Author Topic: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*  (Read 2946 times)

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Offline metzu

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Please can someone post a pic of yours? sometimes when i wiggle it it disconect,its there a way to fix it?


Mod Edit: Fixed image embed
« Last Edit: Tue, 05 April 2022, 20:34:18 by HoffmanMyster »
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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 05 April 2022, 10:27:19 »
When you say that it disconnects, do you mean physically, or electrically? That one looks like it has been inserted and removed a lot. That picture really doesn't even show anything important though. If it is electrically, have you tried cleaning the contacts up with some rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush?

That's called an SDL cable and there are plenty around to purchase to replace it, if necessary. There are even SDL to USB cables on Ebay.

Offline yui

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 05 April 2022, 14:49:09 »
also i think Unicomp still sell new SDL cables, cheap if you are in the US
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 05 April 2022, 19:07:04 »
also i think Unicomp still sell new SDL cables, cheap if you are in the US
electrically I Tough that the scratches where preventing a good contact
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 06 April 2022, 02:55:56 »
it works lawessly If only could solder the cable to attach to it
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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 06 April 2022, 09:56:44 »
also i think Unicomp still sell new SDL cables, cheap if you are in the US
electrically I Tough that the scratches where preventing a good contact

The sheathing you took a picture of would only be tied to ground, if anything. I doubt that's the problem, but you could clean the oxidation/debris off of the sheath with rubbing alcohol or a pencil eraser (light abrasive).

How do the actual contacts inside look? Anything look broken and/or severely oxidized or corroded?

it works lawessly If only could solder the cable to attach to it

You could, plenty of Model M variants have permanently attached cables. Why not just get a replacement cable if it comes to that though?

If the contacts in the connector look fine, there could be an internal break in the wires somewhere between the ends, which would be hard to find and repair without jiggling the cable around at various points and finding where things cut in and out.

What, specifically, are you wiggling when it disconnects?

Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 06 April 2022, 20:41:45 »
since the pandemic I started to use the keyboard on my lap I guess that the cable was streched,if you move it by the part of the keyboard plug the lights blinks and I have to unglug and re plug for it to work.if I dont move it it works for typing for hours,If I play a game like valorant I notice micro cuts on the forward key W

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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 06 April 2022, 22:07:22 »
My guess is that you have buggered the socket rather than the cable.
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 01:28:45 »
that makes sense,but how cant I know for sure
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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 08:20:29 »
that makes sense,but how cant I know for sure

Is that your only M? If you have another with a removable cable, you could test with that cable under the same circumstances to eliminate the cable, and swap cables between Ms.

If not, it can be hard to test for an intermittent electrical fault. You could literally take a continuity tester and probe between the individual contacts in the SDL jack and where they run to the controller (I don't know which pins on the controller this would be offhand) and you may or may not get continuity, depending on the stress (or lack thereof) on the jack. These are the pins for the jack where they connect to the PCB, stolen from Sandy's website:



If any of those solder joints look dry/hazy or cracked, the first thing I would do is reflow them with some fresh 60/40 solder and a good flux so that each one is nice and shiny.

We're still grasping at straws here though. There are replacement controllers, including USB and bluetooth ones that you could purchase instead and just swap in, which would probably be the nuclear option. The very first thing I would do would still be to check for damage and/or oxidation on the contacts between the cable and the jack, and then the solder points on the PCB for the jack. If any of the pins in the jack look bent further than they should be, you could also try to bend them back into place with something like a hooked paperclip or dental pick. I have had to do that with laptop ethernet jacks in the past.

I also don't know what sort of problems are typical with M SDL jacks though. I'm sure fohat would.

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 08:59:10 »

I also don't know what sort of problems are typical with M SDL jacks though. I'm sure fohat would.


Don't look at me. I have never had an SDL socket problem, but then I moved on from Ms to Fs a long time ago. I still have about 4-5 Ms but I haven't used them in years. I doubt that I have even done a bolt mod in at least 5 years.
"It's 110, but it doesn't feel it to me, right. If anybody goes down. Everybody was so worried yesterday about you and they never mentioned me. I'm up here sweating like a dog. They don’t think about me. This is hard work.
Do you feel the breeze? I don't want anybody going on me. We need every voter. I don't care about you. I just want your vote. I don't care."
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 19:16:09 »

.
« Last Edit: Thu, 07 April 2022, 19:25:09 by metzu »
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 19:17:21 »

I also don't know what sort of problems are typical with M SDL jacks though. I'm sure fohat would.


Don't look at me. I have never had an SDL socket problem, but then I moved on from Ms to Fs a long time ago. I still have about 4-5 Ms but I haven't used them in years. I doubt that I have even done a bolt mod in at least 5 years.

I have an F but its heavy for my lap and wanted to fix my m!  :'(

thank you! cant see the picture tho
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 19:45:06 »
I was thinking I might get the as parts to see if I can frankenstein someting out as they have no cables its only for the sockets baords but I dont want to spend money if Im not going to be able to make it work :-[


https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_NQ_NP_2X_783379-MLA49353064864_032022-F.webp
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 22:05:34 »

I dont want to spend money if Im not going to be able to make it work


If those 3 trashed Model Ms are selling for something in the low-$100 range, it would be a good deal if you like tinkering.

Cable-wise, the best solution (although no the cheapest) is to get one of Orihalcon's SDL-to-USB cables which look and perform great, plus future-proof you for Model Ms. Contact him through the forum and save ebay fees.
"It's 110, but it doesn't feel it to me, right. If anybody goes down. Everybody was so worried yesterday about you and they never mentioned me. I'm up here sweating like a dog. They don’t think about me. This is hard work.
Do you feel the breeze? I don't want anybody going on me. We need every voter. I don't care about you. I just want your vote. I don't care."
- Donald Trump - Las Vegas 2024-06-09

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 23:14:07 »
I was thinking I might get the as parts to see if I can frankenstein someting out as they have no cables its only for the sockets baords but I dont want to spend money if Im not going to be able to make it work :-[


https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_NQ_NP_2X_783379-MLA49353064864_032022-F.webp

Did you look at the contacts in the cable and in the jack? If they look green or tarnished, they might just need cleaning with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol.

If you want to keep a Model M in your lap ... for some reason, and can't quickly fix the continuity issue, why not find a bluetooth controller to swap in and use it wirelessly?

Those SDL to USB adapters are definitely nice too.

What F have you got that you're using an M anyway? XT?

Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 01:12:28 »

I dont want to spend money if Im not going to be able to make it work


If those 3 trashed Model Ms are selling for something in the low-$100 range, it would be a good deal if you like tinkering.

Cable-wise, the best solution (although no the cheapest) is to get one of Orihalcon's SDL-to-USB cables which look and perform great, plus future-proof you for Model Ms. Contact him through the forum and save ebay fees.

yeah those goes for $55 no cable in the pack but I dont rly know if its the cable or the socket(I doubt if its the cable)
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 01:13:07 »
I was thinking I might get the as parts to see if I can frankenstein someting out as they have no cables its only for the sockets baords but I dont want to spend money if Im not going to be able to make it work :-[


https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_NQ_NP_2X_783379-MLA49353064864_032022-F.webp

Did you look at the contacts in the cable and in the jack? If they look green or tarnished, they might just need cleaning with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol.

If you want to keep a Model M in your lap ... for some reason, and can't quickly fix the continuity issue, why not find a bluetooth controller to swap in and use it wirelessly?

Those SDL to USB adapters are definitely nice too.

What F have you got that you're using an M anyway? XT?

the one with the metal badge on the left that says personal computer
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Offline FAMOUSKBD Store

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 01:20:55 »
Maybe it's just dirty.

Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 05:54:45 »
Im starting to think its the socket solder joints its that name of it? like others say for the cable to break it has to be too extreme the pull...
I wonder its out of those 3 trashed keyboards I sould get a board to spare...
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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 08:04:50 »
Im starting to think its the socket solder joints its that name of it? like others say for the cable to break it has to be too extreme the pull...
I wonder its out of those 3 trashed keyboards I sould get a board to spare...

Calling it solder joints works, yeah. You haven't said whether or not you could see any oxidation or anything on the contacts in the cable or socket.

These are what I was referring to as far as contacts on the socket's end:



If those look dirty, or if any look like they may not be in the right position, that could be all it is.

If it is the solder joints, they're easy to reflow with a cheap iron as long as you have a good 60/40 solder and some flux.

It is never a bad idea to have some spare Ms around either way. I know there are various controller revisions, but most (or all?) with SDL sockets should be able to be swapped from another ... if really necessary.

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 09:00:31 »

those goes for $55


$55 for all 3 would be a great deal.
$55 each - uh, no
"It's 110, but it doesn't feel it to me, right. If anybody goes down. Everybody was so worried yesterday about you and they never mentioned me. I'm up here sweating like a dog. They don’t think about me. This is hard work.
Do you feel the breeze? I don't want anybody going on me. We need every voter. I don't care about you. I just want your vote. I don't care."
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Offline metzu

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Re: its something wrong with this IBM model M cable plug?*see picture*
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 08 April 2022, 23:10:21 »
Im starting to think its the socket solder joints its that name of it? like others say for the cable to break it has to be too extreme the pull...
I wonder its out of those 3 trashed keyboards I sould get a board to spare...

Calling it solder joints works, yeah. You haven't said whether or not you could see any oxidation or anything on the contacts in the cable or socket.

These are what I was referring to as far as contacts on the socket's end:

Show Image


If those look dirty, or if any look like they may not be in the right position, that could be all it is.

If it is the solder joints, they're easy to reflow with a cheap iron as long as you have a good 60/40 solder and some flux.

It is never a bad idea to have some spare Ms around either way. I know there are various controller revisions, but most (or all?) with SDL sockets should be able to be swapped from another ... if really necessary.


it looks fine to me ill get a picture for you to see!


Im looking for someone to walktroughme to direct solder a ps/2 cable to one of those model ms so incase its the cable I could use my loved model m again but cant find nobody
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