Is there such a thing an XT to USB adapter for Model F XT keyboards?

[berserkfan]

What does this seller know that we don’t?

He’s selling a model F XT. That’s what he says, and that’s what the pictures say as well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290874516109&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

He insists that you only need an adapter – furnished by him – to make the XT run on any modern computer. He even has a picture of what looks like the adapter.

Is it true that we can just buy a plug in adapter and instantly any XT keyboard turns into a USB keyboard? That’s what I’d like to know as well!

(addendum: ok, found one here: KE-XTUSB Converter. Never heard of it; hope some of you guys have tried it out before. I would hate to pay more for it than for a model F XT, only to find that it doesn't work perfectly! Remember, if we're using a keyboard all day as our primary keyboard, we cannot afford to have unreliability or weird keypresses/ signals!)

[Soarer]

What does this seller know that we don’t?

Not a lot

I believe a couple of members have used the Hagstrom XT converter, and report that it worked fine - search GH for hagstrom.

My converter works well with the XT, and also gives you remapping/layers/macros

[fohat.digs]

I had a Hagstrom a couple of years ago, the older primitive model, and it worked great.

That one is a $50 unit while Soarer's Teensy is $20, and gives far more flexibility, if you are willing to do a little work yourself.

At $250 for an F XT, the seller can afford to toss in a free adapter!

I think that the going rate is more like $50, you could easily build a complete fully working package for under $100.

[berserkfan]

Aha! Excellent; maybe I should buy twee teensies.
(I am not confident of my skills, so I'm pretty confident I will end up destroying at least one.)

I had a Hagstrom a couple of years ago, the older primitive model, and it worked great.

That one is a $50 unit while Soarer's Teensy is $20, and gives far more flexibility, if you are willing to do a little work yourself.

At $250 for an F XT, the seller can afford to toss in a free adapter!

I think that the going rate is more like $50, you could easily build a complete fully working package for under $100.

[fohat.digs]

Aha! Excellent; maybe I should buy twee teensies.
(I am not confident of my skills, so I'm pretty confident I will end up destroying at least one.)

I had a Hagstrom a couple of years ago, the older primitive model, and it worked great.

That one is a $50 unit while Soarer's Teensy is $20, and gives far more flexibility, if you are willing to do a little work yourself.

At $250 for an F XT, the seller can afford to toss in a free adapter!

I think that the going rate is more like $50, you could easily build a complete fully working package for under $100.

It is very easy, I have done at least 4 and only wrecked one, by carelessly shorting 2 wires. Be sure to get the Teensy "with pins" and it can even be done without soldering.

You should use a continuity tester to verify which wires are which, never trust "color-coding" but you only have to connect 4 of them.

[berserkfan]

hahaaha!

oh great, I don't even know what a continuity tester is. Why do I get the impression I am not the brightest bulb in the room?

[alaricljs]

The most basic continuity tester is some wire, a light bulb and a battery.  I think you can figure out how that gets used.

DMMs (Digital Multi Meters) have a mode where it beeps when continuity is established.

[fohat.digs]

It is not always obvious which pin on your keyboard plug corresponds to which wire.

There are 4 wires that will need to be identified and connected to 4 pins on the Teensy.

Unfortunately, you can never trust color-coding, even IBM-to-IBM.

But with a flashlight bulb, battery, and 2 pieces of wire you can touch both sides tell whether current is being carried through.