deskthority

I just found an 122-keys Model F keyboard.
Unfortunately this keyboard has an 5-pin at 240° so I can't just plug it and test it on my laptop .

Does someone know if this keyboard is PC compatible? And if so, how can I connect it?

Here some additional informations:
serie: 1390415
8 dip switches
produced in 1985

It's not compatible as it is, but it is easy to make an adapter using a Teensy and my firmware

It is not compatible because it has a 5-pin (240°) connector?
I ask you that, because I've read that some Model F with this type of connector are PC compatible. Can someone confirm that point?

I'm planning to buy a Teensy or a Chameleon controler, because I also have a Wyse terminal keyboard to convert.
Thank you for the links, it looks really interresting and helpful. You did a great job!

As far as I know, the only IBM/Unicomp 122-key 'boards that are compatible are the terminal emulators, which have a 180° connector. (They aren't a great option because F13 to F24 send shift + F1 to F12, rather than unique scan codes).

The protocol used by the terminal 'boards is the same as PS/2, but they use scan code set 3 (instead of 2), and don't send break codes until they're told to. The easiest and most reliable way to get them working with any PC or Mac is to use an active converter like mine. It's also possible to do it on Windows by swapping drivers etc - no longer recommended by its author, but there's some great info there. Linux might work with them ok, I dunno.

Replacing the controller in a model F isn't simple, because of the capacitive sensing. I'm slowly working on that too (also using a Teensy). But it's really only worth it for more esoteric 'boards that won't work with a converter, because my approach requires desoldering the original 40-pin controller chip.

I suspect you might end up buying both a Teensy and a Chameleon

Somewhat unrelated, are you sure it's a Model F? IIRC, there were no Model F 122s with a 139 part number, or a right angled connector.

The spacing on the pins inside the connector creates a 240° arc.

The IBM 6110344 is a 122-key model F keyboard, originally intended for use with the IBM 3270 PC. It is possible to connect it to a standard AT-class PC.
...
Therefore the keyboard can be connected to an AT or PS/2 connector, either by making a simple adaptor, or by swapping the lead with one from a real IBM AT keyboard. Both use the same 3×2 Berg connector at the keyboard end.
...

found here:
http://www.seasip.info/VintagePC/ibm_6110344.html
I read it again, and this seems to confirm what you said about terminal emulators, and the need for an active converter.

@daedalus
I'll post a picture of my keyboard, but it is very similar to the 6110344. So I guess mine is also a Model F.

From the top, the model M version looks the same as the model F version. The base of an F is metal, and looks like this:

I'm wrong! Mine is a model M (more precisely an IBM 122-keys terminal emulator mode M keyboard ).

I thought that all 122-keys keyboards were model F.
Thanks for all your replies

I think yours is a 3270PC version... to my mind there's four main groups (using my layman's terminology):

1. original terminal 'boards - no second functions (e.g. pgup) marked on the numpad etc
2. 3270 PC (or similar) 'boards - work via an add-in card
3. emulator 'boards - work directly with normal AT or PS/2 socket
4. partial emulator 'boards - as 3 but send shift+F1..F12 instead of F13..F24 etc

Both 1 and 2 have the 240° connector, and are essentially the same apart from the legends on the keys.

My knowledge is far from encyclopedic though - those groupings probably have blurry edges and lots of sub-categories!!

*Necro*
I stumbled upon this thread and got my shovel because it portraits false info when googling the serial number 1390415 + IBM unless read up to post 6 of the thread: 1390415 / 1390413 is actually a Model M instead of a Model F like the title / google search suggests.
This is obviously in no way malicious but since our new mod team just formed and I don't know if this is stuff we as a community want to be moderated and this thread is the top result for the search on google portraying wrong information I suggest modifying the title and maybe the post to show correct info.
I initially opened a moderation request for this but don't know wether this is the right way for it for simimar threads and wether it's called for at all. So this is basically a starter for a discussion / the decision of our mods.
Discussion about what's to be moderated in general should rather be had here: viewtopic.php?p=501892#p501892