Connector on an old ISO IBM Model M?

jack · 06 Mar 2015, 19:45

Hi,

I just happened to stumble upon an old ISO layout IBM Model M (the version with F1-F24). The connector looks like it should be DIN-5, but it is slightly smaller. Does anyone know what sort of adapter I will need to use this with a PS/2 or USB port?

guk · 06 Mar 2015, 19:51

This might be helpful: http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/ena ... t7761.html

XMIT · 06 Mar 2015, 19:52

That's an IBM terminal connector. orihalcon sells USB converters containing Soarer's converter, send a PM for further details. I have this same keyboard (or something very similar) myself.

Muirium · 06 Mar 2015, 19:57

Are you sure it's a Model M? The silver logo could be a hint that your 122 key (as we call that "battleship" layout) is a Model F. The Fs are much more valuable. (Rarer, better built, native NKRO.) The easiest way to tell is if the back of the keyboard is metal. It should sound distinctly more pingy than a Model M, too.

jack · 06 Mar 2015, 20:06

Muirium wrote: Are you sure it's a Model M? The silver logo could be a hint that your 122 key (as we call that "battleship" layout) is a Model F. The Fs are much more valuable. (Rarer, better built, native NKRO.) The easiest way to tell is if the back of the keyboard is metal. It should sound distinctly more pingy than a Model M, too.

Well it is labelled model M.

Muirium · 06 Mar 2015, 20:10

Ah well. That's the simplest tell of all! I've got one too. They're okay boards, but I find the ghosting too bad to use mine day to day. IBM did a better job of handling the mods on the regular consumer Model Ms like the SSK.

jack · 06 Mar 2015, 20:22

Muirium wrote: Ah well. That's the simplest tell of all! I've got one too. They're okay boards, but I find the ghosting too bad to use mine day to day. IBM did a better job of handling the mods on the regular consumer Model Ms like the SSK.

Honestly I think I will stick with my 1979 Focus FK-2001 for daily use, it would just be nice to get this one working.

Halvar · 06 Mar 2015, 21:46

My Model F-122 has the same connector type.

The easy way is to buy a ready-made Soarer converter:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/NEW-Soarers-Conv ... 3f3f4cbdd4

I already had a Soarer converter, so I just cut a PS/2 keyboard cable I had lying around and ordered a female DIN connector (5-pole 270°) that I soldered to the cable to make an adapter to PS/2. The pin assignment can be found in Soarer's converter thread and in his documention.

http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/7375 ... t?ref=list (Wrong type on the photo, but the drawing is correct)

fohat · 06 Mar 2015, 22:24

Halvar wrote:
My Model F-122 has the same connector type.

I already had a Soarer converter, so I just cut a PS/2 keyboard cable I had lying around and ordered a female DIN connector (5-pole 270°)

The F-122 and first-generation M-122 has a straight DIN connector (I think that it is actually 240 degrees although it is more commonly known as "270" (somebody correct me if I am wrong)) with threaded metal surround that screws onto the female receptacle (if you are lucky enough to have one).

Later M-122s often had right-angle push-on connectors like the one shown.

If somebody in the US needs a female plug, I have a couple of extras of both types, the ones that go onto the cable (in black), and the ones that mount into a hole in a box of some sort. I will sell them for a couple of dollars each plus shipping, send me a PM. (Outside the US it is probably just about as cheap and quick to simply order them from China.)