IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

kelvinhall05 · 10 Jun 2020, 15:49

Memes aside...red alps, or clone?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/383582503769

Razerban · 10 Jun 2020, 16:08

kelvinhall05 wrote: 10 Jun 2020, 15:49 Memes aside...red alps, or clone?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/383582503769

The FCC ID present on the label on the keyboard's underside is: GM8MCK101SX
The product model for this keyboard is: MCK101SX.

Ortek keyboard model numbers frequently end in "SX" and "FX"; it appears that SX indicates Alps SKCL/SKCM series and later Alps SKBL/SKBM series, while FX corresponds with the use of Alps clone switches.

So I guess those are genuine Alps SKCM Orange switches

hellothere · 10 Jun 2020, 21:33

I think I'll +1 on the clone comment.

Oddly, I'm aware of Ortek because the MCK-201 and this "MCX-201" have the same keycaps as on my NTC-6251EA (note that zero on the number pad). My keyboard has alps.tw Type T5 grey clones. Also, unless the guy in the ebay ad is much less a photographer than I am, and I take pictures barely better than my cat can, those switches look red, not orange.

With my NTC, I'm leaning toward saying that you have a model number that's in the FCC ID, but the revision number on the PCB determines what switches and mounting plate you have (in my case, "Rev. 6.0"). That could be the case for Ortek, as well.

I'm definitely not an Ortek expert, so please take it with a grain of salt. As said, I only looked up Ortek because I looked into them when I was researching my NTC.

kelvinhall05 · 10 Jun 2020, 21:40

hellothere wrote: 10 Jun 2020, 21:33 I think I'll +1 on the clone comment.

Oddly, I'm aware of Ortek because the MCK-201 and this "MCX-201" have the same keycaps as on my NTC-6251EA (note that zero on the number pad). My keyboard has alps.tw Type T5 grey clones. Also, unless the guy in the ebay ad is much less a photographer than I am, and I take pictures barely better than my cat can, those switches look red, not orange.

With my NTC, I'm leaning toward saying that you have a model number that's in the FCC ID, but the revision number on the PCB determines what switches and mounting plate you have (in my case, "Rev. 6.0"). That could be the case for Ortek, as well.

I'm definitely not an Ortek expert, so please take it with a grain of salt. As said, I only looked up Ortek because I looked into them when I was researching my NTC.

Agreed, they do look red, and when I originally saw the listing I figured it was likely clones cause there were no logos on the switch. Still have no idea what they are besides "clones", lol.

hellothere · 11 Jun 2020, 00:16

I've gotta say that I'm pretty happy with those grey clones. Relatively heavy weight and a nice click. If I had money to burn, I'd be happy to get the Ortek. However, unless one of the Elder Gods on this forum say that's a really rare switch that deserves the $149 price (and variable shipping price), I'd pass.

Polecat · 11 Jun 2020, 04:07

Looks like orange 4 tab clones to me. Hua Jie AK-D5 is one possibility, and the mold markings look similar, but I can't justify $149 just to find out.

Alectardy98 · 14 Jun 2020, 13:48

What is this guy ?

HC514 · 15 Jun 2020, 16:14

Looks like ordinary rubber dome. The gold-coloured lasered lettering looks like early 2000s HP/Compaq stuff to me, although I wouldn't have pictured them doing video editing gear.

lauralouise · 17 Jun 2020, 22:05

I know what this keyboard is -- (Coleco Adam) but I haven't connected it up yet and I'm wondering if anyone who's used one of these can tell me.... what on earth does the 'WILD CARD' key do???

MMcM · 18 Jun 2020, 01:00

https://archive.org/details/ADAM_System ... =wild+card

reserved for future use

Alectardy98 · 21 Jun 2020, 20:12

what is this switch, its looks like alps?

kelvinhall05 · 21 Jun 2020, 20:30

Acer switch I think, or that weird Alps slider/clicker over membrane that has been mentioned/spotted here before.

ddrfraser1 · 21 Jun 2020, 21:50

Alectardy98 wrote: 21 Jun 2020, 20:12 what is this switch, its looks like alps?

Looks beautiful in the cream color. Is that a distinct switch or is the housing a part of the case?

4_404 · 22 Jun 2020, 00:18

Alectardy98 wrote: 21 Jun 2020, 20:12 what is this switch, its looks like alps?

Looks like the Tai Hao clicky spring over membrane semi mechanical switch
wiki/Tai-Hao_APC_semi-mechanical

ddrfraser1 · 22 Jun 2020, 00:56

4_404 wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 00:18
Alectardy98 wrote: 21 Jun 2020, 20:12 what is this switch, its looks like alps?
Looks like the Tai Hao clicky spring over membrane semi mechanical switch
wiki/Tai-Hao_APC_semi-mechanical

Cool! Anybody know if it’s any good? Would love to see a Chyros review on it one day.

4_404 · 22 Jun 2020, 01:37

ddrfraser1 wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 00:56
4_404 wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 00:18
Alectardy98 wrote: 21 Jun 2020, 20:12 what is this switch, its looks like alps?
Looks like the Tai Hao clicky spring over membrane semi mechanical switch
wiki/Tai-Hao_APC_semi-mechanical
Cool! Anybody know if it’s any good? Would love to see a Chyros review on it one day.

I have a 'Gear G2101' branded 'Type III' with one click leaf. It is genuinely the rattliest keyboard I know. Shaking it sounds like shaking a box full of springs, which is basically what it is. Typing on it sounds like typing on a box full of springs. The click is pretty light, the spring is very heavy, so it basically feels like a wobbly Cherry MY that is broken and clicks for some reason - the dead octopus analogy holds true, except this octopus is full of a bunch of crunchy bits that click when you poke it. The click is usually right at the top of the stroke, but it's pretty inconsistent. They're also scratchy, even though mine is NOS, but they don't bind at all. I got mine cheap for the caps and it's a funny board to mess around with but not something that is pleasant to use at all. The Acer switch is vastly superior. I have a typing video somewhere if I can find it.

ddrfraser1 · 22 Jun 2020, 02:02

4_404 wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 01:37
ddrfraser1 wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 00:56
4_404 wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 00:18

Looks like the Tai Hao clicky spring over membrane semi mechanical switch
wiki/Tai-Hao_APC_semi-mechanical
Cool! Anybody know if it’s any good? Would love to see a Chyros review on it one day.
I have a 'Gear G2101' branded 'Type III' with one click leaf. It is genuinely the rattliest keyboard I know. Shaking it sounds like shaking a box full of springs, which is basically what it is. Typing on it sounds like typing on a box full of springs. The click is pretty light, the spring is very heavy, so it basically feels like a wobbly Cherry MY that is broken and clicks for some reason - the dead octopus analogy holds true, except this octopus is full of a bunch of crunchy bits that click when you poke it. The click is usually right at the top of the stroke, but it's pretty inconsistent. They're also scratchy, even though mine is NOS, but they don't bind at all. I got mine cheap for the caps and it's a funny board to mess around with but not something that is pleasant to use at all. The Acer switch is vastly superior. I have a typing video somewhere if I can find it.

Yikes

Chyros · 22 Jun 2020, 06:53

I have a Gear with them as well. It's gonna be a sweary one xD .

davkol · 22 Jun 2020, 12:43

4_404 · 22 Jun 2020, 12:55

davkol wrote: 22 Jun 2020, 12:43 I have swapped APC/Tai-Hao leaves (from older models though) into Alps SKCM Black and it improved the tactility quite a bit. The keyboards had okay doubleshot keycaps as well, but that's about it.

I really like the older mechanical APCs (I have and Orteck MCK-101 with some branded/unbranded ones, best clones I've tried), but the membrane based ones are really only good for the novelty, the caps and possibly the click leaves.

krazy_bunny_gal · 22 Jun 2020, 15:58

any ideas what this is? yellow alps suggest its not bad

only information on the back sticker is "north america 9281 17 01-01"

mode1ace · 22 Jun 2020, 20:00

Dunno, are those caps doubleshot? The lettering sure looks sharp.

juspek · 22 Jun 2020, 23:23

Looks like keyboard from Micro-Term 420 terminal https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... _keyboard/

krazy_bunny_gal · 23 Jun 2020, 16:08

cheers for the help juspek

Razerban · 23 Jun 2020, 16:24

The layout reminds of the Wyse 85 terminal and DEC LK201 Keyboards.

Lekrafter · 25 Jun 2020, 02:57

Hey what's this?

: Screenshot_20200624-205609_eBay.jpg (1.02 MiB) Viewed 9835 times

Jesseg · 25 Jun 2020, 03:12

Lekrafter wrote: 25 Jun 2020, 02:57 Hey what's this?
Screenshot_20200624-205609_eBay.jpg

Looks like datacomp, I know some of those came with green and blue alps, I have one of the 515AT's and that had blue alps and the same arrow keys.

Polecat · 25 Jun 2020, 04:02

The bold arrow keys say Datacomp, but that Caps Lock keycap suggests something other than Alps. I'm guessing Futaba MA switches, but that's only a maybe.

edit: looks like a Datacomp DFK-501:

wiki/Datacomp_DFK-501F/502F

uttindar · 25 Jun 2020, 20:23

Could be also wiki/Datacomp_DFK555 it looks the same (I have one right now). Futaba MA switches inside.
Also I have a problem connecting it to PC for some reason and some users on this forum had similar issue.

Polecat · 29 Jun 2020, 04:01

Just found this DFK-515, apparently there *were* Alps Datacomps with the big step on the Caps Lock key:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133413851267