Old keyboard with DB9 connector ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 04:14:13 am
content: I've been offered for free a NOS German made Cherry keyboard that use DB9 connector.Is that a serial type keyboard ?Also is there any converter/adapter so it can be used at PC say like PS/2 one or even better USB.

author: aix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 04:18:58 am
content: This might be helpful:https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/1132/how-can-i-connect-a-din-plug-keyboard-to-usb

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 04:45:03 am
content: Its DB9 , not DIN5.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 04:47:33 am
content: It's probably some proprietary thing. The interface is going to be some form of serial but probably not RS232. If you open it up and take a look it should be trivial to reverse engineer the hardware portion.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 04:52:34 am
content: Quote from: james_s on October 16, 2019, 04:47:33 amThat is what I'm worrying about, as may be it needs too much effort (hack/mod etc) to be used at PC, even just converting it into PS/2, not USB.I don't have it with me yet, as I need to pay for the s/h cost.

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 05:14:33 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on October 16, 2019, 04:45:03 amAre you sure it isn't DE-9?I have never seen a nine pin connector in a DB sized shell. I have seen thousands of DE-9 connectors, and heard them mistakenly called DB-9 many times. But the only DB sized connectors I have seen in use were DB-25 or DB-13W3 units.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 05:21:46 am
content: Quote from: AG6QR on October 16, 2019, 05:14:33 amOk, I could be wrong calling it DB9, could be DE-9.For sure the owner mentioned its exactly like the PC's serial connector but not clear either its male or female, but not DB25, and definitely not DIN or PS/2.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2019, 05:57:50 am
content: Quote from: AG6QR on October 16, 2019, 05:14:33 amWhile technically true, I would say that is extremely pedantic. Everybody knows that the common 9 pin serial connectors are colloquially called "DB-9". At this point I think that about the only people who know what a DE-9 connector is are those who like to nitpick and show how smart they are, or people old enough to have worked with them in the late 60s-early 70s when D-shell connectors were new and cutting edge.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 17, 2019, 05:30:52 pm
content: any pics?Quantel made extensive use of de-9/db-9 on their keyboards for two decades

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2019, 07:17:06 am
content: Early Sun workstations used9w15w D type connectors for their keyboards.They are distinctive compared to pc keyboardshttp://blog.daveastels.com.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/2014/12/27/type-3-keyboard.htmlEdit: oops, just noticed in pics that it is actually 15wI have seen keyboards with 9w D type at The Nation Museum of Computing, not sure what computers they are for though.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2019, 09:16:37 am
content: Quote from: dexters_lab on October 17, 2019, 05:30:52 pmJust got update from the owner, its a Cherry brand keyboard OEM-ed to API (Advanced Program Inc.) that produces/manufactures TEMPEST product.->http://www.advprograms.com/And for unknown reason, the original USB connector has been replaced with an AMP brand heavy metal cast DB-9 connector (as below left example) but with only 4 pins , not full 9 of them, and its on its way.Going to convert it back to ordinary USB.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2019, 10:00:09 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on October 18, 2019, 09:16:37 amThat's too easy... And disappointingly non-vintage.Any idea how old that keyboard actually is?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2019, 02:55:40 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on October 18, 2019, 09:16:37 amIt's probably much more rugged than an ordinary USB connector. And there's no locking mechanism with ordinary USB. That may be required for some work environments.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2019, 03:18:40 pm
content: TEMPEST is all about shielding, the metal shell DB9 is probably better shielded than a standard USB connector.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2019, 03:12:33 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on October 18, 2019, 10:00:09 amYeah, abit of disappointment.Its probably aroud 15 years maybe as the owner mentioned.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2019, 03:14:35 am
content: Quote from: james_s on October 18, 2019, 03:18:40 pmThe keyboard's cable was somehow (not sure) replaced with non spiral one, just straight grayish colored.Will post the connector photo once its in my hand.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2019, 05:15:06 am
content: Pic speaks thousands words ...Regarding the cable, I guess its fully shielded too and installed with ferrite EMI filter.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2019, 11:11:37 am
content: Cable mount USB plugs are always a PITA to assemble (though admittedly a full sized USB A plug is probably the easiest), and the result is often mechanically weak compared to a factory assembled moulded plug. Its probably easiest to swap out the cable for one with moulded USB A plug, starting with a decent quality off-the-shelf cable and cutting off its device end plug for bare wire ends to patch into the keyboard.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2019, 12:03:06 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on October 19, 2019, 05:15:06 amSo, how does the keyboard enclosure look from the inside? Any extra shielding in there?

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2019, 02:38:48 pm
content: You'd be better off buying a ready made cable and connect the cable inside the keyboard :https://www.digikey.com/short/pn1bv8Depending on shipping costs, it may be actually cheaper to buy a 1-2$ mouse from a local store and take it apart to get the cable. ex:https://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-Optical-Mouse-Accessibility-Compatible/dp/B00LPC3O3M/orhttps://www.amazon.com/Generic-3-Button-Optical-Notebook-Desktop/dp/B006B3PADC/

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 06:39:32 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on October 19, 2019, 12:03:06 pmFrom outside, its obvious plastic case, not metal.Will post photos once I tear it down.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 06:41:16 am
content: Quote from: mariush on October 19, 2019, 02:38:48 pmWell, actually my plan is just salvage from old unused USB keyboard's cable, its much more easier and convenient.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 08:40:40 pm
content: I used to use those chunky D connectors all the time in the 70s and 80s.They feel great and are rock solid, now everything is flimsy and built down for weight and price!

author: RetroSwim
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2019, 05:18:25 am
content: Quote from: james_s on October 16, 2019, 05:57:50 amSame story with saying "RJ45" to mean 8P8C modular, I guess. The wrong name is so ingrained (and the actual Registered Jack standard is so old and disused) that it doesn't matter any more.(Though I still get mildly annoyed when someone says "RJ45cable"...)D-Sub is an interesting choice for USB though, since it doesn't have the staggered pin pattern to ensure ground makes contact before anything else, it would make hot-plugging somewhat hit-and-miss.Good score though, OP! Let us know how it turns out!

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2019, 06:41:40 am
content: I see you have already identified the connector style (a TEMPEST conversion of a PC USB keyboard).But there was (at least) one computer that used a DE-9 connector natively, the Silicon Graphics Personal IRIS 4D/20 and /25. These were only in production for a few years and earlier and later SGIs used other connector styles, but the keyboards do exist.