[GB] Filco tenkeyless custom ATmega32u4 controller - All gone, that's it folks.

[TheProfosist]

http://tinyurl.com/jp2vl

[bisl]

http://tinyurl.com/jp2vl

That makes MUCH more sense Thanks!

[alaricljs]

Yaaaaay... got mine, installed one.   Now to get down to business.

[Wildcard]

What does SMD mean? One of the UrbanDictionary definitions says "so many dinosaurs" but it doesn't really fit the context here.

Surface Mount Device

Here's a good video. Surface Mount Soldering 101

[alaricljs]

We need some place to talk about your firmware, bp... There are some things that I don't have enough know-how to deal with that it would be nice to share and get opinions on, makes no sense to do it  in this thread. 

That said, I've crashed the KB a number of times with the way I type.  Something about the right shift and an all-caps word or phrase.  Haven't pinned it down yet, for all I know I am transitioning from the left shift to the right fast enough to hit the bootloader. 

I think that my space bar switch is causing an occasional double space.

Another interesting thing is that I can get the KB to register both Win keys and the Menu key as down by using them with the Alt-key.  Either Alt can do it to any of the 3 Win/Menu keys.  Hold Alt, press Win/Menu, release the Win/Menu, release Alt.  This  sticks the Win/Menu key.  Releasing Alt before Win/Menu does not do this.

If you want to check this out I suggest that you use Aqua's Key Test.

[kb_jockey]

Are there any of these HID Liberation Devices still available, I am interested in getting a couple if the postage to Australia is not to much.

Cheers,

kb_jockey

[bpiphany]

We need some place to talk about your firmware, bp... There are some things that I don't have enough know-how to deal with that it would be nice to share and get opinions on, makes no sense to do it  in this thread. 

I don't know what kind of resources there are on github to discuss, I didn't see any forum at a quick glance. But I guess a thread here would do as well. I've started some wiki pages regarding the controller on the deskthority wiki.

That said, I've crashed the KB a number of times with the way I type.  Something about the right shift and an all-caps word or phrase.  Haven't pinned it down yet, for all I know I am transitioning from the left shift to the right fast enough to hit the bootloader. 

This reboot condition can be changed quite easily, to include more keys, or to something completely different. Or just remove it altogether and use the magnet switch to reset the controller.

I think that my space bar switch is causing an occasional double space.

This I have experienced myself. With space in particular (only space actually I think), I don't know if the de-bouncing time needs to be increased perhaps.

Another interesting thing is that I can get the KB to register both Win keys and the Menu key as down by using them with the Alt-key.  Either Alt can do it to any of the 3 Win/Menu keys.  Hold Alt, press Win/Menu, release the Win/Menu, release Alt.  This  sticks the Win/Menu key.  Releasing Alt before Win/Menu does not do this.

Nothing like this ever happened to me as far as I know. Honestly I'm not using the latest firmware much. I should probably update my regular keyboard to use it as well to see if I can catch any bugs. Keys sticking in firmware sounds very odd in general, since they should be released by themselves very quickly if not registering as pressed. An actual hardware error (bad solder joint) wouldn't really explain it either. That should rather make the key flicker on and off. I would guess this is an OS issue (or OS-firmware compatibility issue at least).

If you want to check this out I suggest that you use Aqua's Key Test.

I still suggest using a proper OS No, seriously, that seems odd, and of course it should work on all OSs. I haven't experienced anything like that myself. I use the Gnome "Show Layout Chart" for testing purposes.

[bpiphany]

Are there any of these HID Liberation Devices still available, I am interested in getting a couple if the postage to Australia is not to much.

Cheers,

kb_jockey

Postage to Australia is the same as every other non-EU country =) But I am seriously considering only sending out units to the ones that made it onto the list (which is no longer available online, but safe on my computer...). I need to redesign this to use automatic production. It's taking way to long for me to do it by hand. And there are other keyboard models which would be interesting to support as well. I at least need some sort of break from producing more units. But I've got material to produce more than the interest check was for. Although people are ordering more than they said. I've already sent out more than what was asked for

[alaricljs]

If you want to check this out I suggest that you use Aqua's Key Test.

I still suggest using a proper OS No, seriously, that seems odd, and of course it should work on all OSs. I haven't experienced anything like that myself. I use the Gnome "Show Layout Chart" for testing purposes.

My main is Windows so I can play games.  Work laptop, personal servers, and most of what I do professionally is Unix.  I don't touch Gnome or KDE tho.  All my access to these is remote from my main tho except the rare occasions that I go to the office.  When they have a good mimo matrix video switcher then I might consider having a light weight box w/ Linux for my main and only  do games on Win.  As it is I have to support 5 PCs, my server w/ 4 VMs, 2 tablets and a smartphone just at home.  Gaaaaah!!!!

[kb_jockey]

Postage to Australia is the same as every other non-EU country =) But I am seriously considering only sending out units to the ones that made it onto the list (which is no longer available online, but safe on my computer...). I need to redesign this to use automatic production. It's taking way to long for me to do it by hand. And there are other keyboard models which would be interesting to support as well. I at least need some sort of break from producing more units. But I've got material to produce more than the interest check was for. Although people are ordering more than they said. I've already sent out more than what was asked for

Thankyou for the response bpiphany and the work you are doing getting this board out.

I will look at other ways to get started on keyboard programming maybe the GH60 or just commission someone locally to make a HID Liberation Device.

Cheers,

kb_jockey

[TheProfosist]

Ordered and paid thanks a bunch

[TheQsanity]

Is this filco only? could it work for other boards?

[TheProfosist]

Filco TKL only

[TheQsanity]

Filco TKL only

I don't think I will ever get a filco. The price is just to great! There are many other options. I am a Fan of their keyboards though.

[TheProfosist]

Wonding how easy it would be to port phantom firmware over to this.

[alaricljs]

From BP's git the phantom and this are the same thing.  Just a different matrix config file.

[TheProfosist]

From BP's git the phantom and this are the same thing.  Just a different matrix config file.

Alright thanks for the quick response shouldnt be too hard then to get Tranquilites working on this as well

[TheQsanity]

So...I know you just finished the Filco controller and all, but are you planning on doing a QFRapid Controller? If not, may we get the Gerber files to modify the Filco controller?

A QFR one would be nice. Im sure there are s lot of people here with QFRs.

[tjweir]

Mine arrived.  No time to program it now, but it worked perfect as a drop-in replacement.

[Appeac]

So...I know you just finished the Filco controller and all, but are you planning on doing a QFRapid Controller? If not, may we get the Gerber files to modify the Filco controller?

A QFR one would be nice. Im sure there are s lot of people here with QFRs.

Indeed. I sold off my filco after registering interest, and would very much like to buy a QFR. Not enough money in the coffers for another Filco though.

[skriefal]

This should work with a Filco Camo right?

Yep.  Just installed one into a Camo.  Works fine.

[alaricljs]

FYI - this thing cannot cope at all in a noisy environment.  In my running car w/ a crap 400watt power invert I'm getting a ton of random key registrations.  (oh yeah, and wifi and 2 verizon cells, one doing internet the other idling)

[metalliqaz]

You use a Filco in your car?

[alaricljs]

I can't stand laptop keyboards.

[metalliqaz]

Lol just concentrate on driving!

[alaricljs]

LOL...  Parked in my driveway, I'm not nuts.  The one time I was typing in a moving vehicle I wasn't driving anyhow, 1200miles can get awful boring.

[The_Beast]

I got my 2 pre-mades and 1 DIY in the mail today. Wish me luck on my first SMD soldering

[bpiphany]

Lol just concentrate on driving!

No, add more de-bouncing.. =D There is actually none whatsoever on keypresses, only releases. So that could probably help a lot.

[alaricljs]

Um, this was motionless with no typing.  It's NOT a debounce issue.  The same setup works fine 10 feet removed from the car and inverter.

[tjweir]

Has anyone configured their board with multiple layers?
Care to share any info how to do so?

Thanks!

[TheProfosist]

Has anyone configured their board with multiple layers?
Care to share any info how to do so?

Thanks!

will be working on this with tranquilite once i get my controllers.

[tjweir]

Has anyone configured their board with multiple layers?
Care to share any info how to do so?

Thanks!

will be working on this with tranquilite once i get my controllers.

Excellent, I took a look at the source, but I've been using Scala and Haskell for long enough, that all of the C has been pushed out of my brain.

[bpiphany]

Um, this was motionless with no typing.  It's NOT a debounce issue.  The same setup works fine 10 feet removed from the car and inverter.

Call it filtering then =P In software, very similar to de-bouncing anyway. The code as it is considers a key to be pressed as soon as it registers. When it stops registering it needs to do so for a short period of time before actually being consodered released. If you add such a delay to the falling rising edge you should be able to filter out noise as well.

[mkawa]

so you'll only get one press due to emi per unit time instead of 500? hah!

ALUMINUM FOIL, ALARIC. TINFOIL HAT FOR YOUR FILCO

[bpiphany]

so you'll only get one press due to emi per unit time instead of 500? hah!

ALUMINUM FOIL, ALARIC. TINFOIL HAT FOR YOUR FILCO

Well, hopefully the EMI doesn't look like that... If it is bouncing along with a higher frequency than the "de-bouncing" time it should just be filtered out.

It would also be interesting to know how the stock controller handles the same environment...

[dorkvader]

so you'll only get one press due to emi per unit time instead of 500? hah!

ALUMINUM FOIL, ALARIC. TINFOIL HAT FOR YOUR FILCO

I was considering this, but since it's in a car, you won't have earth, and the ground might not be clean enough for a proper faraday cage. Still, can't hurt. I'd back the tinfoil with tape so as to not short out the controller, then ground it to the case (Which should be grounded to the USB shield anyway) Since it's a laptop, it's all probably floating anyway, but sometimes you'll have to take what you can get.

This is one reason why the Data911 KB's are grounded so well, I'm sure.

But the debouncing thing should work as well. The only downside I see is that you won't be able to register extremely quick keypresses, but I take that as a good substitute: You're not that fast.

I do like the magnetic switch for resets.

[alaricljs]

I'll get around to testing that when my fingers aren't froze.

[Index]

I'm interested in one also. Is it too late?

[bpiphany]

ering this, but since it's in a car, you won't have earth, and the ground might not be clean enough for a proper faraday cage. Still, can't hurt. I'd back the tinfoil with tape so as to not short out the controller, then ground it to the case (Which should be grounded to the USB shield anyway) Since it's a laptop, it's all probably floating anyway, but sometimes you'll have to take what you can get.

This is one reason why the Data911 KB's are grounded so well, I'm sure.

But the debouncing thing should work as well. The only downside I see is that you won't be able to register extremely quick keypresses, but I take that as a good substitute: You're not that fast.

I do like the magnetic switch for resets.

Remember you've got a pretty large antenna for that noise in the keyboard itself as well.. And I don't think the case is very well grounded, being plastic and all. Adding shielding should do good no mater if you have a earth ground connection or not. I also have no idea how well shielded the top side of the keyboard is. The plate should certainly help, but there are a lot of holes in it filled with mostly plastic =)

I'm interested in one also. Is it too late?

Not quite sure actually, people have been ordering more than they reported interest for.. I'll add your name to the bottom of the list for now. There may be a version 2 coming out at some point in the future as well, when I've learned how to order assembled ones

[DarkShot]

Just received mine today. Cheers man!

Now I have to learn how to program in function layers

That'll be the fun part.

[Sifo]

Ah I'm really excited to program layers too. I'm so far down the list :S

[esoomenona]

.

[Surreal Killa]

Mine arrived today, I haven't installed it yet though.

[TheProfosist]

Mine still havnt arrived hope their comming soon

[WhiteFireDragon]

Just be patient. bpiphany is a one man army, and SMD soldering them one by one takes time. There were also stock problems with atmega controllers, international shipping to you, and I believe you ordered pretty late in the process.

[TheProfosist]

Yes trust me i understand, I paid a while a go and i believe its shiped now just a waiting game on the post office. I still hope to have it sooner than later,though who wouldnt.

[bpiphany]

Every order that has been paid has been shipped =) Yours exactly a week ago. The USPS has a history of being pretty slow.. =P I sure hope they turn up being so many.. but there should be no reason to start worrying yet.

[alaricljs]

Based on payment time and receipt time, you should be getting yours in around Thursday if they have any consistency.

[Tranquilite]

Wow, those finished PCBs are looking NICE. No wonder the Phantom thread has been so quiet the past month or so. This makes me almost wish I had a Filco.

[bisl]

Out of curiosity, how many of these have gone out the door at this point?