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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: thoere on Mon, 01 July 2013, 18:12:52

Title: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: thoere on Mon, 01 July 2013, 18:12:52
So I purchased a QFR (unbranded, blues) that the seller said was broken. It is only about 4 months old. I opened it up to find that the Mini-usb port was plugged in only 3/4 of the way to the PCB. Quickly fixed this and then plugged in the keyboard. Still did not work, BUT the microcontroller is heating up. Not recognized on the computer yet. What is happening, and how can I fix it?
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 01 July 2013, 18:28:56
uM.. check for broken traces, cracks in the pcb,  check the pins on the controller board, make sure the pins are all soldered down and non are shorting.

um... check the usb breakout daughter board for shorts.
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:04:25
Fried controller board.
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: thoere on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:11:49
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:17:54
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

I have the same problem :(
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: BucklingSpring on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:27:48
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

I wonder if they void the warranty when you buy a replacement top panel and install it.
http://www.cmstore-usa.com/quickfire-rapid-replacement-top-panel/ (http://www.cmstore-usa.com/quickfire-rapid-replacement-top-panel/)

If so, that's quite nasty.
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:29:23
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

Stupid question - Isn't CM who sells replacement covers?
If so, do you have to break the warranty seal to replace the cover?

They seem to make 'exceptions' for those....
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:29:42
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

Stupid question - Isn't CM who sells replacement covers?
If so, do you have to break the warranty seal to replace the cover?

>:U
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: BucklingSpring on Mon, 01 July 2013, 19:32:54
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

Stupid question - Isn't CM who sells replacement covers?
If so, do you have to break the warranty seal to replace the cover?

They seem to make 'exceptions' for those....

Do you see where I'm heading with this? CM is currently selling them for 10$ :-)
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 01 July 2013, 20:06:25
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

Stupid question - Isn't CM who sells replacement covers?
If so, do you have to break the warranty seal to replace the cover?

They seem to make 'exceptions' for those....

Do you see where I'm heading with this? CM is currently selling them for 10$ :-)

As long as Carter is not viewing this thread ;)
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 01 July 2013, 20:46:50
Fried controller board.
Yeah, this seems to be the problem. Too bad CM Storm won't grant me an RMA because the warranty seal is broken  :(

Stupid question - Isn't CM who sells replacement covers?
If so, do you have to break the warranty seal to replace the cover?

They seem to make 'exceptions' for those....

Do you see where I'm heading with this? CM is currently selling them for 10$ :-)

As long as Carter is not viewing this thread ;)

yea, but how would he know it's YOU... less he's haxing and getting you ip located.. within 20meters
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 02 July 2013, 16:50:20
First of all check that the internal USB cable is seated properly on the PCB, and that it's not plugged in upside down or something. I'm pretty sure that's not the issue, but it pays to check.
Secondly, I would imagine if the cable were only partially seated, the higher resistance and other factors could easily contribute to a controller dying.

Lastly, just wait for someone to make a replacement controller and install that, it'll be better and fixed!

anyway, if you don't want to bother with it, I'll buy it from you. I enjoy fixing broken keyboards.
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: PointyFox on Tue, 02 July 2013, 17:28:09
I'm looking for $68 shipped for MX greens (see http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35155.msg651905#msg651905 ).
I'm also looking for a replacement controller so I can fix it without having to sell it :P
Title: Re: Help with "Broken" QFR
Post by: bazemk1979 on Tue, 02 July 2013, 17:37:28
OP don't assume anything is fried, here is why:

- broken solder joint  on the mini USB
- people reporting the same problem as you, tested it with different USB cable than the CM and problem was fixed
- not really likely, but remove the controller and check for broken solder joints on the pins where the controller attaches to the PCB, the controller is located above the arrow clusters.