ORIGINAL Xwhatsit Beamspring Controller USB NKRO for IBM 5251 3278 3101 3279

Description

Up for buy it now is an original style Xwhatsit Beamspring Controller. Each lot is for one new controller in fully tested working condition as shown. The advantage of the original version is that it is more intuitive to program without the need for programming knowledge or uploading of files. Simply make changes in the configuration utility (which is completely visual) and save the changes. Configurations can optionally be saved as files as well and restored easily if experimenting with different layouts.
All you will need to use this is a Mini USB to USB cable and an IBM Beamspring keyboard with a removable controller.
DISPLAYWRITER BEAMSPRING KEYBOARDS USE A DIFFERENT PINOUT AND IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THIS VERSION OF CONTROLLER.
The 3276, 3278, and 3279 do require a notch to be cut in the right side of the blue edge connector to allow it to fit all the way over the capsense PCB on those keyboards. I can cut this notch for you prior to shipping if you leave me a note in the "message to seller" during checkout at no extra cost. You can also add this notch yourself using a Dremel and a cutting wheel.
The original Xwhatsit capsense controller features an easy to use programming utility that lets you press a key, see it light up on the grid, and then allows you to choose from the dropdown for that key what you want the key to be mapped to which is very user friendly for non-programmers. The utility also allows creation of secondary layers as well as expansion with an optional solenoid driver (not included in this listing). This utility works with Mac, Windows, and Linux, however the Mac version has a bug where there will be two controllers that show up on startup and you only have a 50/50 chance of selecting the "correct" one. If you choose the wrong one, you have to force quit the app and try again. Once it's all configured, you can use it with any computer as the configuration is stored on the controller itself and does not require any special drivers that aren't already in all modern operating systems.
Also of note, the Xwhatsit's home page for configuration has a "voltage threshold" setting which will be slightly different for each keyboard, but most usually end up in the 120 to 160 range, so you may have to adjust that up and down until you no longer have any false keypresses and also have all keys detect appropriately. One of the cool things about the Xwhatsit utility is that you will see a small representation of the entire grid as you are adjusting and you can see if keys are registering or not in real time, even before they are mapped to anything.
I would definitely recommend restoring any beamspring that you use these with as any significant amount of dust can get between the capsesnse PCB and the capacitative feet and cause intermittent reading issues. If you aren't going to fully restore the beamspring keyboard first, I would recommend taking the back capsense PCB out and wiping down the capsense PCB with isopropyl alcohol followed by a dry microfiber cloth. I would also remove any lose hanging or obviously degraded foam at that time as well if you see any, then reassemble.
Xwhatsit controllers also support NKRO meaning that there is no limit to the number of keys that can be simultaneously detected and there will be no key "ghosting" due to too many keys held down at once.
They include a 90 day exchange warranty to give you plenty of time to be sure that everything is working appropriately. The warranty does not cover physical damage to the controller such as ripping off the USB connector if the cable were to be pulled out quickly at an odd angle. My recommendation is to zip tie the USB cable to internal solid structures so that if the cable is pulled from the outside of the keyboard that the cable takes the stress rather than the controller's Mini USB connector.
More information including links to the configuration utility can be found by googling "xwhatsit's Grand Unified IBM Capsense USB controller thread"
USA shipping will be FREE to by USPS First Class Mail, international shipping will be done through ebay global shipping at the calculated rate based on location.
Thanks for looking and please ask any questions that you may have!