Hi new to mechanical Keyboards an could use some help :D

Squirl · 25 Sep 2014, 20:59

hey guys like the title said just getting into mech boards this past week just brought a beast of an IBM from 85' same yr i was born under the impression i would just need an rj45 to ps2 connector board should be delivered tomorrow but for now i was hoping i could get any available advice you guys could give on how to get up and running if you know how of coarse thanks

the board is (IBM Model M 1394116)

http://imgur.com/uDlpbtq

Muirium · 25 Sep 2014, 21:12

A job for Soarer's Converter.

http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/ibm-m ... t6407.html

A rather ingenious piece of software that runs on a Teensy, the little chip you can see there. You can either build one side your keyboard, or use it externally. I made a multi-mode box for mine, so I can use it on various different types of keyboards.

Squirl · 25 Sep 2014, 21:31

awesome where can i pick up a teensy from? an also thx for the quick reply

Muirium · 25 Sep 2014, 21:34

Teensy 2 is the one you want.

http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html

Some web stores have them in Europe etc. too. There were cheaper clones available a while ago, but they are harder to actually put the firmware on and went up in price for some reason.

quantalume · 25 Sep 2014, 22:02

Hi, I don't know what part of the world you're in, but here is a link for a Pro Micro, which can also be used as the basis for a Soarer's converter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321485912904

Squirl · 25 Sep 2014, 22:05

im in the UK England to be adsact

Muirium · 25 Sep 2014, 22:28

Can be. (Good to see they're at a sane price again.) But I wouldn't advise it for a first timer. You have to fiddle around and trial and error a fair bit to get a Pro Micro to flash. Much easier if you're comfortable with the whole process first.

You can order Teensies direct from PJRC, or there's a few places that sell from inside the EU. I've bought from Floris in the Netherlands before:

http://floris.cc/shop/en/teensy/952-teensy-3e.html

Seems to go up in price every time I look, though!

Much to my irritation, the only UK webstore I've ever heard of that stocks them doesn't do the Teensy 2 at all! Teensy 3 is no good for Soarer's converter. And Teensy 2++ is costly overkill (you pay extra for all those pins. But Soarer only needs 4!)

http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/teensy-boards

Squirl · 26 Sep 2014, 00:11

just browsing around now see what kind of prices i can get on a teensy also the connector you have the teensy connected to where the board plugs in to in the first pic where could i get one of those

Muirium · 26 Sep 2014, 00:19

Think I got 5 of them off ebay a while back. Took forever to ship across from China…

Might be better to build the Teensy right inside your Model M. The Teensy looks cute lying out on your desk, but those wires are small and come off pretty easily. Definitely better to protect it with a shell. The keyboard already has one, and that way you can avoid the need for connectors. Just route a USB cable out where the original used to be.