tinkerBOY IBM Model F XT / Model M AT Keyboard (180 Degree, 5-pin DIN) To USB Converter with Vial QMK Firmware

(19 customer reviews)

tinkerBOY IBM XT/AT Keyboard (180 Degree, 5-pin DIN) To USB Converter v1.0 now uses Vial QMK firmware (better than Soarer’s Converter firmware) so you can use your old 5-pin IBM XT or AT and compatible keyboard on a modern computer with USB support.

NEW: You can now purchase an adapter with QMK Firmware supporting both Via and Vial. VIA is a feature of QMK Firmware while Vial is a fork of QMK Firmware. Vial is an open-source cross-platform (Windows, Linux and Mac) GUI application and a QMK fork for configuring your keyboard in real time. For more info about Vial please go to their website at https://get.vial.today/.

Take a look at some screenshots.

14 in stock

SKU: XTAT Category:

Description

tinkerBOY IBM XT/AT Keyboard (180 Degree, 5-pin DIN) To USB Converter v1.0 now uses Vial QMK firmware (better than Soarer’s Converter firmware) so you can use your old 5-pin IBM XT or AT and compatible keyboard on a modern computer with USB support.

NEW: You can now purchase an adapter with QMK Firmware supporting both Via and Vial. VIA is a feature of QMK Firmware while Vial is a fork of QMK Firmware. Vial is an open-source cross-platform (Windows, Linux and Mac) GUI application and a QMK fork for configuring your keyboard in real time. For more info about Vial please go to their website at https://get.vial.today/.

Take a look at some screenshots.

2 Ways to remap or configure your keyboard with QMK in realtime:

Features:

  • Remapping
  • Layers
  • Macros
  • On-the-fly Config Selection
  • Full NKRO, if the keyboard supports it.
  • Compatible with Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
  • XT protocol supported (scan code set 1).
  • AT protocol supported (scan code set 2).
  • Realtime configuration  using Vial app or online.

Related Products:

Additional information

Option

Vial QMK (Recommended), Soarer's

19 reviews for tinkerBOY IBM Model F XT / Model M AT Keyboard (180 Degree, 5-pin DIN) To USB Converter with Vial QMK Firmware

  1. Freddie –

    Hi tinkerboy! I just got mine yesterday and just want to say thank you! i’ve been wanting to use my old IBM Model F keyboard for some time now and this converter works really great! I’m also hoping for a converter for an IBM Terminal keyboard?

    • tinkerBOY –

      I will be offering that soon too. 🙂

  2. Moorester –

    Get’s the job done without installing any software! Great converter! I’m hoping for a Terminal To USB Converter too.

    Keep it up man!

  3. warren5151 –

    Tested it with my Macbook Pro and a Windows PC and it works great! No additional drivers or software needed. Thanks!

  4. Borr –

    Works great with my ibm Model F keyboard! Thanks!

  5. Gian –

    Funziona alla grande!

  6. Dchez –

    Works great on both of my IBM Model F and M keyboards! It’s plug n’ play!

  7. Reds –

    Works good! But how do I remap it?

    • tinkerBOY –

      Download the doc file for soarer’s Converter.

  8. Kleo –

    Works great with my IBM Model F XT keyboard. I love it! ?

  9. Matt –

    Just picked my converter up from the post office and I’m currently writing this review on my old keyboard. It was simple plug and play. And delivery time was quick and easy. Thanks so much, been waiting to use this keyboard for almost 20 years now.

  10. vkoskiv –

    Works flawlessly with my 1983 Model F XT keyboard!
    Configuring the on-board controller to remap some keys was easy, and now I can use this old beast on my modern systems.

  11. Adam –

    The converter arrived in a few weeks. Works plug n play and I really appreciate your efforts.
    However I have a pretty annoying issue with a model M keyboard using the converter which makes it impossible to use it.
    After a little time of usage some of the keystrokes start not to be registered. Same on Win10 and MacOS. After some more time this gets even worse.
    Other issue: once I saw the last ~10 strokes to be resent.
    Only the following keys are affected: [-=/ caps tab space backspace escape enter

    I left the converter in my PC overnight and it bacame even worse, more of the keystrokes were not registered but only on the affected keys above.
    I unplugged the converter for an hour and after replugging all the keys were registered so it does not seem to be a physical issue. But after 30 mins it started to drop keystrokes again.

    Any tips to fix?

    Thanks, Adam

    • tinkerBOY –

      I use the converter all the time with an IBM Model M keyboard and never had any issues like that. Can you test it with a different keyboard if you have a spare one?

  12. Houston –

    This adapter works FLAWLESSLY with my RT-101+ (specifically the AQ6RT101-LC variant), and I’m using that keyboard to type this review. I’m incredibly happy that I purchased this.

    Did it take a little bit to arrive? Sure!
    Was it worth the wait? Heck yeah!

    10/10 despite that though, I would happily recommend getting this from here if you aren’t in a rush and want to be able to hook up your old-school kb.

  13. MD288 –

    Works on the Zenith ZKB-2 / ZKB-2R (white label)
    Thank You.

  14. Iwa Karunia –

    hi tinkerBOY
    just want to ask before buy
    i have some model F keyboard but not IBM
    its a taiwan keyboard
    seem XT keyboard

    its that converter work fine ? thanks

    • tinkerBOY –

      As long as it uses the XT or AT protocol then it should work just fine.

  15. M.Taka –

    Thanks a lot, tinkerBoy Team!

    It works perfectly on Windows 10 and my MacBook Pro, with IBM Model F XT 83-Keys (1501100) original Keyboard, just Plug&Play.
    I am using Karabiner-elements for remaping the keys in MBP – MacOS.

  16. Eric Dauphinais –

    Very nice device, though after a couple of months, it stopped working in XT mode, the computer only receive rFF codes. It still work in AT mode though.

    Trying to make it work again

  17. jb –

    Just got it today. Immediately plugged it in and my Gateway 2000 Anykey programmable keyboard sprang to life without a ridiculous chain of adapters. I’ve used it for years and it’s a true workhorse that let’s me set up macro strokes to one tap.

    Thanks a ton, tinkerBOY!

  18. Felix –

    Arrived in under a month from Phillipines to Canada with PHLPOST
    It just worked, haven’t tested the re-mapping of keys yet though.

  19. Nick –

    Works perfectly. Plugged it into my F XT, connected it to my PC, fired up VIAL and was able to both select the proper XT layout and completely remap the top and secondary layers without issue. Literally plug and play to bring your 40 year old keyboard into the modern era.

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