Organizing gbs for a keyboard is already painful, i dont think such a niche hobby could do that for a computer. unless you mean modifiying the original onesabrahamstechnology wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 05:35 Heck, why don't we do a group buy for a luggable with a nice Alps keyboard? Like the IBM 5140 but with modern hardware.
We are already doing tons of custom cases so why not take it up a notch?
Like this? Kaypro case, mini-AT motherboard, 9 inch mono VGA monitor, white Alps keyboard. Built a couple of these back in the '90s for remote data logging. Sorry for the dust; it's been sitting for a couple decades.abrahamstechnology wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 05:35 Heck, why don't we do a group buy for a luggable with a nice Alps keyboard? Like the IBM 5140 but with modern hardware.
We are already doing tons of custom cases so why not take it up a notch?
Very nice!Polecat wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 05:56Like this? Kaypro case, mini-AT motherboard, 9 inch mono VGA monitor, white Alps keyboard. Built a couple of these back in the '90s for remote data logging. Sorry for the dust; it's been sitting for a couple decades.abrahamstechnology wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 05:35 Heck, why don't we do a group buy for a luggable with a nice Alps keyboard? Like the IBM 5140 but with modern hardware.
We are already doing tons of custom cases so why not take it up a notch?
I can't tell from the link - but I hope you didn't pay $300 for that omnikey!!ZedTheMan wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 01:03 Got an Omnikey 102 at last! I've got an OEMMAX Mac-105 with great condition Blue Alps that are just begging to be swapped into this thing. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I could do to spiff it up? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3710001471
Good Lord, no! I managed to haggle down to under $90 shipped. No worries, I am no sucker! More than I had hoped in the end to get an Omnikey for, but thanks to my MIGHTY selling thread, I've managed to scrounge the funds.//gainsborough wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 06:05ZedTheMan wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 01:03 Got an Omnikey 102 at last! I've got an OEMMAX Mac-105 with great condition Blue Alps that are just begging to be swapped into this thing. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I could do to spiff it up? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3710001471
I can't tell from the link - but I hope you didn't pay $300 for that omnikey!!
Hey, on another note, do you know anywhere I can get a gold badge Northgate sticker, or be able to get a reproduction one? I wanna go all the way to make the best Omnikey 102 possible, with the blue Alps, sexy badge, AND including the N-key rollover and variety of dip switch options.//gainsborough wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 07:40 Good stuff! Blue alps certainly sound very nice in this chassis - or any northgate chassis! Highly recommend if that's what you are considering! I'm about to do something similar with a 101!
Ooh, very nice site link! Do you have any image files available for a logo for this? Or will I have to make us one?//gainsborough wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 08:04 Huh... it's like we have the same idea for our omnikey builds, hahaha. Though, mine will be an omnikey "102" hahaha.
As far as acquiring a badge, I don't know of any repro. badges that exist. You could always custom make one and have it printed off - I know there are name-tag services that would be able to print something on a gold badge. Like this:
https://www.nametagwizard.com/design/br ... -tag-1-x-3
This will provide an excellent starting point, thank you!//gainsborough wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 08:34
edit: tried to isolate just the text using not-so-advanced techniques...maybe it can provide a starting point for you!
I'm no graphic artist but I know a job for SVG when I see one. Here's my attempt at a starting point. I took a photo and autotraced it in Inkscape.ZedTheMan wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 15:27This will provide an excellent starting point, thank you!//gainsborough wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 08:34
edit: tried to isolate just the text using not-so-advanced techniques...maybe it can provide a starting point for you!
snacksthecat wrote: 13 Mar 2019, 01:31I'm no graphic artist but I know a job for SVG when I see one. Here's my attempt at a starting point. I took a photo and autotraced it in Inkscape.ZedTheMan wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 15:27This will provide an excellent starting point, thank you!//gainsborough wrote: 06 Mar 2019, 08:34
edit: tried to isolate just the text using not-so-advanced techniques...maybe it can provide a starting point for you!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ou1ww ... tfsMM7Cmiu
//gainsborough wrote: 22 Mar 2019, 22:38 I did a thing.
At some point when I get some free time, I'll make a post about my omnikey collection. For now, you guys get to enjoy these absolute potato pics
He installed some sort of trap door to hide buttons, among which appear to be:Hypersphere wrote: 22 Mar 2019, 22:55 @//gainsborough: Nice pics. Please follow up with explanations of what you did to the board. I'm also looking forward to your forthcoming post about your Omni collection. As you probably know from my posts, I am quite fond of Northgates, especially the US ANSI Omnikey 101.
Thanks, Zed! This particular project was on the sidelines for a bit as well, so I definitely can relate. It'll come together eventually!ZedTheMan wrote: 22 Mar 2019, 22:51 Nice job Gains!
My own Omnikey project has been put to the side until I can figure out what's wrong with it, firmware wise. Considering wiring the matrix to a teensy, actually.
Great minds...Hypersphere wrote: 22 Mar 2019, 22:55 @//gainsborough: Nice pics. Please follow up with explanations of what you did to the board. I'm also looking forward to your forthcoming post about your Omni collection. As you probably know from my posts, I am quite fond of Northgates, especially the US ANSI Omnikey 101.
lol! Muffin button as well.snacksthecat wrote: 22 Mar 2019, 22:59 He installed some sort of trap door to hide buttons, among which appear to be:
- release the hounds
- trap door
- ejector seat
- dispense jelly beans
Ahh yeah, that one, like caps lock, is part of the original cap set. Omnikeys use the double plunger stab as opposed to other vintage boards that just have one.
Hi Hyper! I have a great condition ZKB-2 with Green Alps on the way, although it will be a while yet. I am thinking of maybe doing a click mod like you did to your Yellow Alps one.Hypersphere wrote: 23 Mar 2019, 16:30 @//gainsborough: Thanks for the additional details. That Northgate spacebar is noticeably whiter than the other caps. I would probably have been inclined to keep all of the original keycaps on the board. Other than the color, how do the DC 2214 caps differ from the NG caps, and how do the DC 2214 caps differ from other DC caps?
I recently put a set of dye-sub PBT caps from an IBM P70 luggable computer keyboard on a NG 101. These IBM caps are extremely thin, but they suit the SKCM white (pine) Alps switches quite well (actually, these are orange-white hybrid switches). Because I generally don't like the gray mods found on many vintage Alps boards, I often replace them with blank black caps from Matias. The Matias 7u spacebars don't have plunger stabilizers, but they work just fine with just the wire stabilizer -- and there is no rattle.
I have some quite deep-sounding pine White Alps in a Chicony that I could use. 
I definitely will! For a board that seems to be well-known, you don't hear much about it. It looks like Blue Alps get all the hype.Hypersphere wrote: 23 Mar 2019, 22:10 @Wasrach: I think that my Zenith with yellow Alps that I click-modded was a 163-73 rather than a ZKB-2. The 163-73 accepts a Soarer's converter with no problem. I think that the ZKB-2 should also work with a Soarer's, especially if it is in AT mode.
The Z-150 is the one that definitely does not work well with Soarer's converter, but it will work with an internal Hasu converter.
Keep in mind that the sound of keyboards switch is highly dependent upon the chassis in which they are installed.
Looking forward to seeing a post from you on your ZKB-2 after it arrives.
Drclick wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 06:45
I got these two boards months ago, they are from HP R/332 Instrument Controller.
There are two varieties: undamped SKCM Creams and SKCM Blacks, like NeXT Non-ADB keyboards.
Creams have the "ALPS" logo on the top, pretty smooth and feel good to use, but Blacks feel a bit sandy.
I can't see any difference between these two with caps, so if you want to purchase one, make sure they are creams.