Author Topic: IBM Terminal keyboard compatible with modern PC? (Read 4172 times)

Computer-Lab in Basement · « **on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 13:55:12 »

I was looking for a keyboard on ebay and found a good deal on an IBM Workstation Model M Terminal Keyboard and was wondering if i can get one to work with a modern PC?

msiegel · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 13:58:42 »

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;134100

I was looking for a keyboard on ebay and found a good deal on an IBM Workstation Model M Terminal Keyboard and was wondering if i can get one to work with a modern PC?

kishy would know this... he's the terminal guy

arfink · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 14:18:00 »

Or, you could build yourself a kbdbabel module, that certainly works, presuming you can figure out the schematics.

Shawn Stanford · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 14:23:50 »

Quote

I think you wire up a simple wire crossing dongle and then load a custom driver. But I'm not sure if they ever got it working 100%.

Yeah, that's about the size of it. I think Kishy got further along than I did, but I never did mess with the drivers.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are two kinds of IBM terminal Model Ms: the 3278 type and the AS/400 type. The 3278 type (rewired with a PS/2 cable) is what fried my daughter's keyboard port. It was only after I swapped the PCB from an AS/400 type that I got it to partially work.

The easiest thing to do - and something I may yet do - is to swap in the PCB from a BOScom (or similar) 122-key. The trick is finding a donor keyboard. If only there were someone - even someone on this very forum - who had destroyed a BOScom for science and was willing to part with the PCB. :lol:

ch_123 · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 14:32:58 »

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;134100

I was looking for a keyboard on ebay and found a good deal on an IBM Workstation Model M Terminal Keyboard and was wondering if i can get one to work with a modern PC?

Is that the one whose listing has been up since the dawn of time?

microsoft windows · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 15:41:45 »

If you're looking for a way to get a terminal keyboard working on a PC's Kishy is the person to talk to.

Computer-Lab in Basement · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 19 November 2009, 16:49:39 »

Quote from: arfink;134111

Or, you could build yourself a kbdbabel module, that certainly works, presuming you can figure out the schematics.

Ok that sounds like the most reliable way to get this to work, the question is where do I get the instructions to build one? would kishy know how?

arfink · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 18:59:53 »

Quote from: ripster;134115

Kbdbabel. That's another site I still haven't been able to decipher. Somebody found pics there though. I like pics.

If ONLY he weren't a selfish SOB who hoardes his PCBs like Midas.

Yes, I found the pics, and the kbdbabel isn't that difficult of a circuit. He has part lists, ASM code to program onto the Atmel chip, and both PCB layouts and regular schematics. Once I get my Model F and build mine I'll document it. Other than the programming of the Atmel which does require a programmer, this isn't that hard.

And if he's like me, he probably just doesn't have time to make them for other people, and doesn't want to give away his own because he uses them. And, if you look closely at his various boards, they aren't all that different. Other than the coding of the Atmel chip and the pin adapters for each keyboard, the design or more or less the same.

arfink · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 19:05:01 »

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;134244

Ok that sounds like the most reliable way to get this to work, the question is where do I get the instructions to build one? would kishy know how?

Find your keyboard in here to get the circuit diagrams and the ASM files and part lists:

http://www.kbdbabel.org/

If you want to see a photo of the completed circuit, you should check this page. You'll need to look at the image properties to see which one it's supposed to be.

http://kbdbabel.sourceforge.net/pix/html/index.html

arfink · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 19:59:47 »

Yes, that is the only thing with these. I haven't looked for one yet, but I suspect you're probably right. I imagine you'll never be using one of these with the original terminal anyways, so you might as well change the plug.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 20:14:49 »

I agree. It never hurts to keep the original cable. Who knows if there's someone you know who wants to get one of those terminals working again?

arfink · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 20:26:57 »

I guess so, I'm enough of a retro computer nerd that if I ever did come across an IBM terminal for the right price I wouldn't turn it down I don't think. Still, I'm going to look a little bit harder for some of those plugs, I imagine that odd DIN has to be available somewhere.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 20:32:48 »

All of my cords are tangled together in one big knot down in the bomb shelter.

arfink · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 20:46:19 »

I believe this is what you seek:

http://mouser.com/ProductDetail/Switchcraft/61HA5FX/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMukzO2buB5fm2DeBkhxT%2fi4G3wYGCC%252ba%252bY%3d

5 pin din, 240 degrees

Not 100% positive, but looks like the right guy.

Also, a good non-tangly way of storing cords is besides a hanger is the tie or belt racks.

arfink · « **Reply #14 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 20:56:57 »

Most DIN's are spendy. I figured I'd look in the Audio interconnects section instead of the usual place. I think there is a PCB mount version available from the manufacturer, which is Switchtech I believe.

EDIT: Switchcraft. PN 61NC5F, which I think is here on Mouser: http://mouser.com/ProductDetail/Switchcraft/61NC5FX/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMukzO2buB5fmyaeqHpqThhYarfgvD5fWJ0%3d

Even moar pricey. But a Switchcraft will last you forever.

News:

Author Topic: IBM Terminal keyboard compatible with modern PC? (Read 4172 times)