GH60 Satan with HIDDEN USB THUMBDRIVE IN THE CASE! (SECOND ATTEMPT)

[WudUpA]

Hi All,

I'm new at this.  I dont even know if I am posting in the correct place. I apologize if i am not and hopefully you will direct me to the correct place.

I'm posting because I am building a GH60 Satan keyboard.  I haven't received all the parts yet.  I was daydreaming about how I am going to build the keyboard and I got a crazy idea to hide a USB thumbdrive under the keyboard.  I want to wire it so that when you plug in the keyboard, it looks like just the keyboard is connected...but actually, there is a keyboard and thumbdrive connected to the computer. 

To achieve this, I wanted to buy a octopus usb hub, disassemble it for space saving.  Then directly connect it to the PCB.   

Do you think it would be easier to just hardwire the keyboard and skip the pcb modification?

this is a link to the usb hub that i was thinking about putting inside the case and wiring it to the pcb of the keyboard.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-External-Hub-4-ports-High-Speed-Hi-Speed-Octopus-Black-Adapter/131458937648?epid=1400304488&hash=item1e9b903330:g:jkYAAOSw43haH5uc

I am using a datamancer wooden case.  there appears to be plenty of room in the case for something like this to work.  What do you guys think?  Is it possible? 

[Leslieann]

I would think that if you desolder the ports, this would be smaller.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JTSMVQ/ref=asc_df_B071JTSMVQ5355542/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B071JTSMVQ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198064502357&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12606613118008171739&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022941&hvtargid=pla-348303401662

Then use a usb stub style thumbdrives and remove the USB housing:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147454&cm_re=thumbrive-_-20-147-454-_-Product

Between the two, it would fit in almost anything as they would both be little more than PCBs.

[ErgoMacros]

I was looking for something else entirely and came across this...
    http://www.instructables.com/id/HacKeyboard-a-mechanical-keyboard-built-from-scrat/

Includes "Internal 8GB secret storage" Not just you cannot see the thumb-drive on the keyboard, but it doesn't show up as a USB device until you press the right key combination.

He also shows how to repurpose a cheap USB hub.
Good stuff.

Oh, and welcome to Geekhack!

[Leslieann]

Includes "Internal 8GB secret storage" Not just you cannot see the thumb-drive on the keyboard, but it doesn't show up as a USB device until you press the right key combination.

I like that part, though I;m not sure how practical hiding a usb stick in a keyboard really is. It's pretty easy to hide a thumbstick, not so easy to hide or transport a keyboard.

[WudUpA]

I just finished reading that article on the build.  That was awesome!

[kolec94]

if you can solder get a pcb made with a hub chip and wire through it

I would think that if you desolder the ports, this would be smaller.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JTSMVQ/ref=asc_df_B071JTSMVQ5355542/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B071JTSMVQ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198064502357&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12606613118008171739&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022941&hvtargid=pla-348303401662

Then use a usb stub style thumbdrives and remove the USB housing:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147454&cm_re=thumbrive-_-20-147-454-_-Product

Between the two, it would fit in almost anything as they would both be little more than PCBs.

you would want low profile the other way not a full height usb flash drive

[Leslieann]

if you can solder get a pcb made with a hub chip and wire through it

I would think that if you desolder the ports, this would be smaller.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JTSMVQ/ref=asc_df_B071JTSMVQ5355542/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B071JTSMVQ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198064502357&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12606613118008171739&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022941&hvtargid=pla-348303401662

Then use a usb stub style thumbdrives and remove the USB housing:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147454&cm_re=thumbrive-_-20-147-454-_-Product

Between the two, it would fit in almost anything as they would both be little more than PCBs.

you would want low profile the other way not a full height usb flash drive

Almost all modern usb sticks are just a single pcb, often with the usb contacts printed onto the pcb, including these micro ones. The only difference is the length and width of the pcb.

This shows what I'm talking about, this is how small they get when disassembled.


Pics from here (not mine):
http://andrewbirkel.com/6-8-13disassemble-a-mini-flash-drive-sandisk-cruzer-fit/


You could also use one those super slim micro sd card readers which are about as thick as two micro sdcards, allowing you to change it to be swapped out. like this:
https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/339018/Kingston-USB-microSD-High-Capacity-Card/

[kolec94]

if you can solder get a pcb made with a hub chip and wire through it

I would think that if you desolder the ports, this would be smaller.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JTSMVQ/ref=asc_df_B071JTSMVQ5355542/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B071JTSMVQ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198064502357&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12606613118008171739&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022941&hvtargid=pla-348303401662

Then use a usb stub style thumbdrives and remove the USB housing:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147454&cm_re=thumbrive-_-20-147-454-_-Product

Between the two, it would fit in almost anything as they would both be little more than PCBs.

you would want low profile the other way not a full height usb flash drive

Almost all modern usb sticks are just a single pcb, often with the usb contacts printed onto the pcb, including these micro ones. The only difference is the length and width of the pcb.

This shows what I'm talking about, this is how small they get when disassembled.
(Attachment Link)

Pics from here (not mine):
http://andrewbirkel.com/6-8-13disassemble-a-mini-flash-drive-sandisk-cruzer-fit/


You could also use one those super slim micro sd card readers which are about as thick as two micro sdcards, allowing you to change it to be swapped out. like this:
https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/339018/Kingston-USB-microSD-High-Capacity-Card/

micro sd cards would kill usb performance and you still need a a usb hub chip

[Leslieann]

micro sd cards would kill usb performance and you still need a a usb hub chip

Few small thumbsticks transfer much above USB 2.0 speeds, despite claims or the connection, in fact many USB 3.0 sticks have the same chips inside them as the 2.0 version, the only difference is a 3.0 connector, I even have some 2.0 that outperform my cheaper 3.0 sticks especially when transferring large files which cause the 3.0 to start becoming over heated. More importantly this is meant to be discrete and hidden, so I highly doubt large files are the really the intent.

The same applies to sdcard classes, not all created equal, I have some class 4's that easily outperform some class 10s which can saturate a usb 2.0 connection.