Need help with Chicony KB-5152

[reececonrad]

So, here's the board. I got lucky with "making an offer"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chicon ... :rk:7:pf:0

The switches are very nice. But I can't seem to get it to work on my computer.

The board has an XT-AT switch on the back. In AT mode, running to PS2 and using a DIN to mini-DIN adapter that I know works (because I use it on my Siig board): Lights flash like you would expect at startup, cursor pad LED stays on, but no output from the board. Nada. Also, I press caps lock and num lock and the indicator LEDs don't respond.

In XT mode over adapter, lights flash on bootup, XT-Power light comes on. Of course there is no output b/c it's in XT mode, but this time when I press caps lock or num lock, the LEDs respond.

Anyone have experience with a similar board? I hate to throw more money at it, but perhaps it would run in XT mode and a soarer's converter?? It doesn't work with PS2 to USB blue cube either.

HALP

[keycap]

if it's not working with the converteers and you don't have an old computer with native PS/2 support built into the motherboard itself, you might want to look for damaged traces, loose soldering, or failed capacitors. a multimeter would be really helpful for this, assuming you have one. if not, i highly recommend getting one.

really the best option would be to eliminate all converters for troubleshooting, but i should imagine it'd work with your converters regardless, so this leads me to believe it's a problem within the board itself. in that case, it's likely just a capacitor.

the board has a good chance of being saved, but you're gonna need to break out the soldering iron i'm sure. but maybe not, computers do some weird shit man.

[keycap]

sometimes it's something as stupid as the keyboard cable being unplugged from the PCB internally, i've had a g80-11900 do that to me once

[reececonrad]

It's definitely plugged in internally, I double checked. Also, the LEDs do light up when the computer first powers on. So it's getting power. I have it plugged into the PS2 port natively, just adapting from standard DIN to mini-DIN. I guess I'll bite the bullet and get a soarer's converter to see if that happens to magically work. At least the LEDs seem to work correctly in XT mode.

[Lbibass]

It's definitely plugged in internally, I double checked. Also, the LEDs do light up when the computer first powers on. So it's getting power. I have it plugged into the PS2 port natively, just adapting from standard DIN to mini-DIN. I guess I'll bite the bullet and get a soarer's converter to see if that happens to magically work. At least the LEDs seem to work correctly in XT mode.

Did you restart the computer when you plugged it in?

[keycap]

interesting... good to know it is getting power. and yes make sure to make sure you're plugging the boards in when the computer is powered off, most ps/2 ports don't support hot swapping

a multimeter would surely help narrow down the problem. highly recommend just grabbing one for a low price as, believe me, you're gonna need one eventually. and if you have one, check the continuity of the cable, various pins and points on the PCB itself, or even scrape away at the solder mask if you really need to.

i can't imagine much going wrong here.. surprising how yours doesn't work right out of the box

[reececonrad]

Yeah, I always power off before I connect it

[mcmaxmcmc]

I just have a small hunch it's an electrolytic capacitor giving up or disconnected. I'd say to check them, but of course, check the others too.

[reececonrad]

I just have a small hunch it's an electrolytic capacitor giving up or disconnected. I'd say to check them, but of course, check the others too.

Will do. Can you help me understand the process? I mean, I can get my digital meter out and turn the knob around and poke at things, but I have no idea what I'm actually doing. What setting would I put it on and what am I looking for on a readout? Also, should the PCB be plugged in?

This is the super cheap bad boy I have from a previous project
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GT4XXN6

[//gainsborough]

Heya! I was waitin' for a post like this to show up, hahaha. I knew you had to be part of the community in one capacity or another! eBay has nailed me a couple of times for asking potential buyers to contact me using a different platform, so I didn't say anything about DT.

Anyway - the board did work in both AT and XT modes for me, but it was finicky in AT mode with resetting the computer. Interestingly, for me I had to boot up the computer with it plugged in, and then reset the computer to get it to work in AT mode. XT worked right away for me with a soarer's converter.

I have had this issue before with other boards too, mostly notably my kb101A has this same strange procedure where I have to boot it up and then reset the computer for it to work in AT mode - no idea what that's about.

I do feel bad about you not already owning a soarer's for you to get it to work with, so why don't we go halfsies on buying you one? I recommend that you own one anyway (it opens up a lot of other boards for you to use!) but since my board is the thing making you buy it I'll pay for half of it. If it still doesn't work for you with the soarer's (which would absolutely astound me, since I used it for a few days when I first got it), then we can figure out what to do from there.

Go ahead and PM me your paypal address and let's get you a soarer's converter first. The board is basically new, so don't try to do anything that might compromise it's electronics to get it to work! It is definitely fine!

BTW here was the DT sale for the board, which I realize now I should probably update: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=20384

[reececonrad]

Ha! Nice to see you here. I'm much more active on GH, but I figured I needed to show my face here if I wanted some good vintage board advice

Don't worry about the converter cost. We'll get this thing working! I love the big F keys. I'm going to have to program them to something useful so I can mash them all day.

[reececonrad]

Woohoo. It works great with Soarer's converter. Loving the switches. Thanks for the board.

[//gainsborough]

Yay!!! Great to hear, dude!!!