IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

Daniel Beardsmore · 05 Jan 2017, 09:17

Brand new switches on AliExpress (including things that you wonder how they got their hands on them, like Logitech Romer-G switches) are expensive, but often affordable in small quantities. New old stock switches however are typically priced reasonably.

It's the used switches that are being hugely overpriced. It's nothing to do with AliExpress charges: it's the people who are stripping the keyboards for switches who are charging high prices.

seebart · 05 Jan 2017, 10:10

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑It's the used switches that are being hugely overpriced. It's nothing to do with AliExpress charges: it's the people who are stripping the keyboards for switches who are charging high prices.

I'll say so just look at this...

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?ca ... s+keyboard

thebluefox · 05 Jan 2017, 16:58

terrycherry wrote: ↑[PC][Hungary]Videoton keyboard
A russia auction. Hope someone can from russian keyboard or computer collector can show me the switch from USSR keyboard!
https://www.olx.ua/obyavlenie/prodam-re ... 1e748cd35d

That's Ukraine and the price is in Hrivna

His cheapest keyboard starts at about 35 Euro ...

thebluefox · 05 Jan 2017, 17:03

Mr.Nobody wrote: ↑What's this?

Looks a lot like a CNC keyboard used in some factory.

Franco_Nico · 05 Jan 2017, 18:11

Help, i dont know if the model is especified in the label on the back

What is this switch? it change beetwen A/X

thanks!

mike52787 · 05 Jan 2017, 20:34

Franco_Nico wrote:Help, i dont know if the model is especified in the label on the back

What is this switch? it change beetwen A/X

thanks!

looks like some kind of dome with slider switch.

Daniel Beardsmore · 05 Jan 2017, 20:52

The FCC grantee listed on that Sunshine Enhanced Keyboard is FY4, assigned to Deyi Technology Co Ltd. (Observe where it says "FCC ID" on the label. The first three characters are the grantee (the company who registered the product with the FCC in the US) and the remainder of the characters identify the product.)

From there, you get this:

photos-f62/kaypro-386-keyboard-t6917.html

There is a particular style of keycap mount that I thought this was (it's hard to explain) but on closer inspection I can see that there is nothing to hold the keycap steady. The reason being is that the keystem has snapped off, which you can just see if you look closely. Therefore it seems to be exactly the same as the Kaypro keyboard. That keyboard is clicky foam and foil.

A/X switches between the AT and XT keyboard protocols. AT is basically PS/2 with a fat plug.

It's also almost—but not quite—identical to the Monterey K101/K102. The corners of the case are rounded differently.

Lynx_Carpathica · 05 Jan 2017, 21:06

Hi
I came across this switch in a UNITEK K-151L.
What the heck is it?

mike52787 · 05 Jan 2017, 21:06

Lynx_Carpathica wrote:Hi
I came across this switch in a UNITEK K-151L.
What the heck is it?

mitsumi miniature

Franco_Nico · 05 Jan 2017, 21:09

mike52787 wrote: ↑looks like some kind of dome with slider switch.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑The FCC grantee listed on that Sunshine Enhanced Keyboard is FY4, assigned to Deyi Technology Co Ltd. (Observe where it says "FCC ID" on the label. The first three characters are the grantee (the company who registered the product with the FCC in the US) and the remainder of the characters identify the product.)

From there, you get this:

photos-f62/kaypro-386-keyboard-t6917.html

There is a particular style of keycap mount that I thought this was (it's hard to explain) but on closer inspection I can see that there is nothing to hold the keycap steady. The reason being is that the keystem has snapped off, which you can just see if you look closely. Therefore it seems to be exactly the same as the Kaypro keyboard. That keyboard is clicky foam and foil.

A/X switches between the AT and XT keyboard protocols. AT is basically PS/2 with a fat plug.

It's also almost—but not quite—identical to the Monterey K101/K102. The corners of the case are rounded differently.

Thanks for the asnwers. You hit the point Daniel, its practically the same keyboard as the kaypro 386, even on the inside. And yes, i pictured the ´esc´ key which has a part stuck in the keycap. i think i will keep it, its really clicky and i like the feel and sound.

Harshmallow · 05 Jan 2017, 21:18

Ok, I've searched the wiki and I give up - this looks almost like a gold cross point or vintage cherry linear, but it doesn't match any of those closely enough. What is in this keyboard?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Prime-Co ... 2221234447

ohaimark · 05 Jan 2017, 21:41

Magnetic valves, I think.

thebluefox · 05 Jan 2017, 21:45

I am about to give up, maybe you see something I don't see

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mike52787 · 05 Jan 2017, 21:48

thebluefox wrote: ↑I am about to give up, maybe you see something I don't see
100.jpg

All rubberdome

Daniel Beardsmore · 05 Jan 2017, 22:28

Harshmallow wrote: ↑Ok, I've searched the wiki and I give up - this looks almost like a gold cross point or vintage cherry linear, but it doesn't match any of those closely enough. What is in this keyboard?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/flange/112221234471

The switch is [wiki]USw EXBB01[/wiki].

Harshmallow · 05 Jan 2017, 22:47

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑
Harshmallow wrote: ↑Ok, I've searched the wiki and I give up - this looks almost like a gold cross point or vintage cherry linear, but it doesn't match any of those closely enough. What is in this keyboard?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/flange/112221234471
The switch is [wiki]USw EXBB01[/wiki].

Magnets! I want one now...but it's too expensive. I want all switch types I don't currently have...even if they suck.

elecplus · 06 Jan 2017, 00:23

Identify the switch please? The keyboard says Phoenix on the front, and is AT. I do not see these switches in the wiki, but most of the pictures on the cross mount page come up blank for me. wiki/Generic_cross_mount_recognition

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Daniel Beardsmore · 06 Jan 2017, 00:26

[wiki]Silitek dome with slider[/wiki]

It's even patented!

It takes Cherry keycaps, so you wanted [wiki]Cherry MX mount recognition[/wiki] — that one is actually listed, surprisingly, although the photo isn't great.

elecplus · 06 Jan 2017, 00:49

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
Hi res pics, if you can use them to update the wiki? I can try for better ones if you want. I don't speak wiki yet.
Caps are double shots, and yes, they fit Cherry MX black and brown perfectly. They even have the proper spacing for the holes in the Cherry boards.

Daniel Beardsmore · 06 Jan 2017, 01:04

elecplus wrote: ↑… most of the pictures on the cross mount page come up blank for me.

That's a placeholder image. For a while I was listing switches even if no photo existed, to indicate which switches are known to exist, with a placeholder image in place of the actual photograph until someone adds the photographs. I've mostly abandoned the recognition pages now — I don't even add the placeholder entries any more. It's a defunct part of the wiki.

The "SK" on the PCB does appear to confirm Silitek as the OEM. The patent is an interesting read, too — part of the design objective is to deal with the need to allow air in and out of the domes, which is a detail that I assume we all overlook. Normally the bottom of the dome has small bumps, and dome sheets have channels in them that connect the domes. It's amusing though that even rubber dome keyboards get patents.

elecplus · 06 Jan 2017, 01:07

Why are the cross mounts not centered in the caps?

Daniel Beardsmore · 06 Jan 2017, 01:31

Where do you see some that aren't centred?

elecplus · 06 Jan 2017, 01:55

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑Where do you see some that aren't centred?

The ones that came off this board.

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Harshmallow · 06 Jan 2017, 02:48

Mmm check out them cool sphericals:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HEWLETT-PACKARD- ... 1655855648

terrycherry · 06 Jan 2017, 06:26

Lynx_Carpathica wrote: ↑Hi
I came across this switch in a UNITEK K-151L.
What the heck is it?

I have the same model with it and the Space bar is the very rare pink variant.
You should check it inside space bar. Hope you get luck

Daniel Beardsmore · 06 Jan 2017, 09:36

elecplus wrote: ↑
Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑Where do you see some that aren't centred?
The ones that came off this board.

The front of a sculptured profile keycap slopes more than the back, so the centre at the bottom isn't the same as the centre at the top.

: centres.png (2.52 KiB) Viewed 4948 times

Brot · 06 Jan 2017, 16:52

Chyros · 06 Jan 2017, 17:49

Brot wrote: ↑

Fujitsu-Siemens rubber dome board. Find about a dozen every time I visit the recycling centre.

thebluefox · 07 Jan 2017, 18:18

Any of these laptops have mechanical switches?
http://imgur.com/a/1VgDw

mike52787 · 07 Jan 2017, 18:35

thebluefox wrote:Any of these laptops have mechanical switches?
http://imgur.com/a/1VgDw

no