deskthority

On my Avant Stellar, and the blue Alps FK-2001, whose insides now live inside my black Focus case, I swapped to an ANSI Enter and backslash, a very easy (and reversible) modification. That takes care of the Enter key problem, and gives you an extra key (the original backslash, or the new one) that ...

Muirium wrote: ↑

11 Nov 2022, 20:20

About 1/4 the blues next to them, I’d wager.

But what are the blues worth then? Just within the last month, have seen them for anything between $1.59 a piece to $5.50 a piece.

Here's one in the US: https://www.ebay.com/itm/294447766064. You could make an offer on it. (No, I'm not selling this.) Unfortunately it's winkeyless with quite a bit of yellowing. But there is another one, NOS , for... $239 $179? Man, these rubber dome boards designed decades ago are getting more ...

As a side note, I have finally found a PS2 to USB converter that works consistently with my Focus boards (AT mode only). It's Trendnet TU-PS2, which is sold in the US by Vetra Systems as p/n VIP-327-PU (it's not listed on their web site but if you email them they will sell it to you).

The Focus BAE came two ways. Early ones, with no Winkeys, with or without the extra keys on the bottom row, came with a single wire and guide post just like Northgate. Late ones with Winkeys had the two stab wires. It looks like even some Win-keyless ones had the dual wire-stabilized BAE. The ones ...

Meowmaritus wrote: ↑

10 Nov 2022, 22:21

There was some more ebay listings recently if you didn't see.

Thanks, I have seen these. Unfortunately, this Ultra is not programmable, and I already have an Avant Prime (which has pretty bad pad-printed keycaps).

I am looking for some specific double-shot Alps keycaps to finalize a couple of restoration projects. Would you mind taking a picture of that white/gray Alps keyset outside of the plastic bag? It looks like a set from DC-2214 of 3014 but I can't tell if it's a complete set and if it's worn. Thanks.

Gateway Anykey with a UK ISO layout in what seems to be pristine condition (albeit untested) for 100 GBP. I was seriously considering it but I am not a fan of the layout and the shipping cost to the US is pretty high.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204056216920

The Focus BAE came two ways. Early ones, with no Winkeys, with or without the extra keys on the bottom row, came with a single wire and guide post just like Northgate. Late ones with Winkeys had the two stab wires. I have two win-keyless FK-2001s, one with pine white Alps and an empty space between...

andreas wrote: ↑

10 Nov 2022, 17:15

Thank you. Would you happen to know someone in Germany with a Microswitch keyboard? I'd love to have an in person look at the keycaps

Check out Icarium's topic, looks like he has one for sale right now.

Hmmm, when I looked at the new Tai Hao set I had the Avant in mind, and it seemed like a no-go. Looking again now and I don't see a R1 backslash or a R0 1u Windows Menu key. Also the Tai Hao spacebars use MX inserts for the stabilizer wire, and there's nothing to keep it from rotating unless you in...

PM'd.

Polecat wrote: ↑

08 Nov 2022, 17:57

But that still leaves the odd keys in the bottom row and one or two others (the original backslash and the + and = in the numpad).

TaiHao's new set has all these odd bottom row keys and the split shift/backslash. The other ones, yep, they would still be a problem.

Some or all 101P from Gen4a (with Northgate label) definitely have double-shot keycaps (well, except for up arrow and Windows/Menu keys). For left side F keys I would take these relegendable keycaps and spray paint them with black paint (doesn't have to be perfect, since the clear cover would protec...

Sorry, I don't know which switchplates are in the blues, but it's definitely pingy. It's not objectionable to me, and I don't remember if the whites were pingy or not. Thank you, that's what I suspected. Switchplates probably won't matter, but the springs might. The ping is tolerable, I am slowly g...

The serial EEPROM is a 24C16 (8 pin DIP, not SMT). Looks like they're readily available. I haven't tried replacing a bad one, so I'm just assuming it stores only the settings, and not firmware. Thanks. I will have to look into it, at a minimum, I would like to have a spare one for my Avant Prime. T...

FWIW, the programming chip doesn't die, it just isn't compatible with modern versions of Windows. I wager it'd work with anything pre-Vista, but that's just me spitballing. The chip itself works on modern Windows systems, so it is possible to remap the keys manually. However, the original programmi...

So, I just finished restoring a DC-2214 with blue alps. After top cleaning, the switches feel smooth and they have that characteristic blue Alps click and thock. But... that pinging. I have never heard a complicated Alps board ping this much, only some boards with simplified Alps. Is this something ...

Polecat wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2022, 23:49

101P just popped up on ebay (not mine)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304691578641

Yep, I've seen it. Unfortunately, the seller has not and does not want to test it. Also, so much yellowing.

I was unable to register a Deskthority account using my Gmail address... the account activation email was never delivered. It was not in my spam box either. I ended up using my other email address.

I bought a set of 500 white Alps from the Korean seller on eBay. As far as I can tell, these are indeed genuine NOS pine white Alps with white switchplates. Shipping was reasonably quick. I used some of them to modify the bamboo black Alps in my AT101W. I do like the blue Alps better, but finding th...

Looking for a 4th Gen Omnikey that is fully functional, including ability to program (i.e. whose programmable chip is not dead). If some of the switches are broken, that's OK, as long as the PCB is functional. I already have an Avant Prime, so I am looking specifically for a 101P, 102P, Ultra-TP, or...

PM'd.
What's the name of the keyboard on top of the "Re-programmable" box? Looks like FK-5001/8000/9000 but without a calculator.