Re: DEC Keyboard Question

• Previous message: Ken Fairfield: "Re: DEC Keyboard Question"
• In reply to: John E. Malmberg: "Re: DEC Keyboard Question"
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Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:29:12 -0800
To: "John E. Malmberg" <wb8tyw@qsl.network>

John E. Malmberg wrote:

> Ken Fairfield wrote:
>
>> John E. Malmberg wrote:

[snip]
>> 1) The basic one, with both your DS10 and PC booted and connected
>> to the KVM, does the keyboard "behave properly" when you switch
>> back and forth between the two systems? This would answer
>> whether the switch maintains different modes on the two ports.
>
>
> Both machines behave properly. However it does not really answer the
> question, as it is possible that the PC operating system is also using
> mode 3.

    This is very good news! Yes, it's possible the PC is using mode 3,
but it is far more likely, in my experience, that it is using mode 2.

[...]

>> 3) You wrote, "Of course this is not a complete test, and I have not
>> seen what happens during or after a reboot of either the Microsoft
>> Windows 2000 or XP system, or a reboot of the DS-10." Does this
>> mean each system was already booted when you connect the KVM to
>> them? Have you done a "cold boot" of either one with the KVM
>> connected?
>
>
> Yes, I connected it live to both systems.
>
> A few weeks later we had a power outage, and I was able to do an orderly
> start up of both systems with no problems. I thought I put that in a
> followup note.

     You may have. I did read your DECUServe update note, but I may
not have been paying attention to this particular (important) point
at that time.

>> 4) The key question for me is the one that Christoph Gartmann
>> has raised and discussed with Fred: if you boot the DS10,
>> either cold, or as a "hot" reboot, does the LK461 get put
>> into the correct mode for VMS?
>
>
> I have booted the DS10 several times now with the KVM and it has not had
> any problems.

     This is very, very good news! It means I can hook this switch to
my PWS600au, cold-boot it, and have the keyboard function correctly.
This is what I've beem missing for the past year. Whoopie! :-)

[...]
> So when this KVM with audio went on sale for close to $20 after rebates,
> I figured that it was worth the risk. And as the keyboard was not used
> with the old KVM, I got rid of a wall wart that powered it at the same
> time.
>
> I think that sale is over, but check around. I saw somewhere that there
> was a web site that tracks who is offering rebates for electronic stuff.
> I do not have the URL for it handy, but I supposed that either someone
> here would know it, or a search engine could find it.

     Well the F1DL102P lists for US$70. There is also a nearly
identical model that omits the audio connections & switching, the
F1DK102P, which lists for US$65 (not much difference, I wonder of
the "DL" simply supercedes the "DK"). Searching on the web, I've
found the "DL" for as little as US$38 plus shipping. I'll have to
call the local CompUSA and see if there is any current rebate for
this switch...

[...]
> If someone is primarily used to a PC layout, they may be a bit surprised
> at the difference. For me, this makes the PC easier to use, except
> getting use to the change of the "<>" labeled key becoming "~`".

     On the older LK411's (or LK401's?), that was _the_ location of
the "~`" key. In newer models, the "~`" got moved up to the ESC key,
to the left of "1!". At the same time, Shift-"," and Shift-"." were
changed to send "," and "." (same as unshifted) instead of "<" and ">".
I prefer the old locations...even if it's a bit confusing that it
doesn't match the keycap.

> If you get one, I hope it works as well for you as this one has for me.
>
> No one is claiming that this is supported though, so make sure that you
> can return it if it does not work.

     John, thanks so much for this! I'll be buying one of these this
weekend. Even if it's not perfect, I'm willing to risk $40 to try. :-)

        -Ken

-- 
I don't speak for Intel, Intel doesn't speak for me...
Ken Fairfield
D1C Automation VMS System Support
who:   kenneth dot h dot fairfield
where: intel dot com

• Previous message: Ken Fairfield: "Re: DEC Keyboard Question"
• In reply to: John E. Malmberg: "Re: DEC Keyboard Question"
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