VT100 Reproduction update

[Thomas Niccum]

Last time I posted that I had completed the 3D printing and construction of the 2:3 VT100 terminal (@ hackaday.io/project/177596-23-scale-vt100-terminal-reproduction) ...

But the keyboard isn't right, of course.

I found, on eBay, a real VT100 keyboard...

Now there's the problem of interfacing this beast to the repro-VT100....

I found a circuit (from 2013) online (@ hackaday.com/2013/08/13/usb-adapter-for-an-old-vt100-keyboard/) and have now breadboarded it:

I'm happy to report that I can use the VT100 keyboard via USB to my Macbook...  I've just ordered a PC board to see if I can make it a bit more robust... that should arrive in a couple weeks.

So to-dos:

1. Harden up the VTKBD->USB circuit with a PCB

2. Update the firmware key mappings- the current version remaps the PF1 - PF4 keys to PC/MAC keys that aren't on the keyboard (e.g. PF4 = Mac Command Key or Windows Key)

3. Test

4. Bundle it all up

5. Document and publish in one place so someone can follow along.

More later, as the saga continues!

Tom

[Roger Linhart]

Hi Tom.

You forgot:

6. 3D print new keycaps for PF1 - PF4 keys.

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Roger Linhart
Portland, OR  97230
Mobile: 541-690-8560

[Lars Brinkhoff]

I also have a VT100 keyboard and the Gardi replica.  I would be interested in the interfacing board!

I have found the MOTOSPEED CK61 to be nearly unusable.  I did email the manufacturer asking about how to control it, having in mind something to emulate the VT100 keyboard LEDs.  But I got no reply.

[Thomas Niccum]

I have PC boards on the way. Hopefully they work properly.  When I'm done testing, I'll publish the list of parts and the board production files.  I'm hoping the boards arrive by next week.

It's my very first attempt at board design so I'm assuming I made mistakes.

Some of the parts for this particular circuit are "obsolete" but I found them on eBay and other places.  I'm not quite good enough to start replacing them with up-to-date parts (the UART is an old chip that could be replaced, I'm sure).

I'll let everyone know when I've tested the boards and we'll see what happens.

Tom

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[Neil Higgins]

Apropos of nothing, I found the VT100 keyboard to be high-set, hence uncomfortable to use, with “IBM-Selectric-like”, long-travel keys. All-in-all. Not very ergonomic, unless you were a gun typist from the typewriter era. Also the electronic key click became offensively loud after a while. The later VT keyboards (e.g.) VT220 were much more ergonomic. That said, the VT100 had a startling “look”, which probably explains DEC users’ enthusiasm for it.

[Johnny Billquist]

Yes, the keyboard wasn't that ergonomic. But when it came out it was
definitely a step forward compared to much else you could find back
then. And specifically compared to the VT52.

And the keyclick can be turned on or off based on your preferences.

The LK201 (used in the VT200 and newer) was a lot about improving
ergonomics. That was emphasized a lot back when it was introduced.

Johnny

> <http://hackaday.io/project/177596-23-scale-vt100-terminal-reproduction>)
> ...

>
>
> vt100-3.jpeg
>
> But the keyboard isn't right, of course.
>
> I found, on eBay, a real VT100 keyboard...

> vt100-1.jpeg
>
> Now there's the problem of interfacing this beast to the
> repro-VT100....
>
> I found a circuit (from 2013) online (@
> hackaday.com/2013/08/13/usb-adapter-for-an-old-vt100-keyboard/

> <http://hackaday.com/2013/08/13/usb-adapter-for-an-old-vt100-keyboard/>)

> and have now breadboarded it:
>

> vt100-2.jpeg
>
> I'm happy to report that I can use the VT100 keyboard
> via USB to my Macbook...  I've just ordered a PC board
> to see if I can make it a bit more robust... that should
> arrive in a couple weeks.
>
> So to-dos:
> 1. Harden up the VTKBD->USB circuit with a PCB
> 2. Update the firmware key mappings- the current version
> remaps the PF1 - PF4 keys to PC/MAC keys that aren't on
> the keyboard (e.g. PF4 = Mac Command Key or Windows Key)
> 3. Test
> 4. Bundle it all up
> 5. Document and publish in one place so someone can
> follow along.
>
> More later, as the saga continues!
>
> Tom
>
> --
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>
>
>
> --
> Roger Linhart
> Portland, OR  97230

> Mobile: 541-690-8560 <tel:(541)%20690-8560>

>
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|| on a psychedelic trip
email: b...@softjar.se || Reading murder books
pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

[Warner Losh]

On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 3:10 AM Johnny Billquist <b...@softjar.se> wrote:

Yes, the keyboard wasn't that ergonomic. But when it came out it was
definitely a step forward compared to much else you could find back
then. And specifically compared to the VT52.

Yea. I could type for only about an hour or so on the VT52, but several on

the VT100. the VT52 had even stiffer keys, and a more awkward angle that

was even harder to adjust than the VT100. When I went off to college, I

never used a VT52 again and was quite happy about that.

 

The LK201 (used in the VT200 and newer) was a lot about improving
ergonomics. That was emphasized a lot back when it was introduced.

Yes. I liked it even more. Despite it's pathological quirks (caps lock key and

<> key: I'm looking at you), it was the best of the time in terms of feel and durability.

Some Wyse terminals were a bit better at the key travel length, etc, but they

tended to suffer reliability issues with keys sticking (though that may be a

terminal room artifact and the slobs that used them).

Warner

 

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