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Author Topic: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2  (Read 12646 times)

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Offline snevok

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IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:21:04 »
I made a mistake and bought two IBM Model M's for a pretty killer price, but being me I made a mistake.  One of them is the standard Model M with a PS2 port, but the other one has the RJ45 connector.  I was wondering if there was any way to hook it up to my computer, whether I have to buy an adapter, make one myself, or mod the keyboard?  The keyboard was 18 bucks and is in pretty good condition, so reselling it is always an option.

Would buying a plain old Ethernet to USB work?  They work with printers, why wouldn't they work with a keyboard? 
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Offline jdcarpe

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:22:41 »
You need a converter, such as Soarer's converter, to make it work with a modern PC.
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Offline snevok

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:24:20 »
Quote from: jdcarpe on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:22:41
You need a converter, such as Soarer's converter, to make it work with a modern PC.
Ah that's great news!  Mind sending me a link to one? 
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:27:10 »
There are also other ways if you feel ambitious enough....
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61878.msg1721863#msg1721863

This post also has links to Orihalcon's Adapters... et all...
« Last Edit: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:29:03 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline jdcarpe

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:31:19 »
Sure, here you go

Here are some other things you might enjoy: Super Awesome Tools and Resources Made By Users!
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KMAC :: LZ-GH :: WASD CODE :: WASD v2 :: GH60 :: Alps64 :: JD45 :: IBM Model M :: IBM 4704 "Pingmaster"

http://jd40.info :: http://jd45.info


in memoriam
"When I was a kid, I used to take things apart and never put them back together."

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:31:54 »
Orihalcon's gear is pricey but works great.

Contact him direct for an off-ebay GH price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281476431381?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline snevok

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:54:44 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:31:54
Orihalcon's gear is pricey but works great.

Contact him direct for an off-ebay GH price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281476431381?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

This seems like the best option for me.  I'm not very good at soldering, so I'd probably end up breaking it anyway.  Paying a premium for a cable that works well is worth it to me. 

Quick question though, is there any difference between the Model M with the PS2 and the RJ45?
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 15:09:52 »
Quote from: snevok on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:54:44
Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:31:54
Orihalcon's gear is pricey but works great.

Contact him direct for an off-ebay GH price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281476431381?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

This seems like the best option for me.  I'm not very good at soldering, so I'd probably end up breaking it anyway.  Paying a premium for a cable that works well is worth it to me. 

Quick question though, is there any difference between the Model M with the PS2 and the RJ45?

You didn't look at my post, did you?
To answer your question, not really.
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Offline snevok

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 15:13:02 »
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Mon, 16 November 2015, 15:09:52
Quote from: snevok on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:54:44
Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:31:54
Orihalcon's gear is pricey but works great.

Contact him direct for an off-ebay GH price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281476431381?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Why would you say I didn't read your post?  I was just agreeing with you that just buying a nice cable would be worth it for me.  Even so, if there isn't much of a difference, I might just end up selling it to my friend and keeping the PS2 model.

This seems like the best option for me.  I'm not very good at soldering, so I'd probably end up breaking it anyway.  Paying a premium for a cable that works well is worth it to me. 

Quick question though, is there any difference between the Model M with the PS2 and the RJ45?

You didn't look at my post, did you?
To answer your question, not really.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 15:23:29 »
Quote from: snevok on Mon, 16 November 2015, 14:54:44
Quick question though, is there any difference between the Model M with the PS2 and the RJ45?

The main physical difference is usually no LEDs and different key caps.

Electrically, I think the controller is not readily compatible with PCs.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 16 November 2015, 15:23:46 »
Let me help you a little bit.  There really is not much difference between the RJ-45 model 101/102's and the SDL PS/2 versions.  The difference being the controller is different.  You can just swap controllers by ordering a new one from Unicomp for $20.
Get an SDL cable, and you're done.
However, if you want, you can add the LED overlay and panel as well if you have a little drive and ambition.
A controller swap is simple to do, no soldering needed at all.  All you do is remove the ribbon cable from the RJ-45 controller and attach it to the SDL controller.  Done.
BTW, I am currently using a terminal keyboard to post this message...



http://imgur.com/a/O7ayY

Edit: I feel deja-vu for some reason.  Oh yeah.

Quote from: snevok on Mon, 16 November 2015, 15:13:02
Why would you say I didn't read your post?  I was just agreeing with you that just buying a nice cable would be worth it for me.  Even so, if there isn't much of a difference, I might just end up selling it to my friend and keeping the PS2 model.

This seems like the best option for me.  I'm not very good at soldering, so I'd probably end up breaking it anyway.  Paying a premium for a cable that works well is worth it to me. 

If you sell it to your friend, be sure to let him know his options.  It will always cost more to convert a terminal board.  Be HONEST.

I will also say you didn't read my post.  If you did, you didn't read it much.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61878.msg1721863#msg1721863

That post goes through the steps in doing this.  It's not hard to do at all! 
« Last Edit: Mon, 16 November 2015, 16:30:00 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline SamirD

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 20 November 2015, 01:07:19 »
Wait, does the keyboard have an rj45 port on it or an rj45 cable coming out of it like the ps2 cable?
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Offline supermario802.1

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Re: IBM RJ45 to USB/PS2
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 19 January 2025, 05:50:53 »
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