IBM keyboard identification

[qnaal]

I spotted this one on the ebays-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Terminal-Clicky-Keyboard-P-N-1394193-/141190671934

is this what it looks like- a model f with modern layout mfg in '99?
it looks like it's got rj45... soarer converter ought to be able to handle this?

BACK OFF I SAW IT FIRST

[CPTBadAss]

It's just a terminal Model M. Fs don't come in that layout. Not that it's a bad board at all, just not what you thought it was. And yes, you can put a Soarer converter it. I bought a similar M recently.

[qnaal]

damn- because it's got an F on the back, and doesn't say anything about model M got me wondering...

[CPTBadAss]

Kishy confirms it's a terminal M in this thread. It's a Greenrock M though so that's cool. But an M nonetheless.

[qnaal]

Thanks, my bad for not searching.

I'm set on getting a model f for now though, for dat nkey rollover.

[CPTBadAss]

No need to apologize .

FYI if you Soarer mod that terminal M you listed, which you'll have to do anyways because it's got the RJ45 connector, you'll get Full NKRO

[qnaal]

oh really? I was under the impression none of them did- is there a guide somewhere?

[CPTBadAss]

No need to apologize .

FYI if you Soarer mod that terminal M you listed, which you'll have to do anyways because it's got the RJ45 connector, you'll get Full NKRO

I was mistaken. Jdcarpe just corrected me. You were right about the F being NKRO with Soarer's converter. And it's because the M has membranes while the F has diodes. Sorry about that.

[E TwentyNine]

No need to apologize .

FYI if you Soarer mod that terminal M you listed, which you'll have to do anyways because it's got the RJ45 connector, you'll get Full NKRO

I was mistaken. Jdcarpe just corrected me. You were right about the F being NKRO with Soarer's converter. And it's because the M has membranes while the F has diodes. Sorry about that.

F is capacitive.  It doesn't have or need diodes.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm going to shut up now since it's apparent I'm bad with IBM  )

Thank you for the info E Twentynine

[jdcarpe]

But does one really need NKRO, that is the question.

[Wildcard]

But does one really need NKRO, that is the question.

Don't we all?

[qnaal]

You mean I got a hundred buttons in front of me, and I shouldn't need to be able to push any arbitrary combination of them that I want?

IT MUST BE NICE LIVING IN SUCH A TINY WORLD

[qnaal]

how about this one- this isn't an F 122 is it?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-M-CLICKY-Computer-Keyboard-Used-Working-NO-PART-NUMBER-/131109194485

looks kind of like the one fohat.digs is modding here, but with fewer stepped keys
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37753.0

[dorkvader]

It's an M.

you can tell because the picture of the back with the KB ID switches (the red thing) shows it has a plastic backpiece. The F 122's have a black metal pan backpiece.

And the modular connector on the cable. 122 key model F's have a 270 degree 5-pin DIN plug

@ the good CPT:
the reason why contact switches need diodes is well explained in this article. But magnetic and capacitive switches are different. Ignoring magnetic switches (for now), the reason why model F's don't need diodes is because they measure the capacitance of an entire column, so they know how many switches are pressed on it. I think resistance-based systems would work too.

Good questions: keep 'em coming!

(you can' also tell 'cause were it an F 122 someone else would have bought it by now )

[qnaal]

Alright, I nabbed it for $30.

Good questions: keep 'em coming!

If you insist!

Apparently Greenock ("Greenrock"?) are known to have made relatively solid boards, and this was one of their last- anything interesting I should expect?
Those blank keys are still sending some kind of signal I can salvage, right?
I've used mxblues and some kind of alps in the past, and haven't been terribly impressed, but I'm looking forward to feeling the buckling spring.

And this board has rj45 out- I hear you can wire it straight up to ps/2, but this isn't optimal for software reasons?
I might be able to dig up dead a NIC and ps2kb and wire something hacky up, but the teensy project looks fun- I see a groupbuy setting up for the 21st, how long do those typically take to distribute?

I'd also have to make a mouser order, but I'm a little overwhelmed by their selection.
I figured I'd get a little project-sized breadboard, and whatever connectors I'd be likely to use (this rj45, maybe DIN 180, 270, and mini...) and some LEDs for locklights, any tips?

And, the individual stranded wires pulled from cat5 should be able to handle these currents, right? I've got a lot of that stuff laying around.

[qnaal]

BUMP

update: I've received this greenock terminal board, and have an XT on the way- 'wallethack' indeed.

I wired up an rj45-ps/2 converter but it doesn't work- grub allowed use of the letter keys, but I can't get linux to detect it- scankey -s reports nothing.
Can someone point me toward some way of getting this to work though software? It seems like the keyboard is perhaps running in something called 'mode 3'?

And it looks like I'll be getting a teensy, should I ask around in the diy board, or is it pretty foolproof?
Soarer's leds are run across 5v, and none of these connectors at mouser or digikey are going to screw me over with surprise resistors baked inside them or anything?

[qnaal]

OKAY I FIGURED IT OUT
IBM 1394193 TERMINAL KEYBOARD ON LINUX WITH STRAIGHT-THROUGH RJ45->PS/2 ADAPTER

After enabling 'serio_raw' for the keyboard port:

Code: [Select]

echo -n serio_raw |sudo tee /sys/bus/serio/devices/serio0/drvctland then listening to the raw interface:

Code: [Select]

sudo cat /dev/serio_raw0 |hexdump -e '1/1 "%x\n"'I would see input when I typed, which looked like translated set 3 scancodes!

So in another terminal, sending the 'reset' command to the keyboard:

Code: [Select]

echo -ne '\xff' |sudo tee /dev/serio_raw0
I got back some CODES:

Code: [Select]

fa
aa
7f
*The 0xfa represenging ACK, 0xaa representing SUCCESS, and 0x7f representing THIS KEYBOARD'S ID

So then, as recommended by this thread, I added 0x7f to keyboard_ids[] in drivers/input/serio/libps2.c in my kernel, and added "i8042.direct=1 atkbd.set=3 atkbd.terminal=1" to the boot options (since it's 'mode 3'), and when I rebooted- voila, it works!

man, these switches are pretty heavy...

[hasu]

Nice job and congrat!
Intriguing. I didn't know how Linux handles AT keyboard with code set 3.

[Melvang]

But does one really need NKRO, that is the question.

Well when you choice is 2kro or nkro I would pass on the 2 any day of the week.

[JPG]

But does one really need NKRO, that is the question.

Well when you choice is 2kro or nkro I would pass on the 2 any day of the week.

Also, I saw many people saying that M and F don't feel the same (people preferring the F in general, if not unanimously)

[REVENGE]

But does one really need NKRO, that is the question.

Well when you choice is 2kro or nkro I would pass on the 2 any day of the week.

Also, I saw many people saying that M and F don't feel the same (people preferring the F in general, if not unanimously)

They do not feel the same. They are not mechanically identical.