Interested in Mechanical Keyboards, Found old ARS branded KB-5181

[Internetlad]

Hello all! After reading an article on the subject on tomshardware, I've been shifting my feet and looking at the essentials of Mechanical Keyboards for a few months now (Difference in feel of switches, modding, nothing specific to any one brand or keyboard. Really basic stuff.)  I've always enjoyed the "clicky" feel and sound of a mechanical keyboard but I could never place exactly why until i started reading up more and more on it. I'm thinking "this is for me" but I had never taken the ~80 dollar leap for a keyboard.

Today, however, as so often happens, I stumbled upon a pretty incredible opportunity. I was digging through a pile of old PS2 Keyboards when, right at the bottom, I saw a really old looking, thick and fat keyboard. I tapped the keys on the numpad a couple times and, lo and behold, clickity clack.

I pulled it out and read the model off the back. It's a KB-5181 but it's not branded Chicony (or rather, lack of brand) it's got a distinct ARS brand in the top left corner and on the sticker on the back.

Firstly, Does anybody have any history with this keyboard

Secondly, it's rather filthy, and i'd like to clean it up. Is there a disassembly guide somewhere for this model, is it very straightforward (ie, just take it apart, clean it up, and put it back together) I'm fairly experienced with cleaning electronics. some 409 and soapy water on plastics, alcohol on PCBs, that sort of stuff.

Thirdly, As far as modding goes, I've seen simple ones like replacing caps and switches. Being so new that i can't identify the switches on sight (nor have i tried) i've seen allusions that it's an Alps switch, but i've also seen "BLUE" in the header for some similar ebay auctions, which i assume would be meaning Cherry Blue switches but i assume this is wrong as the keyboard apparently was manufactured in the late 80's early 90's, and i'm not sure if cherry was even in existance yet, never mind widely used.

*EDIT: Gee, or maybe the "blue" refers to a blue alps switch. Sorry, still getting the hang of this, guys.*

So, basically, no hard and fast issues, just looking for a point of ingress into the whole mechanical keyboard niche, as I think it's really really cool.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing back!

[noodles256]

wlcm

[Internetlad]

Thank you for the pointers about the forum, Are you suggesting I check archived threads in the Vintage Switch forum, or that this thread be moved there?

Again, thanks for the warm welcome!

EDIT "I'd tell you to post pics but you can't."

I assume that's a limitation until i get to a certain rank/number of posts?

[Internetlad]

Ah, I see, I hadn't understood that we're on the subject of id'ing the switches.

Sorry about the hand holding, but i'm still very new with the hands-on aspect of this. Do the keys come up just the same as a contact keyboard, just pry gently with a flathead until they pop, or is full disassembly required?

As I said before, I haven't even attempted to identify them yet, I just fished it out this morning, so the KB is still fully assembled and is actually hooked up to a PC on my bench right now. i'm liking the feel.

[Internetlad]

Again you're referring to pictures. I have no qualms about taking pictures and posting up, but is it a limitation of my account or something else? If there's a an easy requirement (register for the ability etc) i'd be happy to meet those as you've been very helpful so far.

[fossala]

Again you're referring to pictures. I have no qualms about taking pictures and posting up, but is it a limitation of my account or something else? If there's a an easy requirement (register for the ability etc) i'd be happy to meet those as you've been very helpful so far.

Make 15 posts

[Internetlad]

Make 15 posts

Okay, thanks for the info. I'll troll some threads and pop back in when i have 15.

Sorry if i'm annoying or high maintenance, just trying to learn here. If there's an intro, readme, n00b thread that i could check out I wouldn't have any issues checking that out too.

[pitashen]

OMG! Class warfare!

[Internetlad]

Nah, I like this guy.

I will personally vouch that the OP is NOT a spammer.

yet.

[Internetlad]

incoming picspam.

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Need any pictures of anything else specifically? The KB is working fine atm. It's the 5 Pin DIN but i've got it converted to a PS2 thanks to a cord i found in a baggie at the store i work at. All keys tested seem to work okay, the only ones i can't get a reliable idea on are the Function keys, since they're always doing different stuff and don't have any clear output like a regular keystroke in notepad.

So, what are we thinking?

[Internetlad]

--snip--

[Internetlad]

h'okay here we go

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After some moaning and groaning (partially from me) the keycap finally came right off with a not-as-gutwrenching-as-I-would-have-figured "pop", it was pretty satisfying actually.

Either way the switches are clearly branded Alps

Upon further research it looks like you were dead on, Complicated White Alps (correct me if i'm wrong).

Scarin' me here.

EDIT: My mistake, You had said "clicky" and they're "white" and apparently those are two different switches.

Slightly less scared, but still, pretty impressive.

[Internetlad]

Well, i'm off to the races and well on my way to getting this beast disassembled and cleaned up. Some pics so far.
Here's to hoping these comments are in the right order.


First day into it and already I have a custom-made keypuller. Fancy ain't it?
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Fits good, wiggle it off.
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There it goes! Perfect!
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Oh, come on.
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Anyways, after retrieving the key from under the dusty vent shaft, I think i'm well on my way! Thanks for all the help, i'm sure to come back in the future.

[Internetlad]

sorry for the triple post, Here i am happily pulling keys, when i get to the Tab, put my keypuller under it and think "hold up, something seems off"

Obviously spacebar and Enter have the little mechanisms under them that have to be worked around, are they the only ones to worry about?

[Bry]

Looks like Ripster wins, those are definitely white complex alps


Nice find by the way. I once found an old chicony that looked just like this board and when I pulled the cap it had fake cherries (sounded like blues, looked like clears). Would have much rather found something with alps in it

sorry for the triple post, Here i am happily pulling keys, when i get to the Tab, put my keypuller under it and think "hold up, something seems off"

Obviously spacebar and Enter have the little mechanisms under them that have to be worked around, are they the only ones to worry about?

That's the stabilizers, you have to pull the key and then slide the metal bar out from under the tab, or some of them clip on. Depends on the type of stabilizer

[fohat.digs]

I have had a couple of Chicony 5181 keyboards and I really like them. I keep one, in my "backup box" along with a few other choice oddities.

Mine is Chicony branded with a big DIN plug and has blue "Montereys" that feel great. They are light to the touch with a nice sound. They compare quite favorably to most of the keyboards I have owned.

Biggest problem for me is that the layout is "wrong" ("big-ass Enter" and small backspace) which basically means not like a Model M.

And I don't care what sticker is glued on, unless I plan to re-sell it for top dollars.

[SmallFry]

Mmmmmm ALPS doubleshots...

[Internetlad]

Well, all is done, I've finished cleaning up the keyboard, inside and outside, cleaning the plastic and keys with fantastik and the PCB with an alcohol spray (I didn't disassemble the switches, TBH i thought that would be insanity.)

Have some pics for all the help.

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OOH, AAAHHH.

Anyways, only weird thing is, and i'm not sure if this is me or the keyboard, this is the ONLY keyboard i've seen that has the raised edge of the spacebar TOWARDS the user, which irks me. Again I may have put it back together wrong, but it just looks absolutely retarded the other way, so I assume it's just the design.

The other stuff that kills it for everyday use on the bench are lack of a windows key (useful as heck once you get to know the shortcuts.) also since it's so vintage, it lacks the ability to hold one key and type another, leading to frustrating typing mistakes for me since i'm so used to just being able to do it haphazardly. This keyboard actually forces you to type better, that's how hardcore it is.


Anyways, cheers, and thanks for all the help and input!

[fohat.digs]

Control + Escape = Windows key

[pitashen]

Control + Escape = Windows key

Whoa, I never knew. Nice!

[Internetlad]

Control + Escape = Windows key

get out of town, really?


Still more awkward than the standard windows key but that's getting filed, thanks man!

Not working for me on windows 7, does it only work on KBs without a windows key?

[fohat.digs]

I dunno, I would use the Windows key if it was there.

The only Win7 box I have is my Acer laptop, and it has the key.

Others know a lot more about mapping keys than I do.

[Internetlad]

THREAD REVIVAL!

So, i've been fairly happy playing with this keyboard at work, prefer the feel to a rubber dome keyboard, really like the "clicky" as it makes me feel important.

Only issues I've had are the lights blinking when in XT mode, but I also have no clue what that does (I DO plan to research it. . .  another day) but that is resolved by switching to AT mode. Other issue is that every time the computer starts/wakes from sleep, the keyboard spams the X key. This only seems to happen on windows seven, (at least, not on xp) and will resolve upon the first keypress, be it x or any other key, so it's not stuck.

Any ideas what that's about?