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Re: keyboard questions
- Subject: Re: keyboard questions
- From: Harry Binswanger <hb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 23:23:37 -0500
Yes, Carl's and Robert's U2 does have a scan code revealer.
It's called, of course, scan.
Hi Tom,
This seemed like a much more recent post at which to attach an update on
my own keyboard experience. Pursuant to recommendations from this
list, I had purchased a few of the Unicomp keyboards, as the next best
still-extant option for devotees of the long gone Northgate / Avant
keyboards. These were bought both for our office and for my own
home use. The Unicomp keyboards have a clearly different key feel,
and their buckling spring tech is -- in my opinion -- no match for the
ALPS switch tech of the Northgate and Avant.
Of these Unicomps, two have had to be returned to Unicomp for
repair. The problem was mainly of *no*-character returned by
keystrokes on a couple keys (intermittent), or occasionally a
"machine-gun" character response on another. Of those two
that were repaired, one of them has begun to exhibit the same
problem. Suggesting what ? Well, I can guess. May have
to send that one back again, if they are still willing to deal with
it. And I'm anxiously watching the other one. (Have to
note that their customer service was pretty good, the first time
around. But I would rather have had a new replacement than service
to the keyboard in question . . . . )
Over the last couple years, I had bid on a couple eBay auctions for used
Avants, which closed in the $300 to $400 range (!), but was narrowly
outbid at the last moment. I had seen a number of these sell in
that price range, although once in a rare while someone lucked out with a
much more reasonable price. Timing seemed to have a lot to do with
it, because these auctions all closed very quickly. I had kept the
Avant on my eBay "Want | Email Alerts" list for quite some
time. Eventually, my patience paid off. An unopened-box Avant
came up for auction from some rather unlikely place, and on that one I
succeeded. Even better, I believe the final cost -- including
shipping -- came in at just under $200. Bought as a spare, it is
the keyboard I am typing this on now. I've put my Unicomps back in
the closet for now. I have worn out a couple of the original
Northgates (which I've held onto, in the hopes that that repair guy
previously mentioned here is still doing his thing, and might be able to
resuscitate them), but I've never had any sort of problem with an Avant
! They were truly "Stellar."
In more direct response to your post, there used to be utilities for
testing and reporting key scan codes. I could probably dredge up a
couple, but have no idea if they would still work with latter day
Windows. (Or perhaps the Jumbo U2 had some function for doing this
?) If you could find one that does work, I'd suggest using it to
first ascertain what those SF key scan codes happen to be, as that is the
first step in trying to find out whether there can be some applicability
to Xy kbd assignments. If there are no scan codes reported, or they
duplicate some existing ones, that may in effect be an answer in the
negative.
Jordan
On Wednesday, February 5, 2020, 9:51:20 AM PST, tom horton
<swanfall@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have been trying to use a northgate omnikey plus keyboard with
xywrite. it’s on a second computer. I use xywrite (4) successfully with
an omnikey ultra keyboard and the same keyboard file on my primary
computer.
obviously the plus doesn’t have the row of SF keys that the ultra
does.
but it does have F13 through F15 keys, and I would very much like to
program them in the keyboard file for various chores.
but I cannot find any keys in my keyboard file to get a rise out of these
three function keys.
I’m a longtime xy user (since mid 1980’s), but not very savvy
technically.
hoping someone can give me some advice. the plus keyboard otherwise works
beautifully with my existing keyboard file.
in other news, two avant stellar keyboards with SF keys seem to no longer
work well with my xywrite: SF keys don’t load and can’t get out
of CAPS’.but maaybe save this mystery for another time unless there’s a
simple fix. thanks for any help.
tom horton 410 726 7282