geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: Tr0j4nM4x1mus on Mon, 19 April 2010, 12:16:50
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after seeing alot of the full size boards being cut down & still using their original controller it made me wonder if you could use a standard model m controller in a terminal model m space saver....since the prices of space saver have gotten so high & the terminal ones can be found cheaper.
Has anyone tried this???
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I just did this last night. I swapped in the circuit board from a Mini that was destroyed during shipping into a Terminal Mini and it worked perfectly. Later on, I'll try the full size Model M circuit board to see if that works as well. I would assume that it would work, but that the hidden numpad functions probably wouldn't.
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A PCB swap from some full-size Ms has been confirmed. Apparently it's a matter of finding the types that will fit.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=9564
Here are some pictures uploaded to Picassa (http://picasaweb.google.com/jvhaarst/ModelMSpaceSaverWithANormalPCB) by the Pioneer of this swap, jvhaarst.
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The trick is to simply not plug in the extra ribbon cable. The number pad won't work, [strike]but that won't matter since there are no number pad symbols printed on the terminal Ms.[/strike]
Edit: I was wrong, some terminal space savers do indeed have number pad symbols.
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A full and complete set of printed Space Saving Mini keycaps can be purchased from Chuck at Unicomp. I bought a bunch of sets thinking that I would simply replace all of the units with new keycaps until I realized how nicely they clean up. And best of all......only $20 a set.
Later on when I get a chance, I'll post about all of the different keycaps available and the various color options. Fun to accessorize the "KING" of keyboards ;-))
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The trick is to simply not plug in the extra ribbon cable. The number pad won't work, but that won't matter since there are no number pad symbols printed on the terminal Ms.
My terminal M has numpad symbols printed. So I assume that the function worked with the terminal circuit boards. But the layout is VERY different from the standard Space Saving Mini.
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A full and complete set of printed Space Saving Mini keycaps can be purchased from Chuck at Unicomp.
That's good news. I'm looking forward to your pictures, and to see if you are able to complete the mod as easily as it's been described to me. I won't be able to attempt the swap until August, which should hopefully give me enough time to locate a couple of suitable PCBs.
My terminal M has numpad symbols printed.
I wonder if that means that you'll have the available ribbon in there to connect it? Like you said, it's probably a lot different though. My terminal space savers are missing the numpad symbols entirely.
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The key ticket would be to find Space Saving circuit boards. I know for a fact that the swap is direct and works perfectly. Takes all of 2 minutes.
The other issue is that you'll need to find an SDL cable. All of a sudden, those are becoming rare and difficult to find. And once they are gone, I doubt anyone will make any more??
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I figure I would just wait for a good deal on ebay for a full size & use it as a donor.. or just use the one I have....I just wanted to make sure it will work before I buy the mini
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I guess that I lucked out in getting a $3 SDL cable (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220579090236) a few weeks back.
A space saver PCB might be impossible to find though, short of buying a space saver. I must confess to never actually using the number pad on my current PS2 mini, so it's not at the top of my priorities.
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When you do the swap, do the terminal keys (F13-F24 and the left block of 10) work? And if so, what scancodes do they return?
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John I believe this is for the minis, not 122-keys.
Without meaning to be rude or anything, it seems we end up with a whole lot of "will this terminal _______ work if I do ________?" threads when the majority of the information can be determined from existing ones...
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John I believe this is for the minis, not 122-keys.
Without meaning to be rude or anything, it seems we end up with a whole lot of "will this terminal _______ work if I do ________?" threads when the majority of the information can be determined from existing ones...
This is what comes of not having pictures. I was imagining the terminal keyboard as having 104 keys like a 1387033, but I take it the minis in question have an 84-key layout.
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Without meaning to be rude or anything, it seems we end up with a whole lot of "will this terminal _______ work if I do ________?" threads when the majority of the information can be determined from existing ones...
I'm to blame for some of the fuss, but it would be nice to just find out if it's possible out of curiosity. The terminals Ms are like the forbidden fruit of the keyboard kingdom :) The terminal minis are especially interesting, and you wouldn't think that just putting in a 102-key M's board would work.
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Err, let me rephrase that. I wouldn't think that it would work. You told me that it probably would a while ago though :)