Looking for a Omnikey 102 replacement for a coworker.

[CALEBGULLIER]

I have a coworker who is in love with her Omnikey 102. It needs some repairs and I would like to find her a newer keyboard with the same layout if I can. If not we can pay to get this keyboard fixed but a newer one is preferable. Anyone know a keyboard with an identical layout?

[jacobolus]

If she’s used to the standard set by the Omnikey, then there’s nothing newer that will be nearly as nice in a similar layout (not sure there’s anything in that layout period). Repairing it should be relatively straightforward though. What’s wrong with it?

There are a couple of Omnikeys (with 102 layout or even more keys) on ebay for ~$100:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271600941740
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161415399958

[SpecTP]

Corsair K30 and K95 have similar layout with function keys down the left side.

[CALEBGULLIER]

A few of the keys are sticky and only work sometimes. Two of the keys don't really work even unless you really jam down on them.

Is there a recommendation of someone to send this to and get it fixed.

[CPTBadAss]

A few of the keys are sticky and only work sometimes. Two of the keys don't really work even unless you really jam down on them.

Is there a recommendation of someone to send this to and get it fixed.

Sounds like the switches are dirty or perhaps need to be resoldered. I would try PMing dorkvader for help with fixing your board.

[jacobolus]

So the cleanest way to fix this is to just desolder the damaged/broken switches and solder in new ones. You’ll need a few replacement (likely white Alps) switches and a soldering iron (or access to someone with a soldering iron).

Alternately, you could try disassembling the switches without desoldering and see if you can see what’s wrong with them. Usually there’s either some gunk inside the switch, or the little metal leaves have been bent out of shape, or some similar problem. If the bottom housing and switchplate are undamaged, you could even swap out broken parts for working parts from replacement switches without desoldering anything.

There are some folks on geekhack who offer repair/rework services for reasonable rates, through this subforum: http://geekhack.org/index.php?board=160.0 – for example Dorkvader http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61288.0

Or if you want to go with an expert who specializes in Omnikeys, there’s always http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com though I’m not sure what his rates are.

[CALEBGULLIER]

Thank you for all your help. I will just get this one fixed. I messaged both of those links jacobolus, thank you for your help.