Model RT6656TW, same regardless of branding?

[macguy80]

I know it's just a "lowly" rubber dome board, but as they go, it's one of the best I've come across, and the sound is quite unique. I had one at work years ago back in the days of Win2k, and I very much regret not trading it (with the boss's permission) for another rubber dome board. The boss wouldn't have cared.

I see a lot of them on ebay. the OEM is NMB, but I've seen other branding, such as AT&T and Compaq. The keys all look the same, except for color scheme differences here and there. The model number never varies.

In all cases, it's made in Thailand. Can I rest assured that I will get a basically identical board whether I go for an actual NMB board, or one of the rebranded ones?

Thanks!

[Blaise170]

98% of the time, a keyboard won't change from rebrand to rebrand, though there are some series that switch their switches every so often. The Chicony 5161/5181 and any rebrands of them are a good example of this.

[Tactile]

If you can see the label, and the FCC ID numbers match,  it's usually a pretty good indicator that two boards are the same.

[macguy80]

If you can see the label, and the FCC ID numbers match,  it's usually a pretty good indicator that two boards are the same.

Thanks! I believe the FCC ID's are indeed also identical, so that's a good sign.

Would the FCC ID change for different interfaces, with an otherwise identical board? I need PS/2, as opposed to anything older.

[Blaise170]

If you can see the label, and the FCC ID numbers match,  it's usually a pretty good indicator that two boards are the same.

Thanks! I believe the FCC ID's are indeed also identical, so that's a good sign.

Would the FCC ID change for different interfaces, with an otherwise identical board? I need PS/2, as opposed to anything older.

Well the AT style DIN 5 connector is the exact same signal as PS/2, so if it ended up being that all you would need is a $3 DIN-5 to P/S2 converter. FCC ID may change, maybe not, but often the series will be just slightly different (i.e. KB-6121 might be AT and KB-6122 might be PS/2).

[macguy80]

Hi  Blaise170, the reason I need PS/2 is that I need to convert it to USB. From what I've read, multiple conversions don't work. It would be nice if they had continued making this keyboard into the USB era, but they didn't.

[Tactile]

What Blaise170 was saying was that the only difference between an AT connector and a PS/2 is the physical connector, nothing electronic is different. An AT to PS/2 adapter is just one size connector on one end, the other size connector on the other, and a few wires between.

So, with an AT to PS/2 adapter chained to a PS/2 to USB adapter setup, there is only one conversion taking place, within the PS/2 to USB adapter.

In other words, it'll work fine... and I've done it with no problem.

I'd recommend the "Blue Cube" for the PS/2 to USB adapter.

[EscapeVelocity]

I know it's just a "lowly" rubber dome board, but as they go, it's one of the best I've come across, and the sound is quite unique. I had one at work years ago back in the days of Win2k, and I very much regret not trading it (with the boss's permission) for another rubber dome board. The boss wouldn't have cared.

I see a lot of them on ebay. the OEM is NMB, but I've seen other branding, such as AT&T and Compaq. The keys all look the same, except for color scheme differences here and there. The model number never varies.

In all cases, it's made in Thailand. Can I rest assured that I will get a basically identical board whether I go for an actual NMB board, or one of the rebranded ones?

Thanks!

There are tons of rebrands of this keyboard. 

[Blaise170]

Yes there is no issue going from AT to USB, I've done it on many different keyboards with no issues at all.

[macguy80]

Thanks to all for the clarification. My misinformation came from a post I was reading about a Maltron keyboard. It did not work in such a configuration, so I mistakenly thought that configuration was a no-go, when it was probably just a peculiarity of the Maltron, or otherwise just a faulty unit.

[False_Dmitry_II]

There are better USB converters than the Blue Cube, but they aren't easier to say. Apparently there are certain combinations of keys that a blue cube won't do. I have a particular belkin that does do those, but it has been some time since it was discussed and I don't remember which it was. There are other belkins that are worthless.

There was also some other newer one that was liked and used inside a wire or something, that I saw talked about a bunch a year or two ago and it seems to have been forgotten. "ID Innovations" or something like that IIRC. I never looked into it much because I still had several belkins and a blue cube or two. Weird to see people only talking about the cube again. In this and many other recent posts.

[Blaise170]

Thanks to all for the clarification. My misinformation came from a post I was reading about a Maltron keyboard. It did not work in such a configuration, so I mistakenly thought that configuration was a no-go, when it was probably just a peculiarity of the Maltron, or otherwise just a faulty unit.

There are a couple of boards with a DIN 5 connector that aren't AT like the terminal Model M.

[EscapeVelocity]

Thanks to all for the clarification. My misinformation came from a post I was reading about a Maltron keyboard. It did not work in such a configuration, so I mistakenly thought that configuration was a no-go, when it was probably just a peculiarity of the Maltron, or otherwise just a faulty unit.

Ziotek qavailableon Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Ps-Keyboard-Mouse-Usb-Adapter/dp/B000G7WYZG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1433804028&sr=8-2&keywords=ziotek+ps2

Belkin F5U119E or F5U119E-1 Available on eBay

StarTech  is available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-USB-PS-Adapter-Keyboard/dp/B00028OP2Y/

[False_Dmitry_II]

That's the very belkin model I was speaking of.

[Findecanor]

Would the FCC ID change for different interfaces, with an otherwise identical board? I need PS/2, as opposed to anything older.

If it has an AT connector then the model number should be different: RT6655TW.

BTW. There should be a country code at the end of the model number if it is not US-ANSI.

[macguy80]

I'd recommend the "Blue Cube" for the PS/2 to USB adapter.

Is this SANOXY the "Blue Cube" that you're referring to? It certainly fits the physical description, but I'd hate to buy without knowing. I'll still be considering the others that have been mentioned, but I do like the form factor.

[Tactile]

This is it...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812224031&cm_re=ps%2f2_usb_converter-_-12-224-031-_-Product

Other folks seem to think there are better ones out there, so you might consider other suggestions.

As for me, I have several different adapters and they all exhibit one or both of these symptoms - can't enter the BIOS at POST or keyboard LEDs don't work. My blue cube is the only one I own which always works perfectly with any of my old PS/2 keyboards.

[macguy80]

Thanks, Tactile!

Actually, I'm leaning towards the one you recommend. I owned one of the Belkins, and it flat out died on me. And I only used it with a Dell Quietkey. Not exactly a stressful load, and the keyboard (which remained fully functional) was new at the time. Most burned out adapters I have read of met their fate via a Model M, which I do not own. When that day comes, it will be a Unicomp USB board because 101 keys isn't so convenient on a Mac.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Oh, I'm not saying the blue cube is bad. It is probably a minimum for using mech boards. But that belkin model F5U119E has proven even better.

The vast majority of random ones are total trash. The random one I bought in a store sent down and then up codes the second you created a downstroke. Absolutely useless. After that is when I got my blue cube and a pack of 4 of the belkins. Not only are they more capable but they don't take up all that space right near the USB port. Doesn't always matter but can be annoying.

[Blaise170]

I've used the Belkin that everyone recommends and the Sanoxy active adapter here: http://amzn.to/1S37DzG. I've never had issues with either of them. I own three Sanoxy adapters because they are so dang cheap!

[macguy80]

The Belkin you have looks nothing like the one I had that died.

I guess the one I had was the F5U119 (no E on the end)

picture here:

http://md8083.hertsinternet.com/connecting-ps2keyboardmouse.shtml

As you can see, quite a bit bulkier than either of the other two, and was quite expensive back in '98 or '99 when I got it. I want to say $30 or $40. Can't be 100% sure.

[EscapeVelocity]

Is the RT6656TW the same as an RT6856TW but without the metal backplate maybe?

[False_Dmitry_II]

I don't have any of the older NMB domes, so I don't know. I don't think anyone has done any kind of cataloging of specifics about any of the models either and there are many. Other than to just say that they are good for domes in general that is.

[Blaise170]

And on that note, feel free to enter what you find into the DT wiki, the more info we have, the better off everyone is. 

[EscapeVelocity]

Will do. 

[Findecanor]

Is the RT6656TW the same as an RT6856TW but without the metal backplate maybe?

Different build and domes. It looks to me as if the RT6656TW has a flat backplate and contoured keys with separate sliders. The RT6856TW has a curved backplate and all keys the same profile, stems integrated in the keycaps. (I have only had the latter.)

[EscapeVelocity]

Check out my pics of the NMB RT6856TW in the Vintage Rubber Dome thread.