Alternate Layout Firmware for Poker II

[Hogesyx]

While looking for a fix for LED state not behaving as per stated in the manual, I came across this firmware on pcwaishe[Chinese Forum].

Original Thread

WARNING:
ISO USERS HAS REPORTED MIX RESULTS AFTER FLASHING.
DO NOT FLASH UNLESS YOU HAVE AN WORKING ISO FIRMWARE BACKUP
(WHICH I DON'T HAVE)

Remarks:
Poker II comes with 4 dip switch, thus allowing 16 different combination.
1) Toggle mode switches shifted from fn+right shift to fn+left shift
2) Pn mode switches sfhited from fn+right ctrl to fn+left ctrl
3) Keys highlighted in RED are the one modifiable by the dip, do note that Win key is Left Win
4) DIP order are flipped(see picture)



Download:
Firmware File (The file you want is Poker II 独立方向键 固件v0.5.bin)
English Firmware Flasher and guide from Vortex

Instructions:
1) Download the firmware file as well as the bundle from Vortext
2) Rename the firmware file a non unicode file name(eg custom_dip_0.5.bin), as the tool does not supports unicode
3) Follow the instructions in the Vortex bundle but use the file you prepared in step 2.
4) On successful flashing, hold fn+r for 12 seconds(or 9 left space bar LED flashes)
5) Do remember your fn and pn are no longer fn and pn anymore, change the DIP settings based on the above chart.

[Oobly]

This is quite awesome. Increases the flexibility of the Poker a whole lot (although it's pretty damn flexible already without this)!

[Tiramisuu]

Not sure how this is better.   

[esoomenona]

.

[spiceBar]

While looking for a fix for LED state not behaving as per stated in the manual, I came across this firmware on pcwaishe[Chinese Forum].
...
...
...

I do not have any Windows computer.

How do I flash the Poker 2?

[Hogesyx]

Don't look like Ikbc has flasher for other platform. Maybe try flashing in a vm?

[dorkvader]

While looking for a fix for LED state not behaving as per stated in the manual, I came across this firmware on pcwaishe[Chinese Forum].
...
...
...

I do not have any Windows computer.

How do I flash the Poker 2?

This is why I keep a windows FLP (lightweight build of XP) box around: there's lots of windows on KB tool. If you need help acquiring an old, cheap computer, and a copy of windows, I can help.

Don't look like Ikbc has flasher for other platform. Maybe try flashing in a vm?

You are probably better off installing it to a flash drive.

[ideus]

Does this firmware could be flashed on a Poker X? Thank you in advance for any feedback.

[kebby]

Any idea whether this works on an ISO layout Poker 2?  Is there any talk of this coming to the Pure Pro or does it have anything similar?

[spiceBar]

While looking for a fix for LED state not behaving as per stated in the manual, I came across this firmware on pcwaishe[Chinese Forum].
...
...
...

I do not have any Windows computer.

How do I flash the Poker 2?

This is why I keep a windows FLP (lightweight build of XP) box around: there's lots of windows on KB tool. If you need help acquiring an old, cheap computer, and a copy of windows, I can help.

Don't look like Ikbc has flasher for other platform. Maybe try flashing in a vm?

You are probably better off installing it to a flash drive.

I could keep a Windows XP partition on one of my linux boxes, but I would use it less than once a year, so I wanted to avoid it.

I have a Windows XP image I can run in a VM, but I don't trust it would work reliably for flashing a firmware. I think it's a recipe for bricking the keyboard. I'll not be the one to tell you if it really bricks it because I'm not going to try anyway.

[tehj0shi]

Any idea whether this works on an ISO layout Poker 2?  Is there any talk of this coming to the Pure Pro or does it have anything similar?

I tried it on my poker II de and it acted all strange and would then just stop typing. So I am not even sure it works at all.

[kebby]

I tried it on my poker II de and it acted all strange and would then just stop typing. So I am not even sure it works at all.

Thanks for subjecting your precious Poker 2 to testing. I believe Caekys stated on reddit that he had tested it so that might be a problem with the ISOs then... or just your Poker 2.

[spiceBar]

I tried it on my poker II de and it acted all strange and would then just stop typing. So I am not even sure it works at all.

Thanks for subjecting your precious Poker 2 to testing. I believe Caekys stated on reddit that he had tested it so that might be a problem with the ISOs then... or just your Poker 2.

Last time an official firmware has been released, people have reported lots of problems. So it could just work on the ISO model, but maybe it's a bug in the firmware or a problem with the flashing process.

I think I'm going to stay away from this because I don't really need to reclaim those two keys anyway.

[Coreda]

The single most annoying feature of the Poker II? The Fn+Shift layer that turns on without any indication. Perhaps not the right thread for it, but wow, the number of times I've unwittingly enabled that mode while using the Caps-as-Fn+WASD combo and wondered for several seconds why certain keys weren't working...

[jackalope]

Nice work

[spiceBar]

The single most annoying feature of the Poker II? The Fn+Shift layer that turns on without any indication. Perhaps not the right thread for it, but wow, the number of times I've unwittingly enabled that mode while using the Caps-as-Fn+WASD combo and wondered for several seconds why certain keys weren't working...

The LED at the left end of the spacebar lights up, as far as I remember, when you activate this Pn mode.

But it's true that this key combination is a bad choice.

Keyboard manufacturers, most of the time, have no idea what they are doing. Except Matias.

That's why we need full programmability now.

[kebby]

Last time an official firmware has been released, people have reported lots of problems. So it could just work on the ISO model, but maybe it's a bug in the firmware or a problem with the flashing process.

Do the ISOs use the same firmware in general?

[Coreda]

The LED at the left end of the spacebar lights up, as far as I remember, when you activate this Pn mode.

Sorry, my mistake - Fn+Space. The light displays with Fn+Shift, but nothing for Fn+Space, which makes no sense as it's very easy to hit during typing (they're actually both too easy to mistakenly activate).

That's why we need full programmability now.

Absolutely. I saw a screenshot of GON's GUI for reprogramming his boards, looks decent.

[dinoxor]

Quick question,

if your fn pn no longer becomes fn pn, then what do they become now?

Thanks,

[Hogesyx]

Last time an official firmware has been released, people have reported lots of problems. So it could just work on the ISO model, but maybe it's a bug in the firmware or a problem with the flashing process.

Do the ISOs use the same firmware in general?

Doubt so, judging by the fact that simple variation requires a different binary. I am updating my post to warn ISO users, thanks to tehj0shi for testing.

Quick question,

if your fn pn no longer becomes fn pn, then what do they become now?

Thanks,

They will become whatever you set your DIP with.

[tehj0shi]

Just a quick update for any adventure seeking to tickle the last bit out of their poker II, I reflashed it with the firmware Vortex-JC posted and it works great again... But I really wished this firmware would work :-( maybe other Poker II ISO rockin' typist will have better luck...

[Hogesyx]

Just a quick update for any adventure seeking to tickle the last bit out of their poker II, I reflashed it with the firmware Vortex-JC posted and it works great again... But I really wished this firmware would work :-( maybe other Poker II ISO rockin' typist will have better luck...

Glad you got it working again.

btw: "Meat Brother" posted a new firmware recently as well, which supports breathing LED. I have yet to test it so I am not sure if it is based on the alternate firmware or the original firmware.

http://pan.baidu.com/s/1hq7UpRe

[tehj0shi]

So I just tested it seems to be working so far even on my ISO. Very cool I just have not figured out the DIP Switches yet they seem not to be exactly like the picture above. Anyways I did get caps to be FN somehow and this was always a dream of mine so to do this via Hardware. Very cool!

[Hogesyx]

So I just tested it seems to be working so far even on my ISO. Very cool I just have not figured out the DIP Switches yet they seem not to be exactly like the picture above. Anyways I did get caps to be FN somehow and this was always a dream of mine so to do this via Hardware. Very cool!

Maybe it follows the original dip configuration? Is your win key the caps lock now?

[kebby]

I can confirm that this works on my ISO Poker II as well so the first problem must have been a fluke. I guess there is no way at all to use Fn and Pn if you set the keys this affects to something else?

This is definitely a nice alternative for me as I disliked the lack of a dedicated Menu key on the Poker II. In terms of being able to just swap around the default keys, the v60 Mini still seems to be more flexible though.

[zshang]

But I still can't swap CapsLock and L_Ctrl ?...

[kohi]

ooh didnt know about this. breathing mode works too o: v cool

[kebby]

How is the breathing mode activated?

[kohi]

How is the breathing mode activated?

just flash the breathing mode firmware using the same program to update firmware, and then fn+v twice. first fn+v should be regular LED mode, and second fn+v should be the breathing mode.

[ChumtheWaters]

So I just tested it seems to be working so far even on my ISO. Very cool I just have not figured out the DIP Switches yet they seem not to be exactly like the picture above. Anyways I did get caps to be FN somehow and this was always a dream of mine so to do this via Hardware. Very cool!

Maybe it follows the original dip configuration? Is your win key the caps lock now?

I tried the breathing LED as well and couldn't figure out the dip switches. If somebody more intelligent than me could take a stab at it I would greatly appreciate it. I have a funny feeling it won't let me get the combination I'm looking for. If I could get breathing mode to work with the same key swaps I have using the alternate setup I would be so stoked. I use 0101 right now which is the following:
Caps=FN
Win=Win
LAlt=Pn
RAlt=Alt

Edit: Switched to and am currently using the Breathing LED setup now. I'm not sure how the programmable layer works in this (having trouble doing things I would normally do with the default firmware). It seems PN+Commands don't work but they work fine in the Pn Lock layer.

[dinoxor]

Finally got this to work and it's great!

used the 0001 layout mapped all of my pn layers as follows:


Didn't realize that the pmode and toggles now uses the left ctrl and shift key.

Thanks again Hogesyx, I no longer need to rely on AutoHotKeys when carrying my poker II around!

[dinoxor]

sorry for constantly reviving a dead thread but everyone should note that the ESC key no longer is the default

esc = `
fn+esc = esc
shift+esc =  ~

:[ oh well nothing AHK can't fix