you won't really be touching it enough to worry about it falling apart. Also, closing up an AT can be done without needing any extra tools if you're a bit careful (and have big hands).
Watch out for the spacebar. It doesn't come off like a normal key, so don't actually remove the spacebar before you take everything apart, but definitely take off the other keys*. Once you open it all up, this will make much more sense.
*Keycaps. FTFY.
Also, this is great advice: "don't actually remove the spacebar".
- Ron | samwisekoi
p.s. Don't listen to the blandishments of the "tweezer" posters. They are false prophets, and will lead you astray. Listen to Kalrand.
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It can be done, there even are pads on the PCB for Alt switches and under all 20 numpad positions:
[attach=1]
And here is how it's done: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48288.0
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Neat find and holy spacebar! I don't think I realized how long the space bar was on those things.
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Now THAT is an enter key!
What is the link to the auction?
- Ron | samwisekoi
Auto-typed by my GH-122 keyboard.
I put one on a model M once for fun.
Neat find and holy spacebar! I don't think I realized how long the space bar was on those things.
It's one reason why people replace it with a model M spacebar and two "alt" keys. Stock one is almost 10x!
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Neat find and holy spacebar! I don't think I realized how long the space bar was on those things.
And heavy too! It takes around twice the amount of force to activate any other key to activate.
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Neat find and holy spacebar! I don't think I realized how long the space bar was on those things.
And heavy too! It takes around twice the amount of force to activate any other key to activate.
Bend the stabilizer wire a little bit flatter, and that's all fixed.
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Just picked one of these up on eBay this morning as a BIN. I even got the seller to drop the price by $20 and shipping was reasonable. Barn fresh from Bulgaria. Sorry Germany, this one is going to the U.S.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
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the Ü always makes me smile.
grats on the boards, they're beauties!