Wanted: IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155 Keyboard

RadRacer203 · 07 Jun 2019, 02:14

Just picked up one of these old beasts but it's missing the keyboard and I was wondering if anyone happened to have one. I see one on ebay but it has a cut cord and I just don't want to deal with that. Alternatively if anyone has an empty case and cord I can swap the guts of a standard F into that would also work. Located in Central Massachusetts

User101 · 07 Jun 2019, 02:19

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=21975

see here. 110$

Edit: sorry it seems like someone modified this keyboard to use on a standard XT so it is basically without cable again. I would suggest you snatch the Ebay one for cheap and wait until someone put a cable up for sale.

User101 · 07 Jun 2019, 02:27

And if you really are in a hurry to use your 5155 you can take off the outer case theres the standard xt connector at the back.

RadRacer203 · 07 Jun 2019, 02:37

User101 wrote: 07 Jun 2019, 02:27 And if you really are in a hurry to use your 5155 you can take off the outer case theres the standard xt connector at the back.

That's what I've been doing but I have one model F for 3 XT machines so that's not really a long term option. I did use that to test it and make sure everything is working though

User101 · 07 Jun 2019, 03:40

RadRacer203 wrote: 07 Jun 2019, 02:37
User101 wrote: 07 Jun 2019, 02:27 And if you really are in a hurry to use your 5155 you can take off the outer case theres the standard xt connector at the back.
That's what I've been doing but I have one model F for 3 XT machines so that's not really a long term option. I did use that to test it and make sure everything is working though

Yeah definitely not a long term solution. You can probably ask around to see if anyone here converted their 5155 keyboard to USB and no longer needs the original cable. Maybe theres few.

I've seen some 5155 keyboard cables surfaced on Ebay few month ago so I bet if you wait long enough eventually though no body wants to wait that long.

RadRacer203 · 07 Jun 2019, 21:30

I'm going to hold out for a complete one without the hassle, some sold on ebay recently for about $50 so there's bound to be more out there

depletedvespene · 08 Jun 2019, 01:22

RadRacer203 wrote: 07 Jun 2019, 21:30 I'm going to hold out for a complete one without the hassle, some sold on ebay recently for about $50 so there's bound to be more out there

Uhhh... a complete keyboard or a complete Portable PC?

RadRacer203 · 08 Jun 2019, 01:29

depletedvespene wrote: 08 Jun 2019, 01:22 Uhhh... a complete keyboard or a complete Portable PC?

A complete keyboard, I already have a perfectly working 5155. Just need the keyboard. I'm sure someone either lost it or just took the keyboard and threw out the computer

Redmaus · 08 Jun 2019, 02:11

What does the original cable look like?

RadRacer203 · 08 Jun 2019, 02:50

I know the keyboard is internally identical to a standard XT Model F so it should have the same internal connector, then it has a coiled section that sort of sits in a try at the top of the keyboard, and then something like 8-10" I'd guess of straight with something like an rj11 plug at the end. I don't know specifics but just what I've seen in pictures

Redmaus · 08 Jun 2019, 03:15

RadRacer203 wrote: 08 Jun 2019, 02:50 I know the keyboard is internally identical to a standard XT Model F so it should have the same internal connector, then it has a coiled section that sort of sits in a try at the top of the keyboard, and then something like 8-10" I'd guess of straight with something like an rj11 plug at the end. I don't know specifics but just what I've seen in pictures

Give me a picture and I might be able to find one in my room, I have cables everywhere

User101 · 08 Jun 2019, 04:37

Redmaus wrote: 08 Jun 2019, 03:15
RadRacer203 wrote: 08 Jun 2019, 02:50 I know the keyboard is internally identical to a standard XT Model F so it should have the same internal connector, then it has a coiled section that sort of sits in a try at the top of the keyboard, and then something like 8-10" I'd guess of straight with something like an rj11 plug at the end. I don't know specifics but just what I've seen in pictures
Give me a picture and I might be able to find one in my room, I have cables everywhere

Heres the dt thread of this keyboard
viewtopic.php?t=7644

Redmaus · 08 Jun 2019, 05:39

If that's just an rj11 plug I could make you one from one of my Wyse cables. I don't think I have that exact cable however.

RadRacer203 · 08 Jun 2019, 14:53

Redmaus wrote: 08 Jun 2019, 05:39 If that's just an rj11 plug I could make you one from one of my Wyse cables. I don't think I have that exact cable however.

How do I tell what type of "rj" connector it has? I know it's 6 pins and I can take some measurements of the plug on the machine