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Offline TheScarecrow02

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The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 13:59:18 »
Hey everyone!

I just got my “new” keyboard today a IBM terminal keyboard model M or F I suppose. My question is which adapter I need to buy for the keyboard so it could be used with a modern windows 10 pc.
I have a ps2 combo port on my motherboard but I am not really sure if I just could wire it up, or an active adapter is needed...

I’ve posted some pictures of the keyboard, connector and the model sticker on the back.
Hope it helps ;)
148414-0
148416-1
148418-2
« Last Edit: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:06:01 by TheScarecrow02 »
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:16:02 »
You need an active adapter to convert the terminal protocol.

There are terminal adapters on ebay that will convert to usb, and you can reprogram the keyboard as well.
These Soarers converters are around 40$

Alternatively, you could hard wire a teensy 2.0 into the controller, and put soarers firmware on there. that would run you around 20 bucks.
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:16:44 »
Also, is that a VHS player in that picture?
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:22:26 »
No, not that old school :) it’s a CD receiver form Denon.. But I have looked at some of the adapters but, the plug on my keyboard seems to be in another pinlayout.
Therefore I am a bit confused about it :)
« Last Edit: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:24:09 by TheScarecrow02 »
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:27:54 »
I would do a little more of your own personal research, but this looks to be the adapter you would need


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Soarers-Converter-Adapter-for-IBM-Model-F-122-Keyboard-Remapping-Macros-NKR-/271644933588
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:31:38 »
I’ve researched a lot but I was just in doubt. But it seems like the right pinout :) even though its got an extra pin in the middle..
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:38:05 »
It’s too bad that the converter isn’t in stock :( But anyway thanks for the help Moistgun ;)
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:47:56 »
Orihalcon will probably make more soon enough.

Cheaper to do it yourself, if you have the skills. And Chinese knock-offs are much cheaper than "real" Teensies.

The clean way to do it is to mount the breakout board inside and then have a permanent USB plug. Otherwise:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58941.msg1348717#msg1348717
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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 TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 14:57:48 »
Well I’ve had a class in highschool electrical engineering, so I could easily make a Convertor Box with the instructions. The problem is that I live in Denmark and shipping plus taxes can be expensive.
However it's a neat solution to the problem and its somewhat cheaper. Definitely gonna consider that! Thanks :) 
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 16:34:03 »
If you can program a breakout board using Soarer's instructions, you can just mount it directly internally.

That can be ordered very cheap from China, and you don't need anything else except for a USB cable.
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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 TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 17:10:08 »
I actually like the design with the breakout box since I want the keyboard to stay intact. I’ve also found the right female 5-pin C connector and a fitting box at a local hardware shop ;)
So, I just need to get the Teensy 2.0 somewhere and then I am good to go!
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 15 September 2016, 22:00:34 »
Quote from: TheScarecrow02 on Thu, 15 September 2016, 17:10:08
I actually like the design with the breakout box since I want the keyboard to stay intact. I’ve also found the right female 5-pin C connector and a fitting box at a local hardware shop ;)
So, I just need to get the Teensy 2.0 somewhere and then I am good to go!

All the ones I ordered from Aliexpress were not clones, and they were 14 bucks.

shipping takes a while though.

they also have them at microcenter if you have one near you.
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 03:22:54 »
We don’t have Microcenters in Denmark :( But Aliexpress could be a solution to that ;) Although I’ve found a Danish website where I can buy the Teensy LC for around 24 dollars.
But is the low cost model as good as the 2.0?
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 03:34:27 »
By the way do any of you know what these dip switches on the back of the keyboard are for or might change?
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 07:38:32 »
Quote from: TheScarecrow02 on Fri, 16 September 2016, 03:22:54
We don’t have Microcenters in Denmark :( But Aliexpress could be a solution to that ;) Although I’ve found a Danish website where I can buy the Teensy LC for around 24 dollars.
But is the low cost model as good as the 2.0?

I think that Soarer's firmware was written exclusively for the Teensy 2.0, depending on how adept you are at writing or modifying code.

From my experience, the DIP switches are irrelevant and I simply disconnect them.
 
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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 TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 08:44:56 »
Well I somewhat want to keep it simple since I am not that great with C++ programming. But then I will have to wait and get the Teensy 2.0 from Aliexpress or just wait for the Soarer’s Converter Adapter to get in stock on ebay. The prices for both solutions roughly equates to the same price for me.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 09:10:01 »
Quote from: TheScarecrow02 on Fri, 16 September 2016, 08:44:56
Well I somewhat want to keep it simple since I am not that great with C++ programming. But then I will have to wait and get the Teensy 2.0 from Aliexpress or just wait for the Soarer’s Converter Adapter to get in stock on ebay. The prices for both solutions roughly equates to the same price for me.

If you can build something yourself it should be considerably than Orihalcon's.
Also, you may have more flexibility in programming and may be able to re-purpose the gear later.

https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/how-to-use-a-pro-micro-as-a-cheap-controller-converter-like-soarer-s-t8448-210.html
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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 TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 09:12:23 »
Now just a random question regarding the Soarer’s Converter Adapter on ebay. As I see it it’s just a DIN 5 pin 270 degree connector which is re-wired to usb. Could I then just in theory re-wire the connector to usb? Or is the scancode from the keyboard not compatible with usb in that regard? I just don't see any “active” conversion like with the teensy 2.0...
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 09:41:37 »
Quote from: TheScarecrow02 on Fri, 16 September 2016, 09:12:23
Now just a random question regarding the Soarer’s Converter Adapter on ebay. As I see it it’s just a DIN 5 pin 270 degree connector which is re-wired to usb. Could I then just in theory re-wire the connector to usb? Or is the scancode from the keyboard not compatible with usb in that regard? I just don't see any “active” conversion like with the teensy 2.0...

Those soarers on ebay are actively converting, they just are sleek and don't look like it.
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 09:46:46 »
That's really impressive, then I understand why they cost that much :)
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 10:17:51 »
Anyway thanks for the help both of you :) I have decided to order a Teensy 2.0 from Aliexpress and buy the last needed parts here in Denmark as said in an earlier post.
I will just have to be patient and wait as long as it takes ;)
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 10:38:16 »
You can always order the Colossus Controller from Maxx at Phosphorglow.
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 10:59:49 »
The last thing I bought from Maxx was a painted plastic sheet, and it took 8 weeks to get to my door.

Just a fyi.
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #23 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 14:44:56 »
Well I’ve already ordered the Teensy 2.0, a female 5-pin C connector and found a fitting box to house the project ;)
I am going with the plan fohat.digs suggested to me..
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #24 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 14:48:20 »
Quote from: TheScarecrow02 on Fri, 16 September 2016, 14:44:56
Well I’ve already ordered the Teensy 2.0, a female 5-pin C connector and found a fitting box to house the project ;)
I am going with the plan fohat.digs suggested to me..

Definitely the way to go!

You are going to need to download the teensy loader software to push soarer's firmware to the teensy.

And HID listen to help translate the scan codes for any reprogramming you feel like doing.

Like turning the left cluster into cool macro buttons etc.
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Offline TheScarecrow02

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #25 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 15:11:48 »
I will download them straight away and put them in my project folder. But there’s still plenty of time, at least 2-3 weeks before I get the teensy 2.0 from Aliexpress :)   
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: The right adapter for a IBM terminal keyboard
« Reply #26 on: Fri, 16 September 2016, 15:14:17 »
Quote from: TheScarecrow02 on Fri, 16 September 2016, 15:11:48
I will download them straight away and put them in my project folder. But there’s still plenty of time, at least 2-3 weeks before I get the teensy 2.0 from Aliexpress :)

Oh yeah!

I usually jump the gun whenever I start any new project
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