« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: Weird keyboard is here.  (Read 11945 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 04:44:13 »
Yeah so this turned up today.
For some reason its not working.
Every key stoke makes a pip sound. It has a speaker built in.
Its very heavy. Switches are silent but pretty tactile.

If anyone has any ideas to get it going let me know. manufacture date is 86! Its brand new and I would like to try and use it :)

Pic and video.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v331/laurie47/?action=view¤t=MOV00033.flv






Dips and a removable chip.
More pics including internal in a bit.
Battery is charging.
It has dip switches in it!
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 04:54:01 »
Quote
Switches are silent but pretty tactile.

Mine are as linear as it gets, strange ...
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 04:56:42 »
Are we talking about the same thing? I mean they have resistance. No clicks or lumps in the travel.
Does yours work?
Does it make pip pip sounds?
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 05:24:18 »
Quote from: lam47;11602
Are we talking about the same thing? I mean they have resistance. No clicks or lumps in the travel.
Does yours work?
Does it make pip pip sounds?
With lump it would be tactile, without lump linear.

Mine doesn't work either and it does beep. It's probably an XT board. Maybe the dip switch will do something here.

Manufacturer obviously is NMB Hi-Tek Corporation (as the switches already suggested).
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 05:29:11 »
Right. I did wonder about the keyboard definition of tactile. Good to know!
Time to play with the dips then :)
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline iMav

  • geekhack creator/founder
  • Location: Valley City, ND
  • "Τα εργαλεία σας είναι σημαντικά."
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 05:34:10 »
Tactile means that there is some sort of physical feedback as to when the key is actuated (typically referred to as a "bump")...resistance in the key stroke is typically less once the key is actuated.  Clickiness refers to audio feedback as to when the key is actuated.
Logged

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 05:36:02 »
I still have my old XT computer. It will take a couple of days to get it though. I hope my mum didn't throw it away. :)

Do regular multi-sync monitors work with MGA/Hercules cards?
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 05:38:30 »
Took the chip out and the lights came on :)
Still cant get it to type though.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 05:59:16 »
Did you try the dip switches?
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 06:01:08 »
Yes, have had no luck as yet though.
All 8 have traces leading to a chip so I think it must be switchable.
I just cant work out the combination.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 06:08:00 »
With windows you may have to boot after changing a dip switch. My Linux box recognizes a PS/2 'board immediately. I'll see if I can try that tonight.
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 06:09:14 »
That's interesting and will slow things right down lol.
LMK how you get on.
I will keep trying.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 06:11:56 »
It should be possible to switch off the beep at least? This could work without reboot.
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 06:23:25 »
Nope. No luck.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 06:24:23 »
Dips are all off but 1 by default. Tried turning 1 off too but it didn't change anything.
I will try some more this afternoon.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline Ulysses31

  • Posts: 288
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 10:35:14 »
That thing looks solid.  The components are from reputable manufacturers it seems (Hitachi and Mitsubishi from what I can see).
Logged

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 10:36:58 »
Quote
Yeah so this turned up today.


That makes it sound like you had an orphan dropped at you doorstep. :)
Logged

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 11:03:50 »
Well 40 odd reboots later and I cant get the dips to do anything.
If anyone wants this solid weirdo let me know.
I would have loved to type on it as the keys feel very nice and its cool to have something from 86 in new condition.

Sigh.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline iMav

  • geekhack creator/founder
  • Location: Valley City, ND
  • "Τα εργαλεία σας είναι σημαντικά."
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 11:19:49 »
Is there any "birth certificate" on the back?
Logged

Offline bhtooefr

  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
  • this switch can tick sound of music
    • bhtooefr.org
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 11:27:16 »
Or an FCC ID would be great, too. :)
Logged

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 11:33:10 »
Mine only has:

Part No. 113130
Rev A
Code AT

Made in Thailand

Kn 84 F1 (or Fl)
Serial No. T313193 86

And 2 small round stickers "Func Test2 1" and "Final 0187 1".
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 11:34:13 »
This is the back of it.
Might be valuable to someone.

Here are the switches.

Would be happy to swap it for something I could use :)


Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline Chloe

  • Posts: 679
  • Switch Kitten
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 11:36:30 »
Nice pic of the switches. Now I see why they're called space invaders, the green one is quite cute. :)
Logged

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #23 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 12:05:52 »
Quote from: lam47;11678
Well 40 odd reboots later and I cant get the dips to do anything.

I'll skip the dip switch test then and wait until I have my XT here.
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 18 November 2008, 13:59:31 »
I had to play around with the dip switch anyway. Nothing happend.
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #25 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 10:19:54 »
Wait a cotton picking minuet.
You have a model M right? Does it have the detachable cable?
Is the connector on the back of this not the same kind?
I will get a model m this week with a detachable cable so will let you know if it works!

Im thinking it will as the Cable on the weird keyboard is detachable too.
I might well be a genius!
lol

(i spelt detachable wrong 3 times, not that clever)
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline bhtooefr

  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
  • this switch can tick sound of music
    • bhtooefr.org
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #26 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 11:25:29 »
That cable isn't considered detachable. And, it has a different connector from a non-detachable Lexmark Model M's cable, so that idea won't work.

Besides, with a pin adapter, an AT keyboard will work just fine on a PS/2 system (or PS/2 to USB adapter.) This seems to be an XT keyboard, which will need a protocol adapter (ClickyKeyboards sells one of their own design for $100 :eek:) to work on an AT or PS/2 system.
Logged

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #27 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 11:29:32 »
Quote
That cable isn't considered detachable. And, it has a different connector from a non-detachable Lexmark Model M's cable, so that idea won't work.
The NMB board has a second port where the IBM detachable cable might fit.

Quote
I will get a model m this week with a detachable cable so will let you know if it works!
I think chances are low that this will work but you might destroy something. I killed a ps/2 to usb converter a few weeks ago by putting power on a data line.
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline secularzarathustra

  • Posts: 34
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #28 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 11:47:24 »
Quote from: Chloe;11687
Nice pic of the switches. Now I see why they're called space invaders, the green one is quite cute. :)


what type of switches are these, I have an old ps2 board with them and have no clue what they are?
Logged
Dark and the Desert and Destriers me ken,
And the Glaive and the Joust, and Paper and Pen.

Offline bhtooefr

  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
  • this switch can tick sound of music
    • bhtooefr.org
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #29 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 11:50:26 »
Ah, I missed that... sorry... :o
Logged

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #30 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 11:55:16 »
They are nmb switches.
I dont see why the cable would not be hard soldered to the board if it was not supposed to be removed for some reason.
I bet the dips are for re routing data to the other port too.
I could be completely wrong but will give it a go when I get the model M.

The cable WILL fit, just had a look at some pictures.
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline bhtooefr

  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
  • this switch can tick sound of music
    • bhtooefr.org
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #31 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 11:58:37 »
Actually, that's an RJ45 connector, not an SDL connector... I wouldn't try it.
Logged

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #32 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 12:00:38 »
Balls. It looked the same to me :P
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #33 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 12:03:35 »
Quote
I dont see why the cable would not be hard soldered to the board if it was not supposed to be removed for some reason.

The cables are rarely hard soldered, probably for production purposes. Like, the parts are all attached to the pcb, then the whole pcb is driven through the solder bath. Wouldn't really work with a long cable hanging around.
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline lam47

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 688
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #34 on: Wed, 19 November 2008, 12:06:21 »
Quote from: lowpoly;11774
The cables are rarely hard soldered, probably for production purposes. Like, the parts are all attached to the pcb, then the whole pcb is driven through the solder bath. Wouldn't really work with a long cable hanging around.


Thats a fair point.
I thought I was onto something there :(
How the mighty have fallen.

I have seen a signal converter but at $100 its just not worth it.
Would this keyboard be of interest to anyone?
Logged
Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #35 on: Thu, 20 November 2008, 10:22:15 »
I guess the Hi-Tek NME is your Enemy... *rimshot*

Thank you, everybody, I'll be here all week!
Logged

Offline terrycherry

  • Posts: 9
Re: Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #36 on: Wed, 22 July 2015, 22:14:23 »
Your keyboard with same label and situation right. Did you sold it to Sandy?

http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/nmb_at84.html
Logged

Offline False_Dmitry_II

  • Posts: 1107
Re: Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #37 on: Thu, 23 July 2015, 02:46:35 »
That's quite some necro.
Logged
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin (11 Nov. 1755)

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #38 on: Thu, 23 July 2015, 05:07:57 »
Quote from: False_Dmitry_II on Thu, 23 July 2015, 02:46:35
That's quite some necro.

At nearly 7 years, I think this is a record!
Logged
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Data

  • Posts: 2608
  • Location: Orlando, FL
Re: Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #39 on: Thu, 23 July 2015, 08:15:22 »
Logged

Offline chyros

  • a.k.a. Thomas
  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3499
  • Location: The Netherlands
  • Hello and welcome.
Re: Weird keyboard is here.
« Reply #40 on: Thu, 23 July 2015, 08:22:14 »
And as first post too, wooo! :P
Logged
Check my keyboard video reviews:

Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »