Beautiful but sad (Dolch)

[shawn o]

This setup was so cheap on ebay I couldn't resist. $99 shipped.

Never had a full Dolch PC before. Watching it boot and playing with DOS brought back some great memories.

The whole unit looks brand new including the keyboard.

Never seen this Dolch carrying bag it came with before either?!?

Sad because I bought it just for the keyboard and am going to do an irreversible USB conversion on it.

[Halverson]

That makes me sad

Such a beautiful working setup.

[Lurch]

So, what does it smell like?

[dorkvader]

Send me the rest and I'll use it with my dolch KB.

I actually modded my dolch KB specifically with the intent of using it with the rest of the machine. I replaced the no-longer-clicky blues with new ones and plate modded it.

I'm just having some difficulty getting it working. And the UPS dropped it a few too many times so the case cracked and the frame is all bent and damaged. it would be great to have a working system to use the keyboard with.

[Belfong]

I wouldn't break up this set up if I were you. Obviously the previous owner also took good care of it. I mean, I would take off the key caps and put in my TKL board just to try the caps but I don't think I would break apart that keyboard. It is a sad day indeed!

[shawn o]

If someone wants it PM me and you can have it.  Email me a shipping label and I'll pack up the unit and send it. Its over 20lbs.

There were a few oddball cables in the bag I'll send too.

I'm keeping the keyboard and bag though.

The unit itself is nothing more than a paperweight/novelty in this day and age.

[hasu]

Mine also came with that Dolch bag which smells sweaty badly...

[shawn o]

Luckily this stuff has no odd odor or funkiness, LOL.

[rowdy]

Dolch bag - wow!  Never seen those before.

[noisyturtle]

That bag's pretty dope.

[rowdy]

That bag's pretty dope.

Not if it smells of sweat

[absyrd]

Send me the rest and I'll use it with my dolch KB.

I actually modded my dolch KB specifically with the intent of using it with the rest of the machine. I replaced the no-longer-clicky blues with new ones and plate modded it.

I'm just having some difficulty getting it working. And the UPS dropped it a few too many times so the case cracked and the frame is all bent and damaged. it would be great to have a working system to use the keyboard with.

Send it to dorkvader! Don't let it go to waste.

That bag's pretty dope.

Not if it smells of sweat

Wash that ***** and rock it!

[divito]

Sucks for such a set to be split up. Really unfortunate choice.

[Puddsy]

Send me the rest and I'll use it with my dolch KB.

I actually modded my dolch KB specifically with the intent of using it with the rest of the machine. I replaced the no-longer-clicky blues with new ones and plate modded it.

I'm just having some difficulty getting it working. And the UPS dropped it a few too many times so the case cracked and the frame is all bent and damaged. it would be great to have a working system to use the keyboard with.

do this

he's been looking for just the unit for a very long time

[shawn o]

Done and done.

I apparently (wrongly) assumed I could convert the keyboard straight to USB. I took a USB cable from a Cherry G80 keyboard and crimped on the correct RJ9 / 4P4C connector. The wires are in the correct order, I know that for sure.

The LEDs for the keyboard blink once when I power on the PC but there is nothing after that.

I know PS2 has data and clock whereas USB has DATA+ and DATA-.

I guess I need to get a PS2 cable off something and try again.

[dorkvader]

yes, you just need a PS/2 cable and a USB to PS/2 adapter. I like those ID innovations ones. You can just cut the PS/2 end off and solder the wires directly to the pins on the controller.

[Hitcha]

Excellent board there, love the color scheme. Let us know the conversion works out!

[Findecanor]

How about building a modern PC inside the case?  It could be made into a really cool LAN box.

I don't think that the hole on the left is big enough (in any version of the Dolch) for an ATX I/O shield, but it you would use a mini-ITX board placed further in and used extension cables to the port opening, you could retain the original look.

I wish I had thought of this when I bought my Dolch keyboard. The computer was left behind with the seller... 

[shawn o]

I found an old HP PS2 mouse so I removed the cable from it. After some continuity testing determined what wire color went to what pin on the PS2 plug.

I crimped an RJ9 connector onto the cable with the 4 wires in the correct spots and.....nothing.

Booted up the PC and neither the PS2 mouse connected to the PC or the Dolch connected via the PS2 cable.

Wondering if there is something inside the cable itself telling the PC its a mouse causing a conflict?

I reinstalled the original Dolch cable and connected up to the PAC62 unit and it works great so its not an issue with the keyboard itself.

[shawn o]

How would one use a PS2 cable and a PS2 to USB adapter together? Seems using an ID Innovations passive adapter is nothing more than hard wiring USB directly to the keyboard which didn't work?

yes, you just need a PS/2 cable and a USB to PS/2 adapter. I like those ID innovations ones. You can just cut the PS/2 end off and solder the wires directly to the pins on the controller.

[shawn o]

Should I try one of the ID Innovations adapters? I'd have to use a USB extension if I got the shorter one but I see they also have a 6 foot version listed on their site.

Is the ID Innovations a passive adapter?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280839328798&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_897wt_935

[dorkvader]

How would one use a PS2 cable and a PS2 to USB adapter together? Seems using an ID Innovations passive adapter is nothing more than hard wiring USB directly to the keyboard which didn't work?

yes, you just need a PS/2 cable and a USB to PS/2 adapter. I like those ID innovations ones. You can just cut the PS/2 end off and solder the wires directly to the pins on the controller.

It's not passive. The active circuitry is in the (larger) USB plug.

You can get them with 6ft cables. This is what orihalcon uses for his model M usb cables (He crimps SDL ends to them).

That one you linked from orihalcon is indeed what I'm talking about. Ming sells them in his store for the shorter ones, and you might be able to message orihalcon about getting a longer one from him. (id innovations charges like $22 each for qty < 50! )

I found an old HP PS2 mouse so I removed the cable from it. After some continuity testing determined what wire color went to what pin on the PS2 plug.

I crimped an RJ9 connector onto the cable with the 4 wires in the correct spots and.....nothing.

are you sure you got the pinout right?

Booted up the PC and neither the PS2 mouse connected to the PC or the Dolch connected via the PS2 cable.

Wondering if there is something inside the cable itself telling the PC its a mouse causing a conflict?

PS/2 cables are passive, and as far as I know they are the same for a KB or a mouse. Some combination cables (PS/2 and mouse in one) use the the unused pins of PS/2 for mouse data/clock, but a standalone mouse should be the same as a KB as far as the cable and pinout are concerned.

here's a topic with some good info and pictures:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59239.msg1357809#msg1357809

This is the best post I've seen covering the issue:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46531.msg1035707#msg1035707

OK hope this helps!

[shawn o]

Got it working with the PS2 cable. Having a 10' ID Innovations one sent though.

Everything was right, I double and triple checked and just decided to plug into my home PC since I knew it had to work. Worked like a champ!

Thanks everyone.

[lightsout714]

Cool setup. Sweet bag.

[taylordcraig]

Really amazing setup.

edit: if you're busting it up I would LOVE that bag.