[WTB] Omnikey Gold Badge 102
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Double_Shot_ABS
- Location: United States
Hoping to collect an Omnikey 102 Gold Badge (blue alps) like this one. Thanks!
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Polecat
- Location: Downstream from Silicon Valley
- Main keyboard: Monterey K104 Industrial Gray
- Main mouse: Logitech Optical
- Favorite switch: Early Alps SKCM
- DT Pro Member: -
I don't have one for sale, but curious exactly which version you're looking for? The photo you posted shows a very early one, with 1u backspace and a different layout than most of the gold badge Northgates. I've only seen two of those in thirty years. Most gold badge Omnikeys had a 2u backspace and a different bottom row arrangement. Also which switches are you looking for, since they came with blue or white Alps?
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Palatino
- Location: England
- Main keyboard: Fluctuates.
- Main mouse: Of no interest.
- Favorite switch: Too early to tell.
He mentioned blue alps. I'd be surprised if he was specifically after a 1u backspace - I find them the most irritating feature of older keyboards. You've already made a mistake, so you try to hit backspace, and you hit a different key, so then you've got to correct that too.. horrible business!
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fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
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Double_Shot_ABS
- Location: United States
Yes, you're collect! 
I'm looking for the blue alps version and not specifically 1u backspace.
Do you know if these are convertible? If yes, what kind of converter do I need? Thanks so much!
I'm looking for the blue alps version and not specifically 1u backspace. Do you know if these are convertible? If yes, what kind of converter do I need? Thanks so much!
Palatino wrote: ↑15 Feb 2021, 10:07He mentioned blue alps. I'd be surprised if he was specifically after a 1u backspace - I find them the most irritating feature of older keyboards. You've already made a mistake, so you try to hit backspace, and you hit a different key, so then you've got to correct that too.. horrible business!
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Polecat
- Location: Downstream from Silicon Valley
- Main keyboard: Monterey K104 Industrial Gray
- Main mouse: Logitech Optical
- Favorite switch: Early Alps SKCM
- DT Pro Member: -
The "normal" (2u bksp) gold label blue Alps Northgates come up fairly often, so watch ebay and the ads here and you'll find one. Probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the Gen1 Northgates had blue Alps, but it's not a sure thing as the later ones had white switches.
The Northgates will work fine on most converters since they were sold separately as a "PC compatible" keyboard, rather than being made for one specific computer. I've used mine on blue cube and Radio Shack dongle converters as well as Soarers with no issues. If your computer has a PS/2 keyboard connection a simple pin adapter will work with the keyboard in AT mode ("A" on the switch on the back edge)
Like Palatino and fohat I have to have a 2u backspace. But I have no issues with the split right shift for whatever reason.
The Northgates will work fine on most converters since they were sold separately as a "PC compatible" keyboard, rather than being made for one specific computer. I've used mine on blue cube and Radio Shack dongle converters as well as Soarers with no issues. If your computer has a PS/2 keyboard connection a simple pin adapter will work with the keyboard in AT mode ("A" on the switch on the back edge)
Like Palatino and fohat I have to have a 2u backspace. But I have no issues with the split right shift for whatever reason.