Search found 21 matches
- 02 Jan 2021, 01:48
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: What's the best case for SMK 2nd Gen?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2151
Re: What's the best case for SMK 2nd Gen?
I really do like the function keys on the side, but that one's really pricy: $40 for the case, $55 for the plate, and $70 for the PCB.
Yeah, they are pricey. That's why I chose to build myself 60% board - you can literally build a full working keyboard (with plastic case\aluminum plate and cheap ...
- 31 Dec 2020, 23:21
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: What's the best case for SMK 2nd Gen?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2151
Re: What's the best case for SMK 2nd Gen?
https://www.lfkeyboards.com/smk78/ is probably your best (maybe even only) option for bigger board.
- 31 Dec 2020, 22:30
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: What are your keyboard projects for 2021?
- Replies: 68
- Views: 18348
Re: What are your keyboard projects for 2021?
Building a Steezy60 (both SMK and ALPS versions, probably) to utilize some switches and keycaps I have sitting around for ages. Learning to solder small components along the way, because I have a feeling I will require that skill for some parts. :roll:
Also figuring out what is wrong with my ...
Also figuring out what is wrong with my ...
- 20 Jul 2020, 02:38
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: Which One Should I Get? (Old Domes)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3831
Re: Which One Should I Get? (Old Domes)
Unfortunately I won't be able to find any of those locally, my country isn't really the "tech savvy" back in the <2000s.
This is probably not the case. Even if general population couldn't afford PC's at the time, there was always governmental structures and corporations, who were usually main ...
- 19 Jul 2020, 20:05
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: Which One Should I Get? (Old Domes)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3831
Re: Which One Should I Get? (Old Domes)
None of the above.
There's only a few examples of good rubber dome keyboards and mostly all of them are "dome with sliders" keyboards.
The easiest model to find is https://deskthority.net/wiki/BTC_51_series - it's decent, has really good tactility and build quality is usually great (at least in 5139 ...
There's only a few examples of good rubber dome keyboards and mostly all of them are "dome with sliders" keyboards.
The easiest model to find is https://deskthority.net/wiki/BTC_51_series - it's decent, has really good tactility and build quality is usually great (at least in 5139 ...
- 25 Jun 2020, 20:23
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
Re: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
Could be also wiki/Datacomp_DFK555 it looks the same (I have one right now). Futaba MA switches inside.
Also I have a problem connecting it to PC for some reason and some users on this forum had similar issue.
Also I have a problem connecting it to PC for some reason and some users on this forum had similar issue.
- 05 May 2020, 22:22
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: What next?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2781
Re: What next?
Very interesting! Will consider :D
You can also build 60% SMK board with XW60V1 PCB which is way cheaper than SMK-TKL (especially if you only want to try new things - PCB is fully compatible with usual 60% cases, MX plates, stabs).
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=595263304018
The only ...
- 08 Jan 2020, 00:44
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: Retrobrighting keycaps when it's cold and dark outside
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4737
Re: Retrobrighting keycaps when it's cold and dark outside
Haven't tried those methods (as I don't have any urgency for retrobrighting at this time of the year) but keeping them in mind just in case:
Heating with sous-vide stick: viewtopic.php?t=19220
Plastic container + UV LED strip: https://youtu.be/AVNHC4td7MQ?t=595
Heating with sous-vide stick: viewtopic.php?t=19220
Plastic container + UV LED strip: https://youtu.be/AVNHC4td7MQ?t=595
- 29 Dec 2019, 16:53
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: Where could I get a cable for an NTC KB-6151?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1508
Re: Where could I get a cable for an NTC KB-6151?
You can use any DIN5 cable from cheap donor or even PS/2 cable. The main problem will be figuring out correct pinout for wires. Some vintage keyboard PCB's have those marked out near connector (with letters like G, D,V,C for Ground, Data, Voltage, Clock respectively) and others don't have any ...
- 15 Dec 2019, 16:58
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: Kit to build first keyboard?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3536
Re: Kit to build first keyboard?
KBDfans also selling DM87 kit for ~30$ on Aliexpress. By it's nature it's not a real "kit" but rather disassembled Doomhammer Choc 87 TKL keyboard without switches and keycaps - plastic case and non-programmable PCB. There are also reports about some diodes missing (might explain the cost) Still ...
- 07 Dec 2019, 10:59
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread
- Replies: 672
- Views: 627510
Re: IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread
Found these on ISNJK-168/268/RB88. They look like wiki/Alps.tw_Type_T8 grey variant but mould numberings are different. Hua-Jie AK-C5/D5 perhaps? Or some other clone?


- 29 Nov 2019, 03:05
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
Re: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
This gives a slight Cherry vibes but it's probably not Cherry. Although doesn't look like Chicony\Keytronics either.
Could be something good?

Could be something good?

- 12 Apr 2019, 16:36
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
Re: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
Turns out it's one of these (ATW Alps clone type1) with a different case...
Yup it is. I have one of those with exact case like on your first picture, FCC ID and without "Sunshine" branding. Switch composition is pretty chaotic in my board - unbranded four-tabs, ATW, APC . Looks like they used ...
- 19 Mar 2019, 10:19
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread
- Replies: 672
- Views: 627510
Re: IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread
Received old CodeGen Technologies keyboard (FCC HMN2YZ) with linear amber four-tab clones:

Are those alps.tw Type T8?
Some switches have S:#A## mould numbering and some other are S:#C## (as on the picture)

Are those alps.tw Type T8?
Some switches have S:#A## mould numbering and some other are S:#C## (as on the picture)
- 11 Feb 2019, 02:27
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: KME board with KPT blues
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2075
Re: KME board with KPT blues
Nice. Just got almost same board (same case, same FCC ID) but with white KPT clones.
I'm yet to properly clean it, so potato picture without detailed dirt. ;)
https://i.imgur.com/XScYL5V.jpg
I have those blue ones on Podworld 102 keyboard and honestly cant feel any significant difference. Need ...
I'm yet to properly clean it, so potato picture without detailed dirt. ;)
https://i.imgur.com/XScYL5V.jpg
I have those blue ones on Podworld 102 keyboard and honestly cant feel any significant difference. Need ...
- 03 Feb 2019, 17:18
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: Packard Bell US ANSI with Blue Alps Switches
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5596
Re: Packard Bell US ANSI with Blue Alps Switches
Plate is amazingly clean, indeed. One of the cleanest plates I've seen were on Dah Yang (aka Unitek) keyboards, but they kind of cheated with additional protective laminated matte paper layer to achieve that result. It makes me want to add own paper layers to some frequently used keyboards, just to ...
- 01 Dec 2018, 16:55
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
Looks like Podworld 292 keyboard. wiki/Podworld_292
- 01 Oct 2018, 16:02
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
- 09 Aug 2017, 16:06
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
- 09 Aug 2017, 11:13
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601
- 03 Aug 2017, 21:50
- Forum: Keyboards
- Topic: IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- Replies: 5368
- Views: 1979601