DTK SPK-101 Keyboard
Posted: 01 Dec 2019, 02:52
I didn't know much about this board, but liked the look and so picked it up. The board's case is stamped 1990, and it turned out to have white Alps switches. It has an AT connector and works fine with an AT to PS2 adapter and a $7 PS2 to USB converter.
I have a Zenith ZKB-2 with green Alps (I wish I had kept the computer it came with and not just the board!), but have never tried white Alps. The keys were rather yellowed, several of the switches didn't work and a fair number were rather scratchy.
Someone must have tried working on the board before because one of the non-functioning switches was missing a pin. I was able to solder a length of wire to the stump and save the switch. I opened and cleaned the scratchy switches and got the rest of the non-functioning switches working by desoldering them, cleaning, and soaking the switchplates in 91% IPA. I went ahead and retrobrighted the keys. I'm not sure if I'm going to bother with the case.
Over its a nice board and I was happy to get a chance to try white Alps. I like the switches quite a lot, but actually prefer NEC blue ovals - the NECs have really become one of my favorites. I'm sure opinions vary on this!
I have a Zenith ZKB-2 with green Alps (I wish I had kept the computer it came with and not just the board!), but have never tried white Alps. The keys were rather yellowed, several of the switches didn't work and a fair number were rather scratchy.
Someone must have tried working on the board before because one of the non-functioning switches was missing a pin. I was able to solder a length of wire to the stump and save the switch. I opened and cleaned the scratchy switches and got the rest of the non-functioning switches working by desoldering them, cleaning, and soaking the switchplates in 91% IPA. I went ahead and retrobrighted the keys. I'm not sure if I'm going to bother with the case.
Over its a nice board and I was happy to get a chance to try white Alps. I like the switches quite a lot, but actually prefer NEC blue ovals - the NECs have really become one of my favorites. I'm sure opinions vary on this!