Which USB converted do I need for this F type KB

[snhstq]

Hi all,

I looking for a USB convertor for a non-PC type F keyboard.
Has anyone any idea which convertor I can use for this one ?

Thanks for all your replies.

Regards Henk

[fohat.digs]

Contact member Orihalcon direct through this forum and save the ebay fees.

[Maledicted]

What the heck is that thing? Do you have any pictures of the whole keyboard? What interface/connector does it use? I can't find any results on the internet for that part number. Maybe it uses a standard XT protocol?

[snhstq]

Hi,

The cable has a 25 pin DB connector and was connected with a small PCB.

Looks like the output is 8 bits TTL parallel and twee strobe signals.

Henk

[Maledicted]

Hi,

The cable has a 25 pin DB connector and was connected with a small PCB.

Looks like the output is 8 bits TTL parallel and twee strobe signals.

Henk
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

25 pin? Wow. It must not have its own controller then. The connector is the same as the old IBM Beamsprings, but the layout is F XT to a T ... with some weird legends. That plate looks like it might even be the same as in an XT.

Is there an edge connector anywhere on the main PCB? If so, a Beamspring Xwhatsit controller may do the trick. I would guess that the original protocol is the same as the old Beamspring boards.

I think I did read somewhere about some F boards that were made with compatibility with older systems in mind.

[Maledicted]

Alright. I did some looking into Model F variants because I got curious again. It looks like it may be the very first non-integrated Model F-type keyboard ever designed. It would have first been integrated in the IBM Datamaster (model 5322). The legends look pretty close, though yours are in another language. That chassis is entirely different though going by the pictures at the Deskthority wiki:

IBM 5322 System/23 Datamaster computer

If you look at the part number on the curved plate of that 5322 keyboard, it is pretty close to yours as well.

The version with a separate keyboard was the 5324.

There's a guy with one on Ebay ... that's all I can find:



I don't know if there are even enough of these out in the wild for anybody to have ever even tried to convert them.

[snhstq]

Alright. I did some looking into Model F variants because I got curious again. It looks like it may be the very first non-integrated Model F-type keyboard ever designed. It would have first been integrated in the IBM Datamaster (model 5322). The legends look pretty close, though yours are in another language. That chassis is entirely different though going by the pictures at the Deskthority wiki:

Thanks for all your research !! 
That's the one.

Regards Henk

[Maledicted]

You're welcome. I'm glad I did it. I hadn't even heard of these systems. You've got a rare bird.

I just noticed I broke the url in that previous post, sorry about that. I think I fixed it.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

Looking at it's similarities to the Model F Bigfoot, I wonder if Soarers controller could be coaxed into getting it going.

Unfortunately there are no pre-made adapters for that, you'd have to get a Teensy and flash the converter onto it, and then connect it up and hope.

I converted a batch of 4 Bigfoots (feet?) myself and the process is pretty straightforward, the only thing is, I don't really understand the underlying electronics well, but it may give you a direction to go with it.

Regardless, whatever you do with it, keep us posted, this is a really neat and rare keyboard.

The german lettering is pretty rockin' too.