Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[swill]

What is this wizardry?

Show Image

That is pretty close to a perfect layout IMO.  You get everything you get from a 104 layout, but in a 75% layout.  Thats a 6x spacebar right?  Can it be easily replaced?  Shouldn't be too hard to get replacement keycaps for this (other than maybe right shift)?

[CPTBadAss]

What is this wizardry?

Show Image

That is pretty close to a perfect layout IMO.  You get everything you get from a 104 layout, but in a 75% layout.  Thats a 6x spacebar right?  Can it be easily replaced?  Shouldn't be too hard to get replacement keycaps for this (other than maybe right shift)?

6x spacebars can be found on some Cherry keyboards I think.

[ithinkimkorean]

Does the post office give me the bubbley envelope when I send keycaps? Do they print out the sticker on front for me? I never sent anything in the post before.

[Melvang]

Can costar stabs be swapped into a board that has plate mount cherry stabs?

Also does the filco maj2 come with cherry or costar?

I would assume that if the stabs will swap that it will require full desoldering?

[SpAmRaY]

Does the post office give me the bubbley envelope when I send keycaps? Do they print out the sticker on front for me? I never sent anything in the post before.

I think you can buy a bubble mailer, I do not think they will give you one. And yes they can print the postage for you. Or you can save a few dollars and do it at home.

[Puddsy]

Can costar stabs be swapped into a board that has plate mount cherry stabs?

Also does the filco maj2 come with cherry or costar?

I would assume that if the stabs will swap that it will require full desoldering?

MJ2 has costar stabs. I don't know about the swapping.

Does the post office give me the bubbley envelope when I send keycaps? Do they print out the sticker on front for me? I never sent anything in the post before.

You have to buy the envelope yourself, but they're not that expensive. I buy mine for $.89

[Photekq]

What is this wizardry?

Show Image

That is pretty close to a perfect layout IMO.  You get everything you get from a 104 layout, but in a 75% layout.  Thats a 6x spacebar right?  Can it be easily replaced?  Shouldn't be too hard to get replacement keycaps for this (other than maybe right shift)?

Looks to be a 5.5x spacebar, not 6x.

Top row : 16(1x)
Bottom row : 6(1.25x) + 3(1x) + spacebar
-> 7.5+3+spacebar
->10.5+spacebar
->10.5+5.5

[ithinkimkorean]

Does the post office give me the bubbley envelope when I send keycaps? Do they print out the sticker on front for me? I never sent anything in the post before.

I think you can buy a bubble mailer, I do not think they will give you one. And yes they can print the postage for you. Or you can save a few dollars and do it at home.

Cool thanks. I'm weird and get nervous if it is my first time doing anything. Even if it is simple.

[Pacifist]

Does the post office give me the bubbley envelope when I send keycaps? Do they print out the sticker on front for me? I never sent anything in the post before.

You buy the packaging and then go up to the guy and he will stamp it and you pay him.
Most post offices have bubble envelopes to buy

[yicaoyimu]

Can costar stabs be swapped into a board that has plate mount cherry stabs?

Also does the filco maj2 come with cherry or costar?

I would assume that if the stabs will swap that it will require full desoldering?

Filco comes with costar stab.

I think Ducky and Filco are very similar structure wise and Ducky have cherry stab so I guess there is a way to swap the stab. Why do you want to swap them though?

[Melvang]

Can costar stabs be swapped into a board that has plate mount cherry stabs?

Also does the filco maj2 come with cherry or costar?

I would assume that if the stabs will swap that it will require full desoldering?

MJ2 has costar stabs. I don't know about the swapping.

Does the post office give me the bubbley envelope when I send keycaps? Do they print out the sticker on front for me? I never sent anything in the post before.

You have to buy the envelope yourself, but they're not that expensive. I buy mine for $.89

Thanks for the info.  I had the wife try the ducky I bought my aunt and she does not like cherry stabs.

Funny not I had her try the flipped space bar.  She set her hands on the keys, typed a word, hit the space bar.  She then jerked her hands up to her chest and let out a not that quiet "EWWW".

[MKULTRA]

Costar and cherry stabs are typically not swappable from my experience.  Depends on the plate.  Most Korean customs only support Cherry PCB mounted stabs, GH60 can support either, or only Cherry depending on which plate you use.  If I recall correctly Costar stabs don't work with LED's

[CPTBadAss]

1) Can costar stabs be swapped into a board that has plate mount cherry stabs?

2) Also does the filco maj2 come with cherry or costar?

1) Holes aren't the same shape (I think) or spacing. When I asked the same question to WFD about modding my FC700R, he showed this.

2) Costar. That's what I have at work.

Wow, you all are snipers. Sniper no sniping!

[Melvang]

Thanks again guys I was wondering about the stab swapping in case the filco I ordered for the wife had cherry stabs.

[Larken]

I recently rebuilt my filco, and was considering to swap in plate mounted cherry stabs instead of going with costar stabs. I can confirm that the stock won't take cherry stabs at all.

[digi]

I'm very tempted to join in on Sprit's 75% GB atm but my question is do I need to solder in diodes and a teensy thingy?

This would be my first project board and I'm a soldering nub, I've only soldered a few Alps switches before, lol.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm very tempted to join in on Sprit's 75% GB atm but my question is do I need to solder in diodes and a teensy thingy?

Honestly don't know. Ask Sprit in his thread. His PCB has an ATMega 32AU controller so no need for a Teensy. I think you might need diodes.

[Photekq]

I'm very tempted to join in on Sprit's 75% GB atm but my question is do I need to solder in diodes and a teensy thingy?

This would be my first project board and I'm a soldering nub, I've only soldered a few Alps switches before, lol.

no, you don't
all the pcbs that sprit is offering are presoldered (you only need to solder the switches)

[digi]

I'm very tempted to join in on Sprit's 75% GB atm but my question is do I need to solder in diodes and a teensy thingy?

This would be my first project board and I'm a soldering nub, I've only soldered a few Alps switches before, lol.

no, you don't
all the pcbs that sprit is offering are presoldered (you only need to solder the switches)

Sold, thanks Photekq, where is everyone getting their switches from?

[CPTBadAss]

I'm very tempted to join in on Sprit's 75% GB atm but my question is do I need to solder in diodes and a teensy thingy?

This would be my first project board and I'm a soldering nub, I've only soldered a few Alps switches before, lol.

no, you don't
all the pcbs that sprit is offering are presoldered (you only need to solder the switches)

Sold, thanks Photekq, where is everyone getting their switches from?

Where are you getting this info from Photekq? Link please. Switches can be found in the classifieds, MK.com, Mouser, and other online electrical components places. There's a list of part numbers in the OP you can use to search for switches if you're not looking in the Classifieds or from 7bit on DT.

[Photekq]

Sold, thanks Photekq, where is everyone getting their switches from?

originative has blues, browns, blacks. mechanicalkeyboards has clears.

Where are you getting this info from Photekq? Link please. Switches can be found in the classifieds, MK.com, Mouser, and other online electrical components places. There's a list of part numbers in the OP you can use to search for switches if you're not looking in the Classifieds or from 7bit on DT.

from here, sir.

*All PCBs are  1.6T Thick PCB, ANSI+ISO, All and All ! SMDs are Factory pre-soldered

[digi]

I was hesitant to post these questions in his GB since they're nubbish questions, thanks capt & photekq.

[digi]

What are the stabilizers called that are in the old Cherry G80 (dolch pac) keyboards called? Also, can those be installed on the 75% pcb I'm getting from Sprit's GB?

[Photekq]

What are the stabilizers called that are in the old Cherry G80 (dolch pac) keyboards called? Also, can those be installed on the 75% pcb I'm getting from Sprit's GB?

Cherry PCB mount. The MX-MiniU does support them, so I am guessing the MX-MiniW will too (the one sprit will be selling)

You should probably ask sprit himself for confirmation drop him a pm or post in the thread

[MKULTRA]

What are the stabilizers called that are in the old Cherry G80 (dolch pac) keyboards called? Also, can those be installed on the 75% pcb I'm getting from Sprit's GB?

Cherry PCB mount. The MX-MiniU does support them, so I am guessing the MX-MiniW will too (the one sprit will be selling)

You should probably ask sprit himself for confirmation drop him a pm or post in the thread

It does, actually that is the only supported stabilizer similar to most other Korean customs.

[swill]

A couple questions...

1) Is it possible to get a drop in replacement controller for my Filco MJ2 TKL to make it programmable?
I have heard of controllers like the 'HID Liberation Device' and 'Pegasus Hoof', but I don't know if either of those are drop in replacements for the filco controller, or how to go about trying to find one if it is.  Does anyone know how I would go about getting a replacement controller for my Filco TKL to make programmable?

2) I know that my Filco has plate mounted switches.  I also know that the filco plate does not have the cutouts that make switch top removal possible without desoldering.  Is there a plate available that I can buy somewhere that will fit my filco tkl that has the cutouts?  Will a Phantom plate work on a Filco?  Was there more than one Phantom plate designed and made?  I saw The_Beast mention in his WTS thread that his Phantom plate has ears.  If the ears do not fit in a filco, can I just use a grinder and remove them?

If I am going to mod my Filco to change the plate so I can easily change switches without desoldering and potentially change the controller so I can make it programmable, is there anything else I need to know?

[MKULTRA]

A couple questions...

1) Is it possible to get a drop in replacement controller for my Filco MJ2 TKL to make it programmable?
I have heard of controllers like the 'HID Liberation Device' and 'Pegasus Hoof', but I don't know if either of those are drop in replacements for the filco controller, or how to go about trying to find one if it is.  Does anyone know how I would go about getting a replacement controller for my Filco TKL to make programmable?

2) I know that my Filco has plate mounted switches.  I also know that the filco plate does not have the cutouts that make switch top removal possible without desoldering.  Is there a plate available that I can buy somewhere that will fit my filco tkl that has the cutouts?  Will a Phantom plate work on a Filco?  Was there more than one Phantom plate designed and made?  I saw The_Beast mention in his WTS thread that his Phantom plate has ears.  If the ears do not fit in a filco, can I just use a grinder and remove them?

If I am going to mod my Filco to change the plate so I can easily change switches without desoldering and potentially change the controller so I can make it programmable, is there anything else I need to know?

I don't know about the first question so I will answer your second question, Phantom plates will fit in your Filco.

[CPTBadAss]

A couple questions...

1) Is it possible to get a drop in replacement controller for my Filco MJ2 TKL to make it programmable?

2) Will a Phantom plate work on a Filco? 

3) Was there more than one Phantom plate designed and made? 

4) I saw The_Beast mention in his WTS thread that his Phantom plate has ears.  If the ears do not fit in a filco, can I just use a grinder and remove them?

5) If I am going to mod my Filco to change the plate so I can easily change switches without desoldering and potentially change the controller so I can make it programmable, is there anything else I need to know?

1) Yes, you'll need an HID Liberation Controller. Think you need to hunt the Classifieds for this one. bpiphany has other controllers for a QFR, Rosewill, and Full Size Filco which are for sale here.

2) Yes, MKULTRA is correct.

3) Yes, think we're up to Round 2 of the plates right now. I can't find the links though.

4) Seems like it should be fine, see the discussion here

5) Be careful . Seriously, I don't think there's any thing too crazy you need to know.

[Melvang]

A couple questions...

1) Is it possible to get a drop in replacement controller for my Filco MJ2 TKL to make it programmable?

2) Will a Phantom plate work on a Filco? 

3) Was there more than one Phantom plate designed and made? 

4) I saw The_Beast mention in his WTS thread that his Phantom plate has ears.  If the ears do not fit in a filco, can I just use a grinder and remove them?

5) If I am going to mod my Filco to change the plate so I can easily change switches without desoldering and potentially change the controller so I can make it programmable, is there anything else I need to know?

1) Yes, you'll need an HID Liberation Controller. Think you need to hunt the Classifieds for this one. bpiphany has other controllers for a QFR, Rosewill, and Full Size Filco which are for sale here.

2) Yes, MKULTRA is correct.

3) Yes, think we're up to Round 2 of the plates right now. I can't find the links though.

4) Seems like it should be fine, see the discussion here

5) Be careful . Seriously, I don't think there's any thing too crazy you need to know.

Actually we are up to round three.  Round 1 was aluminum and round 2 plates were stainless

[swill]

A couple questions...

1) Is it possible to get a drop in replacement controller for my Filco MJ2 TKL to make it programmable?

2) Will a Phantom plate work on a Filco? 

3) Was there more than one Phantom plate designed and made? 

4) I saw The_Beast mention in his WTS thread that his Phantom plate has ears.  If the ears do not fit in a filco, can I just use a grinder and remove them?

5) If I am going to mod my Filco to change the plate so I can easily change switches without desoldering and potentially change the controller so I can make it programmable, is there anything else I need to know?

1) Yes, you'll need an HID Liberation Controller. Think you need to hunt the Classifieds for this one. bpiphany has other controllers for a QFR, Rosewill, and Full Size Filco which are for sale here.

2) Yes, MKULTRA is correct.

3) Yes, think we're up to Round 2 of the plates right now. I can't find the links though.

4) Seems like it should be fine, see the discussion here

5) Be careful . Seriously, I don't think there's any thing too crazy you need to know.

I really appreciate you all taking the time to answer my questions.  Thank you for the links, they were very helpful.

I was also wondering what the difference was between the 'HID Liberation Device' and the 'Pegasus Hoof' and I found this in one of the threads you linked.

Pegasus Hoof different than HID Liberation Device?

32U2 instead of 32U4.

I think I was reading somewhere (probably the Epsilon thread) that the 32U4 was better.  I think it has more memory or something?  I think I read somewhere that some of the firmware only supports one of those.  I think it was jdcarpe who mentioned it and it was probably regarding the TMK firmware.  I will need to do some more research on this.  Looking at one of the screenshots from the keymap tool that came out of the Epsilon project, it appears that his tool supports both, but I will have to confirm that.

Thanks for getting me going on that...

@Capt'n: I saw in one of your links that you were planning to attempt to mod your stock filco plate with a dremel to add the cutouts.  Did you end up doing that, and if so, how did it work out?  Anything worth noting?

Thanks for the help guys.  Im off to do more research... 

[CPTBadAss]

I was also wondering what the difference was between the 'HID Liberation Device' and the 'Pegasus Hoof' and I found this in one of the threads you linked.

HID only works for the Filco TKL boards. Pegasus Hoof only works for the full size Filcos.

@Capt'n: I saw in one of your links that you were planning to attempt to mod your stock filco plate with a dremel to add the cutouts.  Did you end up doing that, and if so, how did it work out?  Anything worth noting?

Thanks for the help guys.  Im off to do more research... 

I haven't done it because I've decided I'm keeping my Filco switches stock. Just going to drop in a new controller. Sorry I didn't do anything else. Feel free to ask more questions when you stumble upon things XD.'

And I'm happy to help, you're welcome!

[swill]

I was also wondering what the difference was between the 'HID Liberation Device' and the 'Pegasus Hoof' and I found this in one of the threads you linked.

HID only works for the Filco TKL boards. Pegasus Hoof only works for the full size Filcos.

Are you sure?  This post and this post seem to imply that it works on the Filco TKL.  However, I am not sure which firmwares work with either yet.  Still researching...

Edit: I wonder if there might be different versions of those controllers with different capabilities.

[CPTBadAss]

Oh crap you're right. I didn't realize he released an upgrade. My bad man!

[swill]

Oh crap you're right. I didn't realize he released an upgrade. My bad man!

No worries.    You have been extremely helpful.  You linked a different post in that thread which is what got me to that info to start with.   

[neunelfer]

Does the Geekhackers PS2 to USB converter make keyboards hot-swappable?

[CPTBadAss]

Does the Geekhackers PS2 to USB converter make keyboards hot-swappable?

I've only tested it on my SSK so YMMV but it makes my SSK hot-swappable.

[neunelfer]

Does the Geekhackers PS2 to USB converter make keyboards hot-swappable?

I've only tested it on my SSK so YMMV but it makes my SSK hot-swappable.

Cool, thanks.

[ValerieV]

Does anyone know if the keyboard rooftops for the ten keyless keyboards fit the CoolerMaster keyboards? Elitekeyboards sells them and i was thinking of picking one up. Thanks. 

[stancato9]

Excuse the ignorance but what are these keycaps?

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/y3ma/2012-08-16111408.jpg

[CPTBadAss]

Excuse the ignorance but what are these keycaps?

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/y3ma/2012-08-16111408.jpg

Usually referred to as White on Beige. Can get em off old Cherry boards or new From Originative.

[Photekq]

Excuse the ignorance but what are these keycaps?

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/y3ma/2012-08-16111408.jpg

Original Cherry black on beige w/ SP moogle kit... Originative sells a GMK version (exact replica, same moulds) that comes with a GMK moogle kit.

Beat me to it cpt

[stancato9]

I figured they were cherry. Thanks guys.

[5traus]

Really dumb question, but i have a kbt race keyboard and i noticed the ece switch on the bottom of the board. What does this switch do?

[Puddsy]

Really dumb question, but i have a kbt race keyboard and i noticed the ece switch on the bottom of the board. What does this switch do?

Good on you for asking.

I have no idea what it does!

DON'T FLIP IT WHILE YOUR KEYBOARD IS PLUGGED IN.

:3

[CPTBadAss]

Really dumb question, but i have a kbt race keyboard and i noticed the ece switch on the bottom of the board. What does this switch do?

See this picture. It's dip switches that let you change the functionality of the board.

[stancato9]

What type of resistors are needed for LEDs with:
Forward Voltage (V) : 3.0 ~ 3.2

[nubbinator]

What type of resistors are needed for LEDs with:
Forward Voltage (V) : 3.0 ~ 3.2

Assuming 30mA, a 68 Ohm resistor.  If it's 20mA, 120 Ohm.  USB is 5v, so that's the voltage you're dropping down from.

Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  Those are the numbers I've worked off of when doing my own non-keyboard LED stuff, so I just calculated it on the voltage USB provides.

[stancato9]

What type of resistors are needed for LEDs with:
Forward Voltage (V) : 3.0 ~ 3.2

Assuming 30mA, a 68 Ohm resistor.  If it's 20mA, 120 Ohm.  USB is 5v, so that's the voltage you're dropping down from.

Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  Those are the numbers I've worked off of when doing my own non-keyboard LED stuff, so I just calculated it on the voltage USB provides.

This is the link that I bought from.

For some reason the mA they draw is not listed :S

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/100pcs-2x3x4mm-Rectangle-White-Water-Clear-LED-Light-Leds-/320999089508?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abd096564&_uhb=1

[nubbinator]

Those should be 20mA.

[stancato9]

Well if you compare with a similar LED such as here:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/100pcs-2x3x4mm-Pink-Water-Clear-LED-Lamp-With-12V-Free-Resistors-234P-td-/390631308376?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5af370bc58&_uhb=1

These say they have a current rating of 30mA and I assumed pink and white are on a similar scale.