geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: hindsight on Sat, 05 October 2013, 10:39:01

Title: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: hindsight on Sat, 05 October 2013, 10:39:01

I've had this keyboard for over a year now, and it has been indeed quite a pleasure to use.

Sadly though, for some reason that I cannot fathom, it suddenly decided to stop working. Whenever the keyboard is plugged in, both the caps lock and scroll lock lights illuminate, but the keys are all unresponsive. It behaves the same way for every computer, and I've tried swapping the cable from a working keyboard only to see the same result.

Thoughts?

edit: After whipping out the multimeter and due to a lack of evidence saying otherwise, I'm leaning towards saying that the keyboard's controller is shot. Is this common with Filco keyboards?

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: Tony on Mon, 07 October 2013, 02:04:13

No, it's not very common. You're very lucky indeed.

Now is the time for disassembling the keyboard...

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 07 October 2013, 02:24:31

Out of 3 Filco controllers I had, 2 developed problems.  The first one would occasionally register a modifier being pressed even when it wasn't.   The second one started registering right alt as a Windows key.

Anyone who says mechanical keyboards outlast cheap rubber dome keyboard doesn't know what they're talking about.  I've had a similar problem to yours with a QFR controller as well.

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 07 October 2013, 04:14:54

Mechanical keyboard - more moving parts - more that can go wrong.

Can the controller be replaced in a Filco?

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: hindsight on Mon, 07 October 2013, 12:58:15

Yes, the controller can be removed in Filcos, and I have since taken it apart to get a closer look. Something seems to have shorted two of the connection pins at their soldering on the top face and has left a nasty little mess, and cleaning it doesn't fix the problem.

At this point, I'm not sure if the issue is isolated to the controller: can the board itself be damaged by a short like this?

If the board is fine, I suppose finding a replacement for the controller is the next step. Can anyone point me towards the direction where I can get a new controller?

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: gnubag on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:38:37

not too sure if the pcb has to do something with it (maybe the cable/connector on the pcb)

if you need/want to try a controller, I have one you can have for cheap. it works but it is not guaranteed that it will fix your problem.

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:46:09

Quote from: gnubag on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:38:37

not too sure if the pcb has to do something with it (maybe the cable/connector on the pcb)

if you need/want to try a controller, I have one you can have for cheap. it works but it is not guaranteed that it will fix your problem.

(http://edmprod.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Why-not-both.jpg)

Could be that a short in the cable caused damage to another component such as the controller?  You could try replacing the controller, though if there's a problem with the cable, you may break the new one as well; though I think the most likely thing is that just the controller went.  You can verify if your cable is working with a multimeter.

Title: Re: Filco MJ2 TKL is unresponsive, but lights up
Post by: hindsight on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:56:28

Quote from: PointyFox on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:46:09

Quote from: gnubag on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:38:37

not too sure if the pcb has to do something with it (maybe the cable/connector on the pcb)

if you need/want to try a controller, I have one you can have for cheap. it works but it is not guaranteed that it will fix your problem.

Show Image

(http://edmprod.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Why-not-both.jpg)

Could be that a short in the cable caused damage to another component such as the controller?  You could try replacing the controller, though if there's a problem with the cable, you may break the new one as well; though I think the most likely thing is that just the controller went.  You can verify if your cable is working with a multimeter.

I suppose I wasn't clear, but yeah, I have checked the cable with a multimeter and it was fine. The connector on the PCB is also undamaged.

Quote from: gnubag on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:38:37

not too sure if the pcb has to do something with it (maybe the cable/connector on the pcb)

if you need/want to try a controller, I have one you can have for cheap. it works but it is not guaranteed that it will fix your problem.

I think I'll take you up on that offer, I'll send you a pm for details