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Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 19 Oct 2020, 18:53
by jwmaxwell
I need help identifying this keyboard that I recently got. It does not have any stickers, model number, or anything. I have a feeling that it is not a real LK201 as it has Alps greens (or clones). The paper slip at the top has "ERGO 320" printed on it, but I can't find any information about this company/model.

Judging by the layout and the connector, this was intended for use on the VT220 (or similar computers) .

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 19 Oct 2020, 20:44
by GivenZane
Can you upload a photo of the back of it and a photo of the switches?
Cheers,
--Given

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 04:43
by jwmaxwell
GivenZane wrote: 19 Oct 2020, 20:44 Can you upload a photo of the back of it and a photo of the switches?
Cheers,
--Given
Sorry for the late response, but here you go!

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 06:18
by GivenZane
Hey jwmaxwell,
I did some digging on it and all I can say is that I believe it shipped with a DEC VT220 clone machine. I haven't been able to find any photos online. I did find a manual that mentions a Micro-Term Ergo 320 and from what I can find, that terminal emulator shipped with a keyboard. I'm afraid I couldn't find any more :/
Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-11-12.png
Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-11-12.png (56.6 KiB) Viewed 4325 times
Here is where I found mention of it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-Term_ERGO-201
^Here's the wiki link for an older model, just nothing on the keyboard. On a funny note, the company is from my home town LOL It gave me a chuckle LOL

https://usermanual.wiki/Document/Datapr ... 2823708741
Heres the manual I found mention of it. It's on page 61. Keep us posted and let us know what you find out!

Cheers,
--Given

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 06:29
by GivenZane
I found an Ergo 420 Brochure! The Keyboards look almost identical!
Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-28-50.png
Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-28-50.png (443.35 KiB) Viewed 4320 times
Heres the PDF.
Micro-Term_420_Brochure.pdf
(1.28 MiB) Downloaded 167 times
Hopefully this helps you out!
Cheers,
--Given

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 19:39
by jwmaxwell
You are awesome! Your internet searching abilities are amazing. Thank you! I will see if I find anything new!

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 20:00
by jwmaxwell
GivenZane wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 06:29 I found an Ergo 420 Brochure! The Keyboards look almost identical!

Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-28-50.png

Heres the PDF.
Micro-Term_420_Brochure.pdf
Hopefully this helps you out!
Cheers,
--Given
It seems that the ERGO 320 is actually the name of the computer. This is pretty weird to me because the keyboard is left unbranded and only has the name ERGO 320 printed on it. I guess if the keyboard was only ever sold along with the terminal, it wouldn't be too crazy, however, I find it hard to believe that if you broke your keyboard, you would have to go out and buy a whole new terminal. I guess it's possible that somebody took off the identifying stickers, but I still find it odd.

side question, any idea what the "Do" button does?

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 21:06
by ntv242ver2
Is there a led cut out on the switch?

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 21:27
by jwmaxwell
ntv242ver2 wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 21:06 Is there a led cut out on the switch?
I guess that's what that is.

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 20 Oct 2020, 21:42
by ntv242ver2
Looks very much like SKCL green to me, but the led cut out would pretty much confirm it

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 21 Oct 2020, 00:52
by GivenZane
jwmaxwell wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 20:00
GivenZane wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 06:29 I found an Ergo 420 Brochure! The Keyboards look almost identical!

Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-28-50.png

Heres the PDF.
Micro-Term_420_Brochure.pdf
Hopefully this helps you out!
Cheers,
--Given
It seems that the ERGO 320 is actually the name of the computer. This is pretty weird to me because the keyboard is left unbranded and only has the name ERGO 320 printed on it. I guess if the keyboard was only ever sold along with the terminal, it wouldn't be too crazy, however, I find it hard to believe that if you broke your keyboard, you would have to go out and buy a whole new terminal. I guess it's possible that somebody took off the identifying stickers, but I still find it odd.

side question, any idea what the "Do" button does?
I'm not sure what the do button does having never used a terminal first had. If I had to hazard a guess I would say that it more then likely works like the "Run" button on some Commodore keyboards had. It was used to run a basic program on the commodore so maybe it's to run a command? I'm really not sure. I'll do some research later on it. I've always wanted a DEC terminal LOL So it'll be helpful for me to LOL I want one to hook up and use as a linux terminal LOL

Let me know if you find anything else about it. I'm jealous of your find LOL I am looking through all my local outlets right now for a full terminal from Micro-Term now LOL The fact that Micro-Term was based in my home town which is now like 200-ish miles away makes me want one more LOL

Cheers,
--Given

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 21 Oct 2020, 16:12
by jwmaxwell
GivenZane wrote: 21 Oct 2020, 00:52
jwmaxwell wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 20:00
GivenZane wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 06:29 I found an Ergo 420 Brochure! The Keyboards look almost identical!

Screenshot from 2020-10-19 23-28-50.png

Heres the PDF.
Micro-Term_420_Brochure.pdf
Hopefully this helps you out!
Cheers,
--Given
It seems that the ERGO 320 is actually the name of the computer. This is pretty weird to me because the keyboard is left unbranded and only has the name ERGO 320 printed on it. I guess if the keyboard was only ever sold along with the terminal, it wouldn't be too crazy, however, I find it hard to believe that if you broke your keyboard, you would have to go out and buy a whole new terminal. I guess it's possible that somebody took off the identifying stickers, but I still find it odd.

side question, any idea what the "Do" button does?
I'm not sure what the do button does having never used a terminal first had. If I had to hazard a guess I would say that it more then likely works like the "Run" button on some Commodore keyboards had. It was used to run a basic program on the commodore so maybe it's to run a command? I'm really not sure. I'll do some research later on it. I've always wanted a DEC terminal LOL So it'll be helpful for me to LOL I want one to hook up and use as a linux terminal LOL

Let me know if you find anything else about it. I'm jealous of your find LOL I am looking through all my local outlets right now for a full terminal from Micro-Term now LOL The fact that Micro-Term was based in my home town which is now like 200-ish miles away makes me want one more LOL

Cheers,
--Given
Yeah the fact that it is from my home town, and that the guy who found all the information about it is also from my home town just makes the find that more sweet.

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 21 Oct 2020, 17:44
by kps
jwmaxwell wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 20:00 side question, any idea what the "Do" button does?
It's effectively F16 (look at the F numbering of the whole row) and sends ESC [ 2 9 ~ (which is what pretty much every modern terminal will send for F16, if you have that many). I gather some VMS software used it to trigger or confirm actions.

Re: Help identify my keyboard

Posted: 22 Oct 2020, 05:06
by GivenZane
jwmaxwell wrote: 21 Oct 2020, 16:12
GivenZane wrote: 21 Oct 2020, 00:52
jwmaxwell wrote: 20 Oct 2020, 20:00

It seems that the ERGO 320 is actually the name of the computer. This is pretty weird to me because the keyboard is left unbranded and only has the name ERGO 320 printed on it. I guess if the keyboard was only ever sold along with the terminal, it wouldn't be too crazy, however, I find it hard to believe that if you broke your keyboard, you would have to go out and buy a whole new terminal. I guess it's possible that somebody took off the identifying stickers, but I still find it odd.

side question, any idea what the "Do" button does?
I'm not sure what the do button does having never used a terminal first had. If I had to hazard a guess I would say that it more then likely works like the "Run" button on some Commodore keyboards had. It was used to run a basic program on the commodore so maybe it's to run a command? I'm really not sure. I'll do some research later on it. I've always wanted a DEC terminal LOL So it'll be helpful for me to LOL I want one to hook up and use as a linux terminal LOL

Let me know if you find anything else about it. I'm jealous of your find LOL I am looking through all my local outlets right now for a full terminal from Micro-Term now LOL The fact that Micro-Term was based in my home town which is now like 200-ish miles away makes me want one more LOL

Cheers,
--Given
Yeah the fact that it is from my home town, and that the guy who found all the information about it is also from my home town just makes the find that more sweet.
Wait! You're based out of STL!? I'm only on the other side of the state lol All my family is still there LOL
--Given