| Date | Changes |
| 26/06/2023 | Added two new questions to the IC form about the interest of a 6.25u bottom row, as discussed. |
As an ISO user, this is the PCB I've been looking for for a while. Count me in for at least one for my Frog. GLWIC!
ISO ftw! Completely support your initiative!
Cool project, hope this hits MOQ.
-FF
what a great idea, and big respect for taking it upon yourself to bring this to the community. GLWIC!
Is this for sure Frog TKL compatible and with other Geonworks TKLs? I understand that the flipped HS sockets on the bottom row mean it in theory isn't.
I ran a small GB (<50 units) for a similar thing to this but ISO only in order to avoid the sideways sockets problem and we had to keep a fixed 7u (1.5, 1, 1.5, 7, 1.5, 1, 1.5) bottom row in order to be compatible with Frogs and other Geon boards. (Discord link, need to be in Geon's server.) (https://discord.com/channels/743801649377574924/1063102429412991038/1063109428766838955)
Regardless of the above, as an ISO diehard too I'm really happy to see this. Good luck!
The specs on this PCB are really great — dual DB compatibility is remarkably considerate!
Only including the scroll lock LED is an unusual choice though, considering how deprecated that function is. If it were me, I'd either remove it or maybe swap/add an ESC LED?
Would you offer the PCB plain but solid colour, like all red?
Is this for sure Frog TKL compatible and with other Geonworks TKLs? I understand that the flipped HS sockets on the bottom row mean it in theory isn't.
I ran a small GB (<50 units) for a similar thing to this but ISO only in order to avoid the sideways sockets problem and we had to keep a fixed 7u (1.5, 1, 1.5, 7, 1.5, 1, 1.5) bottom row in order to be compatible with Frogs and other Geon boards. (Discord link, need to be in Geon's server.) (https://discord.com/channels/743801649377574924/1063102429412991038/1063109428766838955)
Regardless of the above, as an ISO diehard too I'm really happy to see this. Good luck!
Thanks for raising this topic. I was not aware that Frog TKL had such low tolerances in the bottom row. I do have access to a couple of Geon boards (but not Frog specifically) so I will make some tests on my side that I would share before GB moves forward (if it goes forward, of course).
It will be a shame if we reduce the allowed bottom row options because that is one of the key factors of this PCB. However, what we can do maybe is to have a variation of the PCB with a fixed tsagan bottom row.
Do you guys think that would make sense?
It will make things harder in terms of price (MOQ might be more challenging) but it is a possibility.
For the small GB I mentioned we chose to stick to 7u/tsangan bottom row on the basis that's what other compatible PCBs are, like Gondolindrim's HS ANSI board with the long name. In my opinion not many people use 6.2u bottom row for a TKL form factor - but I appreciate that you really want tons of flexibility and compatibility options here. I'm honestly not sure about it myself. In my case I just figured since existing designs didn't support it there was probably a good reason why, though we didn't investigate specifically.
Might be worth adding an IC question to see who builds 7u vs. 6.25u bottom rows, to help inform you here?
For the small GB I mentioned we chose to stick to 7u/tsangan bottom row on the basis that's what other compatible PCBs are, like Gondolindrim's HS ANSI board with the long name. In my opinion not many people use 6.2u bottom row for a TKL form factor - but I appreciate that you really want tons of flexibility and compatibility options here. I'm honestly not sure about it myself. In my case I just figured since existing designs didn't support it there was probably a good reason why, though we didn't investigate specifically.
Might be worth adding an IC question to see who builds 7u vs. 6.25u bottom rows, to help inform you here?
Thanks again for your feedback. I tried to check if I could have only the 6.25u bottom row with the north-facing hotswap sockets, which would facilitate price-wise, but unfortunately is not possible. My temptation is to have two versions, one with a 7u bottom row only where the bottom row switches are all as south-facing, and another one with more compatibility (the 6.25u) but including north-facing switches as well. This way, the folks that are concerned about tolerances on the bottom row would have a more safe choice to go with. The main disadvantage will be affecting the price.
I've added two more questions to the IC so that people can manifest if they are interested in a 6.25u bottom row and with which boards they are planning to use this PCB.
Thanks, everyone, and let's see if we can make this happen.
Arguably at that point you may as well just split it to two SKUs: one with a fixed 7u bottom row and the other with a fixed 6.25u - it's not like someone could use a bit of one and a bit of the other.
Arguably at that point you may as well just split it to two SKUs: one with a fixed 7u bottom row and the other with a fixed 6.25u - it's not like someone could use a bit of one and a bit of the other.
That said I think you're right to be very price-conscious, though also think you should test with a few Geon boards. Geon makes a pretty big amount of the hobby's TKLs (at least the ones consistently in stock and thus likely for people to own). I have a Frog TKL and would be happy to test this for you but I'm in the UK, so I assume you can probably find someone closer!
Any updates?
Did you verify that the ISO enter stab works with that ANSI enter socket rotation?
Well done!
Would be nice to see this eventually roll as an in stock product thats available.
<3