Unicomp 122 Terminal Keyboard

[videoman]

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/122keyterkey.html

Specifically that one, or even more specific, the black one. I was wondering if you guys could help me out and tell me whether or not this keyboard will work with Windows 7. I was seeking to find a good mechanical buckling spring with some extra keys for macro use. This seems fit the bill, but I'd thought I should ask a knowledgeable forum as to whether that this was proper keyboard for me.

Also, I guess this is my first post. I hope you will accept me. "One of us" and all that.

[Phaedrus2129]

Should work fine in Windows 7, the extra keys scan as F13 - F24, which Windows reads fine and can be reassigned through AutoHotkey.

[videoman]

Oh hey Phaedrus! Good to see a friendly face from the motherland forum.

[videoman]

So, using AutoHotKey, I couldn't remap F13-F24 to whatever? Like SHIFT+F1 to open, say, Songbird, and just use the F13?

Also, same question, but with the left hand 10 key cluster with the odd functions; could they be used in AutoHotKey?

I also want to keep it black colored; a personal preference.

[Phaedrus2129]

AHK can recognize character combinations, like SHIFT+xxx. Don't see why one couldn't use that to recognize the left-hand keys.

[videoman]

Feel free to give it a try.

I would, but Benjamin does not like us college students. :sad:

Also, I should add that I am a terrible programmer. I gave up on that route long ago.

[lmnop]

you have no shame ripster lol

[lmnop]

not really. ripster is still laughing at OCN even when he is sleeping.

:heh:

[kishy]

Relevant:

Terminal keyboard = keyboard for a terminal (a piece of hardware that interfaces with a mainframe - it is itself not a computer). Not compatible out of the box. At least with regards to the older ones, uses that sort-of-like-AT protocol. At least one Unicomp offering is an equivalent but I don't know which.

Terminal emulator keyboard = keyboard for a normal computer which has extra keys that are read by special emulation software (eliminating need for dedicated piece of hardware) to perform the function they would perform on a real terminal. Compatible out of the box, but arguably harder to map keys (as they send combinations of keys rather than dedicated scancodes like real terminal keyboards)

[JohnElliott]

Relevant:

Terminal keyboard = keyboard for a terminal (a piece of hardware that interfaces with a mainframe - it is itself not a computer). Not compatible out of the box. At least with regards to the older ones, uses that sort-of-like-AT protocol. At least one Unicomp offering is an equivalent but I don't know which.

Terminal emulator keyboard = keyboard for a normal computer which has extra keys that are read by special emulation software (eliminating need for dedicated piece of hardware) to perform the function they would perform on a real terminal. Compatible out of the box, but arguably harder to map keys (as they send combinations of keys rather than dedicated scancodes like real terminal keyboards)

There exist terminal emulator keyboards that do send dedicated scancodes. I'm typing this on one.

[quadibloc]

Actually the extra F13-F24 keys scan in as SHIFT+FCN1-12.  The problem with that is it's almost impossible to remap them since they are not distinctive scancodes.

Huh? There is a model that Unicomp makes which works that way, and there are also versions of the 122-key keyboard which have distinctive scancodes, but which may have problems working with some Windows machines since they don't have "break" codes... but those are just two of the three possible variants.

A Host Connected Keyboard, if that's what is being referred to, would work a lot like an 84-key keyboard, with the keys to the left of the main keyboard area acting like F1 through F10, and the keys would all have distinctive scan codes.

[JohnElliott]

Huh? There is a model that Unicomp makes which works that way, and there are also versions of the 122-key keyboard which have distinctive scancodes, but which may have problems working with some Windows machines since they don't have "break" codes... but those are just two of the three possible variants.

A Host Connected Keyboard, if that's what is being referred to, would work a lot like an 84-key keyboard, with the keys to the left of the main keyboard area acting like F1 through F10, and the keys would all have distinctive scan codes.

This suggests that a Host Connected keyboard is the same thing as a 1397000.

The keyboards that work like 84-key keyboards (and don't send break codes) are terminal keyboards (eg, the 1390876 and 6110344).

[kishy]

Last I saw, Unicomp offers multiple types of terminal emulator keyboard, as well as true terminal keyboards.

Presumably one of the types of terminal emulator keyboard is the same as the Host Connected / 1397000, but I don't know which of those it is. It isn't going to be all of them...since you, John, say yours sends dedicated scancodes but ripster's 1397000 sends modifier combinations.

It is very important not to mix real terminal keyboards into this discussion because a lot of people just don't make the differentiation and think they're the same thing with a different connector.

[Morning Song]

Out of curiosity, are there any capacitive/Model F emulator keyboards? (the only model number i know at the moment is  6110668, which seems to be a real terminal keyboard) I'm strongly considering picking one of those up, given that it seems that they'll be substantially more economical alternative to a real AT model F, but I'd love to have all those extra keys available to remap.

[kishy]

?  The 1397000 does not send any modifiers (see scancodes listed in post linked to in my sig).  The keyboard in the OP does.  That's the problem with that particular Unicomp.  I'd just ask Unicomp if any of the others behave any better.

Oh, whoops. I figured you had offered that info because the keyboard you had did it.

[EverythingIBM]

So, using AutoHotKey, I couldn't remap F13-F24 to whatever? Like SHIFT+F1 to open, say, Songbird, and just use the F13?

Also, same question, but with the left hand 10 key cluster with the odd functions; could they be used in AutoHotKey?

I also want to keep it black colored; a personal preference.

You do realize those terminal model Ms are probably the biggest keyboards ever made? You'd better have a huge desk...

[Shawn Stanford]

They are, they're friggin' giganormous!

I'm sure I posted this in the series of threads we had last year on terminal keyboards, but just for the sake of brevity: The Boscom 122-keys are for AS-400 terminals, rather than mainframe terminals. So, there are some differences. However, they are plug-and-play compatible with PCs and Windows. There are keys - especially along the left side - that send odd scancodes. At least one of them works as a 'Windows' key, though.

Here's the keychart I made for the left side with the key label at the top and the return value below unshift, shift, ctl, and alt:

Code: [Select]


SYSRQ/ATTN     PAUSE/BREAK
-----          -----
ESCAPE         PAUSE
SHIFT-ESC      SHIFT-PAUSE
CTRL-ESC       CTRL-BREAK
ALT-ESC        ALT-PAUSE

--/CLEAR       ERINP
------         ------
PAUSE          DELETE
SHIFT-PAUSE    SHIFT-DELETE
CTRL-BREAK     CTRL-DELETE
ALT-PAUSE      ALT-DELETE

PRINT/SYSRQ    HELP/HEX
------         ------
PRTSCR         ALT-F1
SHIFT-PRTSCR   SHIFT-ALT-F1
CTRL-PRTSCR    CTRL-ALT-F1
ALT-SYSREQ     ALT-F1

APPS           PLAY
------         ------
LWIN           ALT-F5
SHIFT-LWIN     SHIFT-ALT-F5
CTRL-LWIN      CTRL-ALT-F5
ALT_LWIN       ALT-F5

START          RECORD/PAUSE
------         ------
APPLICATION    ALT-F3
SHIFT-APPL     SHIFT-ALT-F3
CTRL-APPL      CTRL-ALT-F3
ALT-APPL       ALT-F3


And, of course, the other frustrating thing about the Boscom is the editing keys layout above the cursor keys. I never did get used to the odd setup, so after a week or two I gave up and redefined it to the PC standard with AutoHotKey and swapped around the keycaps. I was never comfortable with the cross cursor keys, either. I'd often hit the 'Home' key in the center.

That all being said, the Boscom 122 was a fine piece of buckling spring technology. If it's your cup of tea, you really can't go wrong with it - if you've got the real estate!

[kishy]

talking about my thread like it died