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Author Topic: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)  (Read 3481 times)

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Offline ebacho

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IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 01:23:13 »
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Offline Pacifist

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 01:24:39 »
ah this thing

I saw it a while ago but you can find f's for cheaper sometimes
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 04:36:16 »
just a little caution here

that's a phone connector so you need to build your own adapter on top of the soarer adapter you already have to do. More fine work with teeny weeny wires!

a normal xt, you can just hook up a standard AT to ps2 cable adapter

and of course, since it is portable, it dispenses with the normal XT's advantage, which is solidity and metal plates. that thing has no metal plates if I am not mistaken. I have one that I never got around to making an adapter for and it is boxed up somewhere. if you just jump in and buy rashly, might end up like my boxed up somewhere 5155 keyboard.

Quote from: Pacifist on Fri, 20 December 2013, 01:24:39
ah this thing

I saw it a while ago but you can find f's for cheaper sometimes
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 04:59:29 »
I've got a couple of these. I love them. I don't understand why people hesitate when they're cheap because they're much rarer than the other XT keyboards. Sure, they don't have metal plates, but that makes them nice and light. I plan on converting one to use when travelling and the lightness is a bonus. The case is still solid (feels like wood) and doesn't flex. It's clickier than my AT Model F.

There's the problem with the connector, but I'll be looking for a phone-style jack box which I'll install the teensy in to make a convenient plug-in adapter.
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:08:34 »
mr_a500, can you take photos of the adapter making process and show us when you're done? I would love to do the same for mine, which as mentioned above is still boxed up and never used.

Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 04:59:29


I've got a couple of these. I love them. I don't understand why people hesitate when they're cheap because they're much rarer than the other XT keyboards. Sure, they don't have metal plates, but that makes them nice and light. I plan on converting one to use when travelling and the lightness is a bonus. The case is still solid (feels like wood) and doesn't flex. It's clickier than my AT Model F.

There's the problem with the connector, but I'll be looking for a phone-style jack box which I'll install the teensy in to make a convenient plug-in adapter.
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:13:28 »
Yes, I'll do that as soon as I get the parts. (probably next month - because of the extremely slow shipping to Canada)

I noticed the 5155 keyboard is gone. Somebody didn't hesitate.  ;)
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:20:46 »
well, whoever didn't hesitate, he did hesitate to thank the OP I guess!  :eek:

And don't hesitate to make a nice adapter. I've been putting this off for like forever because of my unfamiliarity with the phone connector thingy.

hell, while you're at it, do you think making a wireless bluetoothy thingy would work? you're going to use this with your laptop or tablet, right?

Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:13:28
Yes, I'll do that as soon as I get the parts. (probably next month - because of the extremely slow shipping to Canada)

I noticed the 5155 keyboard is gone. Somebody didn't hesitate.  ;)
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:22:50 »
Mmmm... bluetoothy thingy.. that sounds like an interesting idea - but what about the power supply?
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:25:34 »
I'm not technically skilled, but hey, this website is crammed with technical geniuses! You'll figure it out, right?  :eek:

btw i have been reading about charging batteries using wireless adapters. You can do that with the latest Nokia or something. Surely some geek here will be happy to help create a wireless keyboard that can draw power just like that?

Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:22:50
Mmmm... bluetoothy thingy.. that sounds like an interesting idea - but what about the power supply?
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 06:50:43 »
Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 04:59:29
There's the problem with the connector, but I'll be looking for a phone-style jack box which I'll install the teensy in to make a convenient plug-in adapter.

How are the barrels (chimneys) handled if there is no plate? Is it a one-piece barrel frame like the M, or do they mount in a plastic plate?

I posted a "RJ45" (8P8C) connector/adapter that I fashioned myself in Soarer's thread #901. Be sure you get a real full ethernet cable and jack, the common ones you see do not have the right pins active.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5-FT-CAT5E-ETHERNET-LAN-NETWORK-CABLE-Blue-FREECAT5-8P8C-Straight-Adapter-/390599797858?pt=US_Ethernet_Cables_RJ_45_8P8C_&hash=item5af18fec62
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 06:58:16 »
I've never opened the 5155 keyboard case. There are no screws. You need to un-snap the top piece and I am too worried about damaging the clips to attempt it. (looks fragile)

The connector on the 5155 is RJ11, not RJ45.
« Last Edit: Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:00:46 by mr_a500 »
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Offline Game Theory

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:16:48 »
See http://www.brimstudio.org/2013/10/ibm-model-f-restore/ for pictures of the insides.

Seems like it has a metal plate though.
« Last Edit: Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:19:30 by Game Theory »
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:26:11 »
Hey, thanks for that link! That pin-out photo will come in handy.

That is one hell of a filthy keyboard. Mine are pristine in comparison.
« Last Edit: Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:27:45 by mr_a500 »
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Offline ninjadoc

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:52:39 »
Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 05:22:50
Mmmm... bluetoothy thingy.. that sounds like an interesting idea - but what about the power supply?

Search LZ's site, he did an MX-Mini with bluetooth. He bought a kit somewhere.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:12:59 »
Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 07:26:11
That is one hell of a filthy keyboard. Mine are pristine in comparison.

That keyboard is not "dirty" from what I have seen, I would call it "about average" in cleanliness for an ebay F.

The internal plate looks just like the "black" steel plates in every other F I have seen.


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From the US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8 :

The   Congress   shall have Power
To declare War,  grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To provide for calling forth the Militia  to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Offline Soarer

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:24:42 »
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Offline Game Theory

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:34:27 »
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:35:30 »
Ha. I got distracted by "beam spring mania". But now I've got another 5155 in the mail and I guarantee* that it'll be converted soon.

(*not a money back guarantee)
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:41:15 »
Ha! Now we know who just bought that 5155! Thank the OP!  :thumb:

Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:35:30
But now I've got another 5155 in the mail and I guarantee* that it'll be converted soon.

(*not a money back guarantee)
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:50:32 »
No, no - I didn't buy the one listed in this thread. I bought one a couple weeks ago.

Now I remember why I didn't convert one earlier! PJRC (Teensy maker) doesn't take PayPal. That's what screwed me up. (not a problem now)
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Offline Soarer

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 10:39:06 »
Hehe, it's everybody bash Mr A. day today!
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Offline dorkvader

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 15:05:25 »
Quote from: mr_a500 on Fri, 20 December 2013, 08:50:32
No, no - I didn't buy the one listed in this thread. I bought one a couple weeks ago.

Now I remember why I didn't convert one earlier! PJRC (Teensy maker) doesn't take PayPal. That's what screwed me up. (not a problem now)

Cool! I'm looking forward to this.

Personally, I prefer this model to the "normal" XT. The XT isn't bad though.

Eventually I'll get one of the XT layout Kbs with the huge case and triple stage feet and put XT guts in it for kicks.
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Offline Wildcard

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 15:10:28 »
It's a nice look for a board with an XT style
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Offline Soarer

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Re: IBM Model F (5155 Portable)
« Reply #23 on: Fri, 20 December 2013, 15:39:32 »
Quote from: dorkvader on Fri, 20 December 2013, 15:05:25
... the XT layout Kbs with the huge case and triple stage feet and put XT guts in it for kicks.

Why bother putting XT guts in it? My controller code works with bigfoot, and it scans at 1000Hz - it's the fastest IBM around :cool:
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