This project aims to bring back to life the old but well-designed and ultra-durable IBM Model F XT Keyboard with a modern microcontroller, the ESP32.
IBM Model F and Model M are very similar, but the internal circuitry is different. Furthermore, keyboards made during 80s used to implement two different protocols: XT and AT protocol.
- Connect the wires. Feel free to use whatever pin you want (remembering to change it in the sketch).
- Upload the sketch using the Arduino IDE and the ESP32 plug-in
- Plug ESP32. It needs power.
- Connect to the ESP32 BLE interface (from your Bluetooth settings). This microcontroller is not able to simulate an HID device through USB interface, but it supports BLE HID. For a more neat solution see Teensy devices.
- [optional] You can always change the keys mapping by modifying the translationTable array. Already mapped layout: italian.
To learn more about XT protocol and Teensy solution see:
- http://www.ccgcpu.com/2019/02/14/the-xt-part-4-adapting-a-modernish-keyboard/
- https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_F
- https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/IBM-PC-XT-Keyboard-Protocol
- https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=12597
- Francesco Mecatti - I.T.I.S Enrico Fermi - Italy, Modena
This project is licensed under the MIT license - see the LICENSE file for details