So I took an old Model M keyboard (Buckling spring key switches! yay!) and decided to paint it and convert it to USB. I bought one of These and spliced it in with the PS/2 wires internally in the keyboard so I have a little male USB plug sticking out the back It works great when plugged into my laptop (i'm typing this on it) but on my desktop I get a "device cannot start code = 10" error in the control panel (which actually needs the keyboard). Both machines are running Windows 7 x64.
Oh yeah here is the actual keyboard
If anyone has some ideas they would be greatly appreciated!
Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
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Re: Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
Did some further research, turns out the adapter i used is just that, an adapter. I need a full ps/2 - USB converter for it to work reliably, looks like more soldering is in my future.
Re: Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
I wish they were a little thinner. But I use one (1988) and are the best.
The greenest keyboards ever made. I wonder how many keyboards people have had to bought while I've been using this one. :D
The greenest keyboards ever made. I wonder how many keyboards people have had to bought while I've been using this one. :D
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Re: Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
I never thought of it that way. I have 2 of them, one manufactured in 1989 and the other (the one mentioned) in 1993. They certainly do last! The one I painted even has drainage holes in case you spill liquid in it. Model M's are truly the Jeeps of keyboards.
Re: Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
I have piles of them things here at work but think they are PS1. Have them for old IBM dumb terminals.
I have thought of getting one of these http://www.daskeyboard.com/ to save the work of hacking one together, but cant bring myself to pay the $130 price tag.
Had a link to one that was ~$60ish but cant find it right now.
I have thought of getting one of these http://www.daskeyboard.com/ to save the work of hacking one together, but cant bring myself to pay the $130 price tag.
Had a link to one that was ~$60ish but cant find it right now.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
-Thomas Jefferson
-Thomas Jefferson
- HONkUS
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Re: Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
the old AT connectors are just as easy to convert to USB as the ps/2 if you get an active adapter. Both AT and ps/2 use the same signal according to Wikipedia.
AT:
Pin 1 = +CLK
Pin 2 = +DATA
Pin 3 = N/A
Pin 4 = GND
Pin 5 = VCC +5V DC
PS/2:
Pin 1 = +DATA
Pin 2 = N/A
Pin 3 = GND
Pin 4 = VCC +5v DC
Pin 5 = +CLK
Pin 6 = N/A
If you have a mini Model M without the keypad I will gladly take it off your hands if you like
AT:
Pin 1 = +CLK
Pin 2 = +DATA
Pin 3 = N/A
Pin 4 = GND
Pin 5 = VCC +5V DC
PS/2:
Pin 1 = +DATA
Pin 2 = N/A
Pin 3 = GND
Pin 4 = VCC +5v DC
Pin 5 = +CLK
Pin 6 = N/A
If you have a mini Model M without the keypad I will gladly take it off your hands if you like
Re: Converted my old IBM Model M Keyboard to USB but........
I'll see what I got, think they all have the 10 key pad on them.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
-Thomas Jefferson
-Thomas Jefferson