Compaq MX11800 trackball

[Phaedrus2129]

Just opened up my new Compaq MX-11800 keyboard which I got from Bitflipper. It's in great condition, especially considering it sat on my porch in New Orleans for four days while I was in Ohio.

I'm really liking it, only have two problems:

1.) The spacebar switch is really heavy. It's an MX gray or green or whatever? It's ridiculously heavy, and I'm probably going to swap it for the brown under the Pause key.

2.) The trackball isn't working. I've tried it both through the USB adapter and straight into the motherboard, and it won't do anything. But the BIOS reports "1 keyboard, 2 mice". Is it an OS issue?

[Oqsy]

I've always had issues with my MX11800's trackball, on multiple systems with different OS'S, including NT4, XP home, 2K, 98, and XP Pro.  I'd say it's a hardware issue, most likely a crap solder joint somewhere, and given the number of dead trackballs in these things, I'd say it was a widespread issue.  I'm currently looking for a donor device for a replacement so I can get my MX11800 back up to 100% for the Frankenstein style mods I have in mind for it.  I have access to a dead SpeechMikePro that still has a working trackball unit, so I'll be checking the specs on that soon.  With any luck it will fit with little / no case modification and provide at least some source of parts for these boards (although you'd want an otherwise dead SpeechMikePro, because those things are EXPENSIVE!)  My hope is that it will also be a higher quality ball mechanism, but that's not all that likely.  In any case, I suspect we're dealing with poor quality control on the trackball in an otherwise decent board(Logitech device in a Cherry board... bummer).

[Phaedrus2129]

Bummer.

[Rajagra]

given the number of dead trackballs in these things, I'd say it was a widespread issue.

I've used literally hundreds of these in server racks and never seen them develop a fault. My guess is they are vulnerable to damage when they are hot plugged.

At some locations we did hot plug them, but into a Compaq breakout box at the front of the cabinet - we theorized that the breakout boxes had some kind of surge protection built in to prevent damage to the keyboard or server.

[Otterclock]

The trackball on my Compaq seemed to work ok when I had it plugged in. I noticed the slightly heavier space bar, but it wasn't stiff enough to be a bother. That's what she said, etc.

Honestly it just feels sorta like low force, high quality rubber dome board where the keys bottom out against plastic instead of silicone. Not a bad thing by any means, but they don't have the standout character of blues (which also I am not in love with). I just can't see spending $100+ for them.

[bitflipper]

This board was working when it left. I tested it with a ps/2 to usb adapter and made sure the trackball was working. I'd say try a different adapter if you have one handy. Otherwise, I'll refund your money and apologize for the bad board.

[Oqsy]

I added brown stems to my mx11900 board while keeping the springs from the black switches, and it seems to make the tactile bump more pronounced while all but eliminating bottoming out of the switches.  The only exceptions being the keys I have a natural tendency to press too hard, such as "s" and the space bar.  I recommend this mod to anyone looking for the quiet tactility of a brown with without the mushiness of the light springs.

As for the breakout box, the board I inherited from work didn't seem to have one, but it could have been that it just died and was never replaced, as the keyboard and mouse cables were attached to a cheap KVM that did NOT look like it was supplied stock with the server rack...  This was most likely the cause of the dead trackball in my case now that I think about it.

[Phaedrus2129]

Got it to work. Apparently it just won't hotplug consistently, you have to shut down the machine, plug it in, then start.



Out of curiosity, what is it made of? Is the housing ABS or PVC or what? And are the caps polystyrene, or...?

[kishy]

you have to shut down the machine, plug it in, then start.

Without meaning to rub anything in, this is technically required of ALL PS/2 devices. The standard never allowed for hotplugging and regardless of the device or behaviour that some people may or may not experience, consistently or otherwise, nothing can be plugged into a PS/2 port with power on without risking the motherboard and the keyboard in the process.

Doesn't stop me doing it, but first thing I do when I get an issue with a PS/2 device I hotplugged is reboot. I've not once actually damaged something through hotplugging but it's bound to happen eventually.

[Phaedrus2129]

Got it; not gonna do that anymore.

[bitflipper]

Hey, glad you found the issue. I used to have a PS/2 mouse with a bad cord. It would lock up my Win98 machine when the cord was moved to a position where it lost contact with the PS/2 bus. The original MS optical mice were notorious for having this weak cord issue.

Then Ajay Bhatt came along and invented USB. Thanks, Ajay.

These days, I use a Targus port replicator which does allow you to hotplug the KB and mouse.

[bitflipper]

You've overesimated my dongle. It's this one:

[Phaedrus2129]

It isn't the size that matters, it's how you use it.

[itlnstln]

His dongle is male and female at the same time.  Very open minded.

It's a "hemaphrodongle."