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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Icte on Fri, 16 August 2013, 07:17:40

Title: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: Icte on Fri, 16 August 2013, 07:17:40
Hey guys!

I've been looking up the HHKB Pro JP lately (I'm an ISOist so big Enter key is a must!) which look AMAZING keywise.. BUT I'd like to reprogram it! Now I know there are DIP-switches but what I'm talking about is removing the control chip, reprogram it, put it back in and bam you got a Colemak layout without using autohotkey! Has ANYONE done this?

Also - are there any blank keycaps for the Pro JP version available? I have been scouring amazon.co.jp but can't find any keycaps for the keyboard.. :/

K thx bai
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 16 August 2013, 07:32:43
I'm not sure this is even possible....
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: esoomenona on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:02:32
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: Icte on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:03:38
I'm not sure this is even possible....
Now why wouldn't it be? The board does have a chip, right? Wouldn't it be possible to reprogram the chip using AVR or just swap it out for an appropriate one, say the one they use in GH60 (if it has the correct number of pins). Also voltage to the chip can always be regulated using resistors if it'll be necessary? Call me crazy but hey, I'm (almost) an engineer! It MUST work!
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: esoomenona on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:10:50
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.

I don't imagine that to be the case. The biggest problem would be whether they're compatible or not. If they are, I would imagine you could just write more code to get them to work.

But what do I know!? I'm a damn moose.
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: Icte on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:14:22
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.

I don't imagine that to be the case. The biggest problem would be whether they're compatible or not. If they are, I would imagine you could just write more code to get them to work.

But what do I know!? I'm a damn moose.
Mooses don't talk. They growl untill they end up on the table. Sweet, delicious baked moose testicles..

Back on track: You're indeed right, a compatible chip would be needed. BUT what you need is what type of chip is used inside the keyboard, max voltage it can handle (and which it uses), find a "similiar" one, program it, add resistors/whatever you need to add to make it functional inside the board, run it and bam you'll have an amazing Topre keyboard that can beat the **** out of every moose there is in the world. No offense mooses.
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:29:03
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.

I don't imagine that to be the case. The biggest problem would be whether they're compatible or not. If they are, I would imagine you could just write more code to get them to work.

But what do I know!? I'm a damn moose.
Mooses don't talk. They growl untill they end up on the table. Sweet, delicious baked moose testicles..

Back on track: You're indeed right, a compatible chip would be needed. BUT what you need is what type of chip is used inside the keyboard, max voltage it can handle (and which it uses), find a "similiar" one, program it, add resistors/whatever you need to add to make it functional inside the board, run it and bam you'll have an amazing Topre keyboard that can beat the **** out of every moose there is in the world. No offense mooses.

just throw a teensy in it...that seems to the common solution to anything.
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: Icte on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:37:32
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.

I don't imagine that to be the case. The biggest problem would be whether they're compatible or not. If they are, I would imagine you could just write more code to get them to work.

But what do I know!? I'm a damn moose.
Mooses don't talk. They growl untill they end up on the table. Sweet, delicious baked moose testicles..

Back on track: You're indeed right, a compatible chip would be needed. BUT what you need is what type of chip is used inside the keyboard, max voltage it can handle (and which it uses), find a "similiar" one, program it, add resistors/whatever you need to add to make it functional inside the board, run it and bam you'll have an amazing Topre keyboard that can beat the **** out of every moose there is in the world. No offense mooses.

just throw a teensy in it...that seems to the common solution to anything.
Wut? Teensy?
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: oTurtlez on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:45:53
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.

I don't imagine that to be the case. The biggest problem would be whether they're compatible or not. If they are, I would imagine you could just write more code to get them to work.

But what do I know!? I'm a damn moose.
Mooses don't talk. They growl untill they end up on the table. Sweet, delicious baked moose testicles..

Back on track: You're indeed right, a compatible chip would be needed. BUT what you need is what type of chip is used inside the keyboard, max voltage it can handle (and which it uses), find a "similiar" one, program it, add resistors/whatever you need to add to make it functional inside the board, run it and bam you'll have an amazing Topre keyboard that can beat the **** out of every moose there is in the world. No offense mooses.

just throw a teensy in it...that seems to the common solution to anything.
Wut? Teensy?

It's a USB programmable Atmega32u4 controller. Look up Soarer's converter for more in depth conversion things. They're commonly used to take an old board and make it usb compatible. It's the controller used in Phantom's and EDoxes.
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: Icte on Fri, 16 August 2013, 08:52:43
Someone has made a custom controller for the HHKB Pro 2. I'm not sure if it would work for the Pro JP though...
Yeah youll have to make another custom controller for the JP due to the extra keys, but it shouldn't be such a big problem.

I don't imagine that to be the case. The biggest problem would be whether they're compatible or not. If they are, I would imagine you could just write more code to get them to work.

But what do I know!? I'm a damn moose.
Mooses don't talk. They growl untill they end up on the table. Sweet, delicious baked moose testicles..

Back on track: You're indeed right, a compatible chip would be needed. BUT what you need is what type of chip is used inside the keyboard, max voltage it can handle (and which it uses), find a "similiar" one, program it, add resistors/whatever you need to add to make it functional inside the board, run it and bam you'll have an amazing Topre keyboard that can beat the **** out of every moose there is in the world. No offense mooses.

just throw a teensy in it...that seems to the common solution to anything.
Wut? Teensy?

It's a USB programmable Atmega32u4 controller. Look up Soarer's converter for more in depth conversion things. They're commonly used to take an old board and make it usb compatible. It's the controller used in Phantom's and EDoxes.
Bam - that's the solution I needed! Thanks mate!
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: hasu on Fri, 16 August 2013, 23:41:32
I've used my fully programmable HHKB happily for over 2 years. I did this mod for Pro and Pro2 but never tried for JP. Though, I'm 99% sure my mod also works on JP with a bit fix.

This is custom controller PCB for pro2, but you can use Teensy or any atmega32u4 boards.
(http://i.imgur.com/ryhgHzbl.jpg)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12047.0
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: Icte on Sat, 17 August 2013, 08:31:14
I've used my fully programmable HHKB happily for over 2 years. I did this mod for Pro and Pro2 but never tried for JP. Though, I'm 99% sure my mod also works on JP with a bit fix.

This is custom controller PCB for pro2, but you can use Teensy or any atmega32u4 boards.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ryhgHzbl.jpg)

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12047.0
hasu - you're the best. Thanks A LOADS!!

Now all I need is blank keycaps for HHKB Pro JP! Anyone knows?
Title: Re: Programming HHKB Pro 2/JP?
Post by: hasu on Sat, 17 August 2013, 10:08:50
No blank keycaps for JP AFAIK.