Costar CSK-1102S ver 1.5 apparently with alps.tw Type OD1 (?)
Posted: 31 May 2016, 18:35
Some of you may already know, that I managed to acquire a rare Costar CSK-1102S keyboard. It has some kind of Alps mount switches that terrycherry identified as alps.tw Type OD1 in the In the IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread. Here are some pictures:
The board. Note the blank key next to the left Shift.
On the bottom there is a sticker, two IBM Model M compatible feet and an XT/AT switch.
The top housing covers a metal mounting plate with the PCB underneath.
All the switches have orange sliders apart from the Space bar, witch is white/clear. All, including the white/clear one are marked D-TRANS. alps.tw Type OD1 are supposed to be marked D-TRNS.
The orange switches are clicky, rather stiff and rough. The experience is also inconsistent, but this may be due to uneven wear. The switches are also much more sensitive to off-centre key presses than complicated Alps.
The white/clear switch is significantly lighter, less tactile and the click is much quieter. The manufacturer didn't seem to care about the orientation of the switches.
Keycaps are thin double-shots.
The PCB with legend for all traces.
Model and version.
Unfortunately the switches don't behave in a consistent way. Some are less clicky, a few are rather sticky (something the seller didn't inform me about, although I did specifically ask about it). This is probably due to wear and dirt. I'm not going to open them now, because I don't think there is a way to do it without desoldering. And I don't want to desolder right now (that's why I won't be posting photos of disassembled switches), because I'm thinking about selling or exchanging it straight away (if anyone is interested, please PM me).
Before I make that decision, however, I'd like to know whether these switches are indeed alps.tw Type OD1. The housing and slider shapes match. The marking is slightly different though (D-TRANS instead of D-TRNS), but that may just be due to inconsistency during manufacturing. Anyone wants to take a guess?
The board. Note the blank key next to the left Shift.
On the bottom there is a sticker, two IBM Model M compatible feet and an XT/AT switch.
The top housing covers a metal mounting plate with the PCB underneath.
All the switches have orange sliders apart from the Space bar, witch is white/clear. All, including the white/clear one are marked D-TRANS. alps.tw Type OD1 are supposed to be marked D-TRNS.
The orange switches are clicky, rather stiff and rough. The experience is also inconsistent, but this may be due to uneven wear. The switches are also much more sensitive to off-centre key presses than complicated Alps.
The white/clear switch is significantly lighter, less tactile and the click is much quieter. The manufacturer didn't seem to care about the orientation of the switches.
Keycaps are thin double-shots.
The PCB with legend for all traces.
Model and version.
Unfortunately the switches don't behave in a consistent way. Some are less clicky, a few are rather sticky (something the seller didn't inform me about, although I did specifically ask about it). This is probably due to wear and dirt. I'm not going to open them now, because I don't think there is a way to do it without desoldering. And I don't want to desolder right now (that's why I won't be posting photos of disassembled switches), because I'm thinking about selling or exchanging it straight away (if anyone is interested, please PM me).
Before I make that decision, however, I'd like to know whether these switches are indeed alps.tw Type OD1. The housing and slider shapes match. The marking is slightly different though (D-TRANS instead of D-TRNS), but that may just be due to inconsistency during manufacturing. Anyone wants to take a guess?