Poker DIY kit - EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT GEEKHACK ! ! !

[jdcarpe]

^ They were just talking about the ridiculous price I had originally quoted for soldering services, which I have since adjusted to a fair value.

The company I work for charges $120/hr for technical services, so I didn't know how outrageous the price quoted would seem.

[dirge]

How much would UK shipping be?

[Djuzuh]

The compagny you work for has to pay taxes, secretaries/bureautics, research and developpement, locals, furnitures and equippement, and all the time the employee spend not directly working for a client .

We suppose you have a home and equipement for yourself which are already paid off or that you are working for, and are only doing this to help somebody out ^^. So what you should charge for is only your time.

[leehunz]

seriously considering purchasing this wonderful kit.

i wanna see the aluminum case and i am wondering how much it will cost to ship to S.Korea.

is the case anodized?

[jdcarpe]

The compagny you work for has to pay taxes, secretaries/bureautics, research and developpement, locals, furnitures and equippement, and all the time the employee spend not directly working for a client .

We suppose you have a home and equipement for yourself which are already paid off or that you are working for, and are only doing this to help somebody out ^^. So what you should charge for is only your time.

You're exactly right, of course. I wish I would have thought of that before I posted my original quote and made myself seem like an ass.

I'm good at soldering, but I suck at setting prices.

[DanGWanG]

This is going to sound stupid but what is "4x tape" for?

Probably grips.

[rhune]

Would it be possible to order this WITHOUT the aluminum case? Looked through the thread and didn't see anyone else ask..

[boost]

This is going to sound stupid but what is "4x tape" for?

Grips

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[lan123]

Grips

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

lol... nice.

[elton5354]

What size are the LED bulbs if I want to add them to each switch? 2mm?

EDIT: Ok thanks
I guess these will work

[alaricljs]

3mm.  I don't think there is a 2mm leaded LED standard.  Not enough room for leads.

[captain]

Ah, so in escape mode there's no way to pass ~ then?

I suppose it's not the end of the world unless you play games where console access is required.  At least it's not a commonly used key.

In unix environment it certainly is a commonly used key!  I use tilde way more than I use ESC.  Also, I can relearn where the ESC is, but I don't want to relearn my ~ key.  Is there *really no way* to map this board to work properly?  What's the scoop with the Pure?  I am assuming they are basically the same.

Also, I must be very confused here.  Why is a fully manufactured Poker about $100, but a KIT costs $80 more and doesn't even include switches?!?  Obviously, I'm missing something critical here.  Thanks for cluing me in.  :-)

[Djuzuh]

the case is in alu, not plastic.

[fstop]

Also, I must be very confused here.  Why is a fully manufactured Poker about $100, but a KIT costs $80 more and doesn't even include switches?!?  Obviously, I'm missing something critical here.  Thanks for cluing me in.  :-)

Alu case and 2x PCBs?

[hashbaz]

In unix environment it certainly is a commonly used key!  I use tilde way more than I use ESC.  Also, I can relearn where the ESC is, but I don't want to relearn my ~ key.  Is there *really no way* to map this board to work properly?  What's the scoop with the Pure?  I am assuming they are basically the same.

I have a thread about this here.  It's the Poker's single biggest drawback IMO.  I ended up remapping tilde to the menu key with xmodmap.

[captain]

Well, come to think of it, I actually probably use ESC as often as ~, since I'm an old school vi nerd.  Someone should invent a flip-out ESC key, so we can keep the small footprint, but have that ESC key up there where it belongs.  I like how the Poker/Pure retains the arrow keys.  I have little need of the six-pack over there, nor of the Function keys, most of the time.

I'm still bemused how this costs $80 more than a factory built keybaord with switches, just for an Al case.  That's just freaky weird.  Even Heathkit didn't charge EXTRA for the kit version!  (and they certainly would include ALL of the necessary parts)  :-P

BTW, what is the weight difference between the Al and ABS cases?  I would assume that the plastic is lighter, so I'm further bemused by the desire for an Al case.  It seems like ABS withstands abuse better.  Al dents!  ;-)

Sorry if this sounds like threadcrapping.  I'm truly curious about the appeal.  Maybe with the right explanation I'll change my mind.  I would like to try a Pure out!  especially one with PINK LEDs.  ;-)

[hashbaz]

...since I'm an old school vi nerd.

Finally -- something we can agree on, captain.

[captain]

Finally -- something we can agree on, captain.

LOL!  Yay!  :-)   We should grab a beer this summer when I'm in SF, and see if we really are diametrically opposed, or just fail in the computer mediated communication.


Ok, I think I'm seeing the appeal of the kit here.  This is a geekhack EXCLUSIVE deal, right?  So it's a justifiable exclusivity tax, since ONLY the few, the rich, the geekhack, will have one?  That at least makes sense to me.  :-D

[demik]

KMAC practice board!

[captain]

KMAC?  http://www.kentuckyarts.org/

[snowboarder3]

In unix environment it certainly is a commonly used key!  I use tilde way more than I use ESC.  Also, I can relearn where the ESC is, but I don't want to relearn my ~ key.  Is there *really no way* to map this board to work properly?  What's the scoop with the Pure?  I am assuming they are basically the same.

Also, I must be very confused here.  Why is a fully manufactured Poker about $100, but a KIT costs $80 more and doesn't even include switches?!?  Obviously, I'm missing something critical here.  Thanks for cluing me in.  :-)

I'm pretty sure the bug only occurs when you are in "esc mode", with esc the primary and ~ the fn, but with ~ as primary adn esc as fn it works fine. Someone whos typing on one confirm please, I just use mine at school.

[hashbaz]

I'm pretty sure the bug only occurs when you are in "esc mode", with esc the primary and ~ the fn, but with ~ as primary adn esc as fn it works fine. Someone whos typing on one confirm please, I just use mine at school.

This is true, IIRC.  Problem is with vim under a UNIX environment you need both Esc and ~ constantly.  Even if Fn-Esc produced ~ in escape mode, it would still suck.

[metafour]

I've been using Ctrl-[ for escape in vim. And then I used a program to map that outside of vim too. Escape/~ problem solved!

I so would have bought this if my clutch didn't start slipping today. =|

[mSSM]

In regards to that Esc/Tilda problem, read my post here:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22474-Linux-vim-and-the-Poker-s-escape-tilde-combination&p=586787&viewfull=1#post586787

Simply remove Caps_Lock and use it as Control (like the HHKB), and use Control_L as Escape. Problem solved! (this solution works so well for me that this might actually stop me from getting an HHKB for I'd miss the bottom left key there...)

[limmy]

Um maybe this question was already addressed and I just missed it, but does this kit include the stabilizers?

If the kit includes
2 PCBs and 1 aluminum case,
and if one only have to solder switches(purchased separately) and add key caps to make a working keyboard,
does it mean the kit includes stabilizers?

I would think so, but I do not find any stabilizers in the pics of the PCBs.

[mkawa]

dude, i will totally solder up someone's board for their extra pcb. good idea whoever had that idea.

actually, it looks like i only want PCBs. anyone want to split their order?

[iMav]

See updated first post for plate mount option and stabilizer spring sets.

I'll add switch options once I receive pricing.

Anything else I'm missing??

[mkawa]

does the plate mount option include a plate? or is it just a pcb with holes for plate mount switches?

also, pcb only options?

finally, the perennial problem with cherry stabilizer designs is finding pcb mount cherry stabilizers.. (kmac kits need these too)

[iMav]

Spring set should be the same stabilizers that come with a fully assembled Poker today.

Finding out what is included in plate mount kit now...

[reaper]

I would be interested in just the plate mount and stabilizer, spring set then.  =)

[tsangan]

I would be interested in just the plate mount and stabilizer, spring set then.  =)

I'm down for that

[reaper]

Yeah.  Already have 2 Pokers. lol  Don't really need another one.  Now we can do 1 plate mount and 1 PCB mount. =P

[tsangan]

plate just goes on top of existing poker or we have to desolder everything?

[WRXChris]

plate just goes on top of existing poker or we have to desolder everything?

desolder EVERYTHING

[mkawa]

lol i'm fine with selling some of my pokers off in exchange for better pokers

[limmy]

Poker needs LEDs and there are whole different kinds of LEDs out there. I purchased some random LEDs on ebay and it was not as bright as the one already installed. (I believe the resisters are configured to LEDs.)

If you can also supply LED parts that would be great or you could at least give us the details of the specs of the LEDs so we could purchase it ourselves.

[WRXChris]

Blue, White, Green, Pink, and Purple LEDs all have similar voltage drops (~3.3V), so assuming you use a standard 20mA LED, you should have no problem with using any of those colors since the resistance of each LED circuit was designed for ~3.3V LEDs.  

Yellow, Red, and Orange, on the other hand only use 2V, so if you wanted to use those colors you would need to add some resistance to the LED circuit to prevent burning out your LEDs.

[iMav]

See updated first post with pics of stabilizer kit and plate mount kit.

[mkawa]

take. my. money.

[WRXChris]

Blue, White, Green, Pink, and Purple LEDs all have similar voltage drops (~3.3V), so assuming you use a standard 20mA LED, you should have no problem with using any of those colors since the resistance of each LED circuit was designed for ~3.3V LEDs.  

Yellow, Red, and Orange, on the other hand only use 2V, so if you wanted to use those colors you would need to add some resistance to the LED circuit to prevent burning out your LEDs.

I just measured my Poker's LEDs and they are ~2.8V.  That would explain why limmy had dim LED problems; you were probably using LEDs that required a higher voltage and there is too much resistance on the circuit to light the LEDs you were using.  The solution would be to either find ~2.8V LEDs or to figure out which resistors are on the LED circuits and change the resistance on the circuit (assuming there is enough voltage to go around sans resistance).  I haven't traced the resistors on the board or measured their resistance, but it looks like R15 is the Esc and Caps lock resistor.  Clearly the other 5 LEDs are on a different circuit, as they have a different brightness which means different resistance and/or voltage.

[elton5354]

So I can't just solder 61 LEDs onto the Poker I bought from Ebay?

[WRXChris]

So I can't just solder 61 LEDs onto the Poker I bought from Ebay?

No, the board is only wired for the 7 switches that come with LEDs from the factory.  You would have to wire up your LEDs separately, and I have no idea what that circuit would look like other than a rat's nest under your PCB.

[kaiserreich]

The plate looks like it is meant for the PURE.
Look at the Right Shift slot.

[jinzo.pk3]

any chance of buying PCBs separately?

[limmy]

I just measured my Poker's LEDs and they are ~2.8V.  That would explain why limmy had dim LED problems; you were probably using LEDs that required a higher voltage and there is too much resistance on the circuit to light the LEDs you were using.  The solution would be to either find ~2.8V LEDs or to figure out which resistors are on the LED circuits and change the resistance on the circuit (assuming there is enough voltage to go around sans resistance).  I haven't traced the resistors on the board or measured their resistance, but it looks like R15 is the Esc and Caps lock resistor.  Clearly the other 5 LEDs are on a different circuit, as they have a different brightness which means different resistance and/or voltage.

Thanks for the info! That explains. I was blaming Chinese ebay seller for low quality / off spec LEDs for some time, but I should update my belief now. The LEDs were advertised to be super bright.


I guess it would be safe to purchase the LEDs from the vendor unless you know about LEDs like WRXChris.

[WRXChris]

Thanks for the info! That explains. I was blaming Chinese ebay seller for low quality / off spec LEDs for some time, but I should update my belief now. The LEDs were advertised to be super bright.


I guess it would be safe to purchase the LEDs from the vendor unless you know about LEDs like WRXChris.

I am not an EE expert, so hopefully someone with more experience than I will chime in, but it sounds like the super bright LEDs you bought required >20mA which would throw off the whole Ohm's law equation.

I've been racking my brain for the past couple hours, and based on my limited EE knowledge and the assumption that the Caps Lock and Esc LEDs are on their own circuit with R15 (which is 1500ohms, I looked up the code of the SMD resistor), the LED circuit for those 2 keys looks something like this:

http://www.falstad.com/circuit/#%24+1+5.0E-6+10.20027730826997+50+5.0+50%0Aw+272+96+352+112+0%0Ar+352+112+432+128+0+1500.0%0AR+272+96+240+48+0+0+40.0+35.6+0.0+0.0+0.5%0A162+432+128+432+224+1+3.2+0.0+0.0+1.0%0A162+432+224+432+320+1+3.2+0.0+0.0+1.0%0Ag+432+320+368+400+0%0A

I am under the impression that any 20mA LEDs that require ~3.3V should work on this circuit without modifying the resistance, which as I mentioned before includes blue, white, purple, green, and pink LEDs (just be sure that they are 20mA, and 3mm for proper fitment).

Keep in mind that this circuit is only supplying the LEDs with ~2.8V so they won't be lit up to full brightness which would require ~3.3V, so some colors may work better than others.  I don't have enough experience with LEDs to know which colors are brightest under low-voltage conditions.  Also, the right shift/ctrl/menu/win/space LED circuit which I haven't even began to analyze measured a ~2.7V drop across the LEDs, which explains why they are dimmer than Esc  & caps lock, but this also means that circuit has greater resistance and/or lower Voltage in, and the other colors could potentially be dimmer than the original blue LEDs unless you lower the resistance.

[net2522]

I'm guessing Vortex guys has no labor to assembly his products. So, he's change strategy by selling a DIY kit.

[iMav]

I'm guessing Vortex guys has no labor to assembly his products. So, he's change strategy by selling a DIY kit.

No.  This is a offering specifically tailored for hobbyist geekhack members.  If you want a fully-assembled Poker, then this isn't the group buy for you.

[net2522]

I just guessing. I'm apologise for that sorry.

[limmy]

The plate doesn't seem to match Poker's layout (right shift). Is it going to be updated?

Is there some way to secure the plate or is it going to be floating in the air only supported by the switches?