Editing Chicony KB-5181

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{{infobox dkeyboard
| name         = Chicony KB-5181<br>Chicony KB-5182
| image name   = KB-5181 - Front.jpg
| pn           = 
| fcc          = E8H5IKKB-5181
| branding     = 
| manufacturer = [[Chicony]]
| switch       = [[Alps SKCM Blue]]<br>[[Alps SKCM White]]<br>[[SMK Alps mount]] (Monterey Blue)<br>[[Omron B3G-S series]] (Amber)<br>[[Futaba MA series]] (MX Mount)<br>[[Cherry MX Black]]<br>[[Cherry MX Blue]]
| layouts      = 101/102-key [[Asian 101]]
| features     =
| interface    = [[XT/AT switchable]]
| weight       = 
| introduced   = 1988 (FCC registration)
| price        = $49.99 (1992)<ref name="PCMag-19920225" />
}}

The '''Chicony KB-5181''' is an [[XT/AT switchable]] keyboard from [[Chicony]]. It features a [[Return key|big-ass Enter]] key and single-[[unit]] backspace. There is also an [[ISO]] version, the '''KB-5182'''. Both keyboards were supplied with a wide variety of switches, including [[Monterey switch|Monterey]]. Two-height flip-out feet are provided.

==Switches==
The official list of switch manufacturers according to Chicony, in order of production, is as follows:

*[[Alps Electric]]
*[[Cherry]]
*[[SMK]]
*[[Mitsumi]]
*[[Aristotle]] (Yali)

Aristotle were the manufacturer of the [[Aristotle Cherry MX clone|Cherry MX clone]] switches found in these keyboards.

Possibly due to manufacturing crossover between the [[Chicony KB-5161]] and its successor, the KB-5181, Futaba switches were still in use in the KB-5181, although Chicony have no record of this being the case. KB-5161 and KB-5181 keyboards appeared to have compatible parts.<ref name="ARC" />

Specific switches confirmed found in KB-5181 and KB-5182 keyboards:

*[[Alps SKCM White]]
*[[Alps SKCM Blue]]
*[[Cherry MX Blue]]<ref>geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=32825.0 Trent's Mega Sell Thread [Part 2!]]</ref>
*Blue [[SMK Alps mount]] "Monterey" switch
*White Cherry MX mount ("inverse") [[Futaba clicky switch]]<ref name="gh-5181-rc" />
*[[Cherry MX Black]]<ref name="mxblack" />
*Omron B3G-S Amber

==Variants==
Variants identified to date:

;KB-5161F/5162F
:[[Cherry MX Blue]] switches in a PCB taken from [[Chicony KB-5161]]; this is cited as being 484 × 205 × 44 mm and weighing 1532 g<ref name="ARC" />
;KB-5181F
:White Cherry MX mount [[Futaba clicky switch]] (from plate)<ref name="gh-5181-rc" />
;KB-5181/5182KT
:Blue [[SMK Alps mount]] "Monterey" switch ("SMK SW", 1990 PCB)<ref name="Sandy" />
;KB-5181PT
:[[Alps SKCM White]] (from rear label)<ref name="eBay-5181PT" />

==Re-Brands==
The KB-5181/2 was re-branded under several other marques, including Hyundai<ref name="eBay-5181PT" />, ARC<ref name="ARC" /> (American Research Corporation), and SIIG (as both the '''SIIG Suntouch 101''' or "K101" (model K101)<ref name="gh-Suntouch" /> and as the '''SIIG SuperTouch'''<ref name="amazon-SuperTouch" /> (model JK-WJ0032<ref name="gh-SuperTouch" />)). The SIIG Suntouch 101 is one of the keyboards with the distorted Alps logo and hand-carved [[mould numbering]].<ref name="gh-Suntouch" />

==Gallery==
===Cherry MX Blue switches===
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:ARC KB-5181 -- top.jpg                        | Top, with ARC branding
File:ARC KB-5181 -- bottom.jpg                     | Bottom
File:ARC KB-5181 -- internals.jpg                  | Internals
File:ARC KB-5181 -- internals showing switches.jpg | Internals with keycaps removed
File:ARC KB-5181 -- PCB underside.jpg              | PCB underside
File:ARC KB-5181 -- assorted 1.jpg                 | Assorted; controller date is 8942 (42nd week 1989)
File:ARC KB-5181 -- assorted 2.jpg                 | Assorted
File:ARC KB-5181 -- assorted 3.jpg                 | Assorted; PCB is from the KB-5161
</gallery>

===SMK "Monterey" Blue Alps-mount switches===
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:KB-5181 - Front.jpg                           | Top, showing switch
File:KB-5181 - Back.jpg                            | Bottom
File:KB-5181 - Reference Card Front.jpg            | Reference card front
File:KB-5181 - Reference Card.jpg                  | Reference card inside
</gallery>

===SMK "Monterey" Blue Alps-mount switches, UK layout===
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Chicony KB-5182 UK.jpg                        | UK layout "Monterey" version
</gallery>

===Alps SKCM White switches===
<gallery widths=250 heights=197>
File:Chicony KB-5182 -- Alps SKCM White.jpg        | [[Alps SKCM White]] switch
</gallery>

==References==
<references>
<ref name="Sandy">Sandy — [http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/chicony_kb-5181.html chicony_kb-5181]</ref>
<ref name="eBay-5181PT">eBay — [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hyundai-Computer-Systems-Keyboard-Model-KB-5181-PT-RARE-/151084863904 Hyundai Computer Systems Keyboard Model KB 5181 PT RARE] {{volatile}}</ref>
<ref name="gh-5181-rc">geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=21758.0 recycling center keyboard (Chicony KB-5181F)]</ref>
<ref name="ARC">KBTalking — [http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/10006 ▲▲▲ARC KB-5181特規cherry青軸▲▲▲]</ref>
<ref name="mxblack">geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51377.0 Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches]</ref>
<ref name="gh-Suntouch">geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33343.0 FS: RARE+COOL:: Hall Effect!, IBM Refurbs, New stuff, vintage kbs and radio stuf]</ref>
<ref name="gh-SuperTouch">geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=5092.0 Suntouch K101]</ref>
<ref name="amazon-SuperTouch">Amazon.com — [http://www.amazon.com/SIIG-SuperTouch-Mechanical-Keyboard-Connector/dp/B00FEN8WR6 SIIG SuperTouch Mechanical Keyboard (Clicky Keyboard), White ALPS Sliders, 5 pin DIN Connector, XT-AT Switch]</ref>
<ref name="PCMag-19920225">Google Books — [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iYmIeqES1fYC&pg=PT280 PC Magazine, February 25, 1992] (The Write Stuff, pp. 303–329)</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Chicony keyboards]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Monterey switches]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Alps SKCL/SKCM switches]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Cherry MX switches]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Aristotle switches]]
[[Category:Protocol switchable keyboards]]
[[Category:Vintage keyboards]]
[[Category:List of all keyboards]]