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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ander on Sun, 01 April 2018, 04:19:03

Title: Reveal ergonomic with PS/2 + serial?
Post by: ander on Sun, 01 April 2018, 04:19:03

Hey guys,

I just saw this on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Clicky-Mechanical-Reveal-Keyboard-Vintage-Ports-Great-Condition/152960350920), and wondered if it made sense to anyone:


[attach=1]


[attach=2]


[attach=3]


Normally, when a keeb has both PS/2 and serial cables, I'd assume it had a trackpad or trackball. But this one just has an odd key with a mouse symbol:


[attach=5]


Also, rather than one cable that splits into two connectors, there's a serial port:


[attach=4]


So I assume that means the serial cable we see here is actually separate, right? But again, what's it for?

Title: Re: Reveal ergonomic with PS/2 + serial?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 01 April 2018, 09:37:23

maybe the keyboard is ps2, and it has a hookup for a serial mouse ?

Title: Re: Reveal ergonomic with PS/2 + serial?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 01 April 2018, 16:13:25

Check the legends on the numeric keypad:
Eight directions, "Left Button", "Both Btns", "Right Button", "Button Lock", "Button Release", "Double Click" and "Click".

Obviously, you would be able to use the numeric keypad as a serial mouse, in case you did not have any plugged in.
I suppose that the key with the mouse legend is for toggling between mouse-keys and normal keys on the numeric keypad.

BTW, I am pretty sure I have seen this keyboard before somewhere, either here or on Deskthority.

Title: Re: Reveal ergonomic with PS/2 + serial?
Post by: Snowdog993 on Sun, 01 April 2018, 18:20:54

Quote from: ander on Sun, 01 April 2018, 04:19:03

Hey guys,

I just saw this on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Clicky-Mechanical-Reveal-Keyboard-Vintage-Ports-Great-Condition/152960350920), and wondered if it made sense to anyone:


(Attachment Link)


(Attachment Link)


(Attachment Link)


Normally, when a keeb has both PS/2 and serial cables, I'd assume it had a trackpad or trackball. But this one just has an odd key with a mouse symbol:


(Attachment Link)


Also, rather than one cable that splits into two connectors, there's a serial port:


(Attachment Link)


So I assume that means the serial cable we see here is actually separate, right? But again, what's it for?

Serial pass-through for a serial mouse.  If you use the "key mouse" you can use the numeric keypad for mouse movement and left chord right buttons. Good idea but to be honest it wasn't what I would call very good if you did use the "key mouse".  The pass through was what most people did after discovering how poorly it worked.

Title: Re: Reveal ergonomic with PS/2 + serial?
Post by: rich1051414 on Sun, 01 April 2018, 19:12:42

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Converter-Prolific-Chipset-CB-DB9P/dp/B00IDSM6BW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522627901&sr=8-3&keywords=serial+to+usb

^--This will work, it is how I got my serial trackball to work. At least it will work in windows. No custom drivers needed.

Title: Re: Reveal ergonomic with PS/2 + serial?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 02 April 2018, 11:08:58

That's yet another instance of the LiteOn SK-6000 or similar.