IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

[hellothere]

Please help me to identify my keyboard.

VG-920.

Explains the pinout. 4800 baud TTL serial.

Now that's a really complete answer to a question. Very cool.

Mmmmm. Old Topre goodness.

[ExZKV]

Please help me to identify my keyboard.

VG-920.

Explains the pinout. 4800 baud TTL serial.

WOW!
It`s a miracle! Thank you very much!

[ExZKV]

Explains the pinout. 4800 baud TTL serial.

it`s real to connect this keyboard to a modern pc? may be use some converter?

[MMcM]

it`s real to connect this keyboard to a modern pc? may be use some converter?

How easy this will be depends on what the serial signals are. There are a number of possibilities:

• ASCII characters -- this makes it very hard to turn into a modern keyboard
• ASCII characters plus separate indication of shift state -- this is marginally better, but still not great
• key codes for key press and key release -- this is ideal and allows working as a modern keyboard with arbitrary mapping
• key codes for key press only with shifts included or key release for shifts only -- this works for regular typing, but makes some games harder and doesn't really allow for changing which keys are shift (including adding more shifts if Ctrl, Shift, and Compose isn't enough)

Based on page 5-44's mention of key code, init code, and status code, I would be hopeful that it is not just ASCII, which means something is possible. But the only way to tell is to hook up an oscilloscope, logic analyzer, or microcontroller to the serial line and see what shows up.

And, yes, a converter is needed, to read from the serial input (and write to serial output to set LEDs and beep). An ATMega32U4, like a Pro Micro or a Teensy, is well-suited to this task, as it has built-in USB support. A framework like TMK or QMK is best for controlling the mapping, once the raw decoding has been done. Arduino also works, and is sometimes useful while working through the decoding. There are a number of examples and people here in the Workshop board are probably willing to help.

[hellothere]

Even more manuals.

It can connect to a DEC VT-220 and looks pretty much identical to a DEC-LK201AA keyboard. I'd say that the odds of converting it to work on a modern computer have gone up .

[MMcM]

It can connect to a DEC VT-220 and looks pretty much identical to a DEC-LK201AA keyboard. I'd say that the odds of converting it to work on a modern computer have gone up .

I am not sure that one can mix and match keyboard and terminal with a VT-220. The LK201 uses an RJ connector not mini-DIN-8, takes 12V power not 5V, and has RS423 serial levels not TTL.

But I agree with the overall conclusion that being some kind of clone increases the chances somewhat.

[silba]

what keyboars is it according to you? also what type of keys ?

[Findecanor]

It looks like a variant of the BTC 51 series with the 1.25u Escape key and the grey "ISO key" next to the left Shift key — I have only seen BTC keyboards have that.
Edit: Some BTC-made Packard Bell keyboards have a similar case.

[madrobby]

From a recent eBay listing. Manufacturer is “Video Technologies”.

The nav cluster and blank keys in the bottom row make it slightly more interesting than run-of-the mill boards.

Does anyone know what this is, what switches it uses? (I assume it’s very cheaply made.)

D3F84AF2-FF63-4837-A5CB-4CAC7C7B3AD6.jpeg (897.6 KiB) Viewed 8270 times

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[zrrion]

that's a laser board with SMK 2nd gen MX mount clickies. They're nice enough switches and caps but the build of the rest of the board leaves a lot to be desired

[silba]

It looks like a variant of the BTC 51 series with the 1.25u Escape key and the grey "ISO key" next to the left Shift key — I have only seen BTC keyboards have that.
Edit: Some BTC-made Packard Bell keyboards have a similar case.

i got many keyboards with blue switchs but they werent enought tactile, bouncing to my taste
also got another royal but same

i remember having a more tactical kb when i was younger

which type of membrane is the more tactile/bouncy ?

[jejex]

Hi, I've found an laptop-like keyboard with ALPS or clones, interestingly there is a single MX black under the caps lock. I couldn't dfind any info on this keyboard, also found one in ISO. Thanks in advance, have a great day!
Photos:

Spoiler:

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[TNT]

That's a very interesting luggable keyboard. A different switch family just to make a locklight possible and then they used a keycap with translucent legends, not even just a window like in older Alps-style caps.

[jejex]

That's a very interesting luggable keyboard. A different switch family just to make a locklight possible and then they used a keycap with translucent legends, not even just a window like in older Alps-style caps.

I believe at some point, some user modified the keyboard to take a MX switch on the caps lock because;
a) other locklight keycaps are in the classic windowed style; num lock, scroll lock - and they look like the original Alps keycaps the whole board has.
b) I've found almost the exact same keyboard in ISO layout, and it has a normal, windowed caps lock that seems to be the original one. Attaching a photo -

Spoiler:

iso.jpg (114.75 KiB) Viewed 8085 times

This leads me to believe, it is an user-made modification. Why, and how is it possible, is a whole another question
I appreciate any leads regarding this keyboard's model or name, thanks again!

[davkol]

Glidepoint rack keyboard w/ Alps

[JannievanZyl]

Supposed to be an old Siemens keyboard. Any guess on use-case and switches?

Did you get any more info on this keyboard?

I found a similar looking one, but with some extra keys top right.

Siemens.jpg (43.47 KiB) Viewed 7997 times

[jejex]

One more keyboard, strange layout with a 1u space and a lot of windowed keycaps in a interesting profile - appreciate any info about this one, and thanks in advance!

unknown.png (457.84 KiB) Viewed 7936 times

[Lalaland124]

One more keyboard, strange layout with a 1u space and a lot of windowed keycaps in a interesting profile - appreciate any info about this one, and thanks in advance! unknown.png

Those keycaps are gorgeous! What kind of connector does it have? Reminds me of old video editing terminals

[Lalaland124]

Supposed to be an old Siemens keyboard. Any guess on use-case and switches?

Did you get any more info on this keyboard?

I found a similar looking one, but with some extra keys top right.
Siemens.jpg

Unfortunately not

[OleVoip]

Supposed to be an old Siemens keyboard. Any guess on use-case and switches?

Did you get any more info on this keyboard?
I found a similar looking one, but with some extra keys top right.
Siemens.jpg

Unfortunately not

That's a Siemens T1000 teletypewriter keyboard. We had a similar one rather early in this thread, which I replied to.
Another one had its own thread, and another thread describes another family of keyboards with that switch and the switch itself, for which there is a wiki entry, too.

[jejex]

Those keycaps are gorgeous! What kind of connector does it have? Reminds me of old video editing terminals

No clue on the connector, bought this on a Chinese second-hand website, paid approx $5, and has MX blacks or some clones. The keycaps are doubleshot, and absolutely great, unfortunately there's 2 missing, but I'm going to use them in my ortho build.

EDIT: I think I've found it: Sieb & Meyer 45.01.04.3 and it looks it's a keyboard from a German CNC machine control panel, with a presumably homemade case. Sadly, this didn't get me much info, as it is pretty much undocumented. As always, thanks for your help and have a great day!

[JannievanZyl]

Did you get any more info on this keyboard?
I found a similar looking one, but with some extra keys top right.
Siemens.jpg

Unfortunately not

That's a Siemens T1000 teletypewriter keyboard. We had a similar one rather early in this thread, which I replied to.
Another one had its own thread, and another thread describes another family of keyboards with that switch and the switch itself, for which there is a wiki entry, too.

Thanks, I've looked at a lot of site and photos of various T1000's but I've not yet seen one with the two extra red keys you see top right on the one I found.

[june bug]

hey y'all, does anyone recognize this keyboard? there was no information on the pcb that i could see

[Polecat]

Terminal board of some sort, sorry I can't tell you which model. Keytronics foam and foil, good looking keyboard, but not a very desirable feel for most of us.

[Lucid]

Has anyone seen an Ericsson keyboard like this before?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ericsson-Keybo ... 637-2357-0



Those orange key caps and the bezels are so beautiful

[Polecat]

Weird Focus-ish keyboard. No photos or info on the switches, anyone know this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384410414027

[june bug]

i think it's a Rin-Teck RT-1000 board minus the Chinese legends
link

[Lucid]

Weird Focus-ish keyboard. No photos or info on the switches, anyone know this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384410414027

I had that on my watch list for a few days. Seems way too expensive for a standard Focus board with SMK switches.

[Polecat]

i think it's a Rin-Teck RT-1000 board minus the Chinese legends
link

That's definitely it, thanks! I tried searching the forums and looked in the wiki, but it's not listed in the index of keyboards by brand for some reason. Not the first time that has happened either.

[hellothere]

Has anyone seen an Ericsson keyboard like this before?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ericsson-Keybo ... 637-2357-0



Those orange key caps and the bezels are so beautiful

Very nice looking KB!