Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[SeeThruHead]

What options are available for someone who would like to build a 75% board. Like the choc mini with inline function keys. Would love to have a full aluminum case option.

[Pacifist]

What options are available for someone who would like to build a 75% board. Like the choc mini with inline function keys. Would love to have a full aluminum case option.

full alum only the LZ Mini, and even still, the full metal case is almost impossible to find

[BlueBär]

What options are available for someone who would like to build a 75% board. Like the choc mini with inline function keys. Would love to have a full aluminum case option.

As for aluminium cases only the MX Mini comes to my mind. If you are saying "build" I'm assuming you mean you want a custom keyboard? Sprit offers a 75% PCB and sooner or later there might be a GH75.

[SeeThruHead]

I didn't know sprit offered a custom 75% pcb thanks. The case can always come later..

[BlueBär]

I didn't know sprit offered a custom 75% pcb thanks. The case can always come later..

Sprit might also offer metal cases for his 75% (if not he offers acrylic cases), but I'm not sure what the status of the metal cases is.

[Pacifist]

I didn't know sprit offered a custom 75% pcb thanks. The case can always come later..

Sprit might also offer metal cases for his 75% (if not he offers acrylic cases), but I'm not sure what the status of the metal cases is.

status of metal in general is really far off in the future, and it doesnt look like sprit likes 75%s

[SeeThruHead]

Is there a plate available?

[BlueBär]

Is there a plate available?

There are pics of acrylic plates. Please ask Sprit himself about the details - he probably knows more about it than we do

[Smasher816]

What's the best way to get blank PBT caps for a realforce? (Similar to the blank HHKB versions).

[CPTBadAss]

What's the best way to get blank PBT caps for a realforce? (Similar to the blank HHKB versions).

Classifieds I think at this point. I could be wrong though.

[Puddsy]

What's the best way to get blank PBT caps for a realforce? (Similar to the blank HHKB versions).

Classifieds I think at this point. I could be wrong though.

That seems correct to me.

[intelli78]

What size is the right shift on this?

[CPTBadAss]

What size is the right shift on this?

Show Image

That's a 2x shift from the CCnG Tsangan kit, also called an 1800 shift.

[intelli78]

What size is the right shift on this?

Show Image

That's a 2x shift from the CCnG Tsangan kit, also called an 1800 shift.

Nice! Know of anywhere, off the top of your head, to find 2x shifts readily available for sale?

[Dubsgalore]

What size is the right shift on this?

Show Image

That's a 2x shift from the CCnG Tsangan kit, also called an 1800 shift.

I think it's a 1.75x shift right? normal right shift is 2.75x, and because he has the 1x on the right, that means the short shift is 1.75x

[ideus]

Right shift in a Tsangan kit is 1.75 units.

[CPTBadAss]

What size is the right shift on this?

Show Image

That's a 2x shift from the CCnG Tsangan kit, also called an 1800 shift.

I think it's a 1.75x shift right? normal right shift is 2.75x, and because he has the 1x on the right, that means the short shift is 1.75x

Yeah that makes sense. I always get it confused since I always call it an 1800, Tsangan, or "short right" shift

What size is the right shift on this?

Show Image

That's a 2x shift from the CCnG Tsangan kit, also called an 1800 shift.

Nice! Know of anywhere, off the top of your head, to find 2x shifts readily available for sale?

Just that shift? Not really easy to find on it's own. You'll need to find a Tsangan kit. SP might have one I don't know about though.

[SpAmRaY]

What size is the right shift on this?

Show Image

That's a 2x shift from the CCnG Tsangan kit, also called an 1800 shift.

Nice! Know of anywhere, off the top of your head, to find 2x shifts readily available for sale?

I had some CCnG crap bag caps.....somewhere.....

[intelli78]

Thank you, guys!

I looked on the SP website and found a very limited selection of Row 4 1.75 PBT shifts:

302488 DCS - 1.75X ROW 4 - BLACK (NDY) PBT
210702 DCS - 1.75X ROW 4 - MEDIUM GRAY (GEC) PBT

These will tide me over for now.

[CPTBadAss]

Man I'm really off my game. Forgot SP sells loose caps. I meant I wasn't sure pimp my keyboards had a set. Oh well, it worked out XD

[Melvang]

If you had just taken apart a model M and found the barrel plate to be cracked half way down one of the ribs between the rows in the alpha numeric block, would you still bolt mod the broken plate, or wait until a replacement came in?

[CPTBadAss]

If you had just taken apart a model M and found the barrel plate to be cracked half way down one of the ribs between the rows in the alpha numeric block, would you still bolt mod the broken plate, or wait until a replacement came in?

Wait for a replacement.

[Melvang]

If you had just taken apart a model M and found the barrel plate to be cracked half way down one of the ribs between the rows in the alpha numeric block, would you still bolt mod the broken plate, or wait until a replacement came in?

Wait for a replacement.

I was thinking of doing the mod anyway just so I know what I am doing with a new part when it comes in.  Would this be good practice?

[CPTBadAss]

If you had just taken apart a model M and found the barrel plate to be cracked half way down one of the ribs between the rows in the alpha numeric block, would you still bolt mod the broken plate, or wait until a replacement came in?

Wait for a replacement.

I was thinking of doing the mod anyway just so I know what I am doing with a new part when it comes in.  Would this be good practice?

Good practice but I think you're making unnecessary work for yourself.

[intelli78]

When making ergo-clears from new switches, do you guys lube them right away or let them have a "break-in" period first? I imagine that any breaking-in would take a lot longer if they get lubed up right away.

[Melvang]

When making ergo-clears from new switches, do you guys lube them right away or let them have a "break-in" period first? I imagine that any breaking-in would take a lot longer if they get lubed up right away.

The ones I have made were from used switches but I would suggest using the clears with stock springs for a while before modding.  Adding the lube will greatly increase the breakin time on the sides of the slider but should have zero effect on the part that actually causes the tactile click which is also what causes the sticking.  I say go ahead and lube lightly only on the sides of the slider.

[laserpanda]

I'm trying to buy a 122 from Unicomp, but have no idea which version I should get.

They've got 6 separate versions now. PC, Terminal, and Emulator versions of both the 5250 and 3270.

What's the difference between them all?

Ideally I'd like a PS/2 version that allows me to use all the extra keys in W7 without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.

[Pacifist]

Swapped the spacebar on my keycool with costar stabs and blacks

the spacebar now has tactility

I reseated the bar and it still has tactility and is superlould

any suggestions? Would lube help?

could it be the extra mounting holes rubbing against something?

edit: wtf....lubed it, still like this.

edit2: ended up putting the stock bar back on

[BlueBär]

Swapped the spacebar on my keycool with costar stabs and blacks

the spacebar now has tactility

Check if the stabilizer wire hits the spacebar.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm trying to buy a 122 from Unicomp, but have no idea which version I should get.

They've got 6 separate versions now. PC, Terminal, and Emulator versions of both the 5250 and 3270.

What's the difference between them all?

Ideally I'd like a PS/2 version that allows me to use all the extra keys in W7 without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.

There's only two 122 versions from Unicomp. One has USB and the other has PS/2. Neither has a windows key. I think to satisfy most of your wants, you'll want to check out the Classic 104 PS/2. If you look carefully, there's 101 and 104. 101 means its the classic Model M layout which has no winkey. 104 means it's got the windows key so you can use your Windows 7 setup with no issues.

[epzy]

Where can I get replacement Topre springs? The kind that you put under the cloud of boobs, not the spacebar spring.

[intelli78]

Where can I get replacement Topre springs? The kind that you put under the cloud of boobs, not the spacebar spring.

As far as I know, there's no place to get spare parts. You have to use a donor board.

[SpAmRaY]

Where can I get replacement Topre springs? The kind that you put under the cloud of boobs, not the spacebar spring.

Did you lose one? Sometimes they will nest in each other and you'll think it's one spring but two.

[epzy]

I managed to ruin two of mine...

[SpAmRaY]

I managed to ruin two of mine...

[epzy]

Looks like I'm royally screwed then, have fun in my closet Mr. Realforce. :/

[intelli78]

Looks like I'm royally screwed then, have fun in my closet Mr. Realforce. :/

Swap them with keys you'll never use, like Pause/Scroll Lock.

[CPTBadAss]

Looks like I'm royally screwed then, have fun in my closet Mr. Realforce. :/

Did you try emailing EK or Topre? Or putting up a WTB? A quick search yields this classifieds listing from norbauer who was selling Topre parts. Try PMing him to see if he's still got them even though the listing is old?

Swap them with keys you'll never use, like Pause/Scroll Lock.

This too.

[epzy]

I don't like having a incomplete board. I'll PM that guy CPT, thanks. I have put up a WTB, but I have not e-mailed EK / Topre / Keyboardco yet.

[intelli78]

What Cherry boards have an MX-compatible 7x PBT space bar?

[Pacifist]

What Cherry boards have an MX-compatible 7x PBT space bar?

11800

[intelli78]

What Cherry boards have an MX-compatible 7x PBT space bar?

11800

Thanks. Is that one board that has it, or the only one?

[Pacifist]

What Cherry boards have an MX-compatible 7x PBT space bar?

11800

Thanks. Is that one board that has it, or the only one?

one

[CPTBadAss]

What Cherry boards have an MX-compatible 7x PBT space bar?

11800

Thanks. Is that one board that has it, or the only one?

That's one board. You can check this list but I think there might be more boards than that.

[intelli78]

Thanks guys. It doesn't look like that list mentions the spacebar material, only the size. Is there any way to know which of the 7x boards have PBT spacebar, aside from asking and Googling? I want to track one down, so the more model numbers I have, the better.

[Pacifist]

11800 is probally the easiest way to get one, as all the others are really rare and expensive

2nd would be a 3000

[intelli78]

11800 is probally the easiest way to get one, as all the others are really rare and expensive

2nd would be a 3000

Gotcha, that's helpful. Thanks.

[laserpanda]

I'm trying to buy a 122 from Unicomp, but have no idea which version I should get.

They've got 6 separate versions now. PC, Terminal, and Emulator versions of both the 5250 and 3270.

What's the difference between them all?

Ideally I'd like a PS/2 version that allows me to use all the extra keys in W7 without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.

There's only two 122 versions from Unicomp. One has USB and the other has PS/2. Neither has a windows key. I think to satisfy most of your wants, you'll want to check out the Classic 104 PS/2. If you look carefully, there's 101 and 104. 101 means its the classic Model M layout which has no winkey. 104 means it's got the windows key so you can use your Windows 7 setup with no issues.

There's 6 if you use the customiser, which I am, as I want the Swedish/Finnish layout.
There's clearly a windows key on the PC/122 at least.

https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fd/4d/b9/fd4db9cc522a0341e54c3d1033c8ea65.jpg
bottom left

What I'm concerned with is that some models apparently just treat the extra function keys as Shift + F1-F12, rather than giving them unique scancodes, which I want to avoid.

[CPTBadAss]

11800 is probally the easiest way to get one, as all the others are really rare and expensive

2nd would be a 3000

Gotcha, that's helpful. Thanks.

Are you sure? There were boards with PBT caps that had ABS spacebars. The spacebars were marked as PBT but they were still ABS. I should've clarified that earlier. Was mainly looking at the 7x length part.

I'm trying to buy a 122 from Unicomp, but have no idea which version I should get.

They've got 6 separate versions now. PC, Terminal, and Emulator versions of both the 5250 and 3270.

What's the difference between them all?

Ideally I'd like a PS/2 version that allows me to use all the extra keys in W7 without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.

There's only two 122 versions from Unicomp. One has USB and the other has PS/2. Neither has a windows key. I think to satisfy most of your wants, you'll want to check out the Classic 104 PS/2. If you look carefully, there's 101 and 104. 101 means its the classic Model M layout which has no winkey. 104 means it's got the windows key so you can use your Windows 7 setup with no issues.

There's clearly a windows key on the PC/122 at least.

https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fd/4d/b9/fd4db9cc522a0341e54c3d1033c8ea65.jpg
bottom left

What I'm concerned with is that some models apparently just treat the extra function keys as Shift + F1-F12, rather than giving them unique scancodes, which I want to avoid.

I don't know personally so I asked some of the IBMHeads in the IRC channel. Thanks dfj and daemonraccoon for the help.

dfj's thread: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=10985.msg212193#msg212193

<dfj> [22:19:09] so - if you get teh one, it is setup to go into the 'emulator' mode, so it generates shift+blah strokes for the extra keys, alternately, if you get the other it generates mode-3 unique scnacodes for each key... however this doesn't work with windows.
<dfj> [22:20:05] so - a soarer controller or similar will be needed to convert from teh pseudo-PS/2 of mode 3 to USB, at which point windows will see the f13-f24 and the rest of teh keys as whatever you set them to.
<dfj> [22:20:23] yeah - gh'ers actually got it added to linux.
<dfj> [22:20:57] morningsong, way back when.
<dfj> [22:21:37] for linux - mebbe - but for a windows machine, you want to use a 122 with a soarerverter, even if you purchase a unicomp.
<daemonraccoon> [22:20:00] AT mode-3 is not windows friendly, but loonix supports it if you know the magic kernel config
<CPTBadAss> [22:21:51] thank you dfj and daemonraccoon

[intelli78]

11800 is probally the easiest way to get one, as all the others are really rare and expensive

2nd would be a 3000

Gotcha, that's helpful. Thanks.

Are you sure? There were boards with PBT caps that had ABS spacebars. The spacebars were marked as PBT but they were still ABS. I should've clarified that earlier. Was mainly looking at the 7x length part.

Hmm, well at the very least, are all (unmodified) 11800 boards guaranteed to have a PBT bar? There are quite a few on eBay.