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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: joneslee85 on Tue, 26 November 2013, 05:48:39

Title: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Tue, 26 November 2013, 05:48:39
Finally, the @Sent's 38GT with pink MKC Alum has arrived at my mailbox. This keyboard comes with Red MX and white LED on alpha keys, red on Other keys

This is my first 38GT so there are much to read and learn about this Aikon controller that this keyboard use.

I will write a short review in the next few days, for now I just share images to GHers. Yes, I am excited.

After hooking up with my MacBook Air, I bump into a very weird issue, the caplock mode is enabled randomly??! And the key G does not work at all.  I have PM @Sent to ask about this issue, maybe there is some special mode that I am not aware of?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: AGmurdercore on Tue, 26 November 2013, 05:56:37
This board looks sooo nice, congrats man! I love the dual color LEDs layout, i plan to make a BW that i am restoring lie this too.  :p
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: terran5992 on Tue, 26 November 2013, 06:21:00
Flipped spacebar. I like it :)
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: margo baggins on Tue, 26 November 2013, 06:45:04
I built that keyboard quite a while ago - and it didn't used to have the issue with the G key or the caps lock.

This was original test -

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/lymph/AQUA_zps1f3c1adb.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/lymph/media/AQUA_zps1f3c1adb.jpg.html)

I also do electrical testing on boards before they go back to their owners with a multimeter and when that board left my hands to it's original owner after I built it, it passed all my tests.

I would offer to fix for you - but I not sure you want to ship it all the way back across the world! If you do want to ship it to the UK I will certainly fix it for you.
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: terran5992 on Tue, 26 November 2013, 06:46:23
I built that keyboard quite a while ago - and it didn't used to have the issue with the G key or the caps lock.

This was original test -

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/lymph/AQUA_zps1f3c1adb.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/lymph/media/AQUA_zps1f3c1adb.jpg.html)

I would offer to fix for you - but I not sure you want to ship it all the way back across the world! If you do want to ship it to the UK I will certainly fix it for you.

Is the tilde key broken? 0.o
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: margo baggins on Tue, 26 November 2013, 06:47:41
No - by default it's escape - like most 60% boards....

ESC > Tilde generally speaking.
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Tue, 26 November 2013, 07:44:32
@margo thx for the info, I'm afraid it would cost me so much, let's hope this is not a known issue before @sent sold it to me. Can u show me how I could test the key programmatically?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: margo baggins on Tue, 26 November 2013, 07:47:28
Try this -

take the pcb/plate etc. out of the case, put it on a non conductive surface (like a rubber mat or something) then try all the switches, it could be something to do with the pcb being tightened down into the case too tight, this is only an idea as it's something that I've heard of happening before - when I built it it was just in a basic poker tray.

To test the keys with a program just get aqua key test, it registers the input and marks it off - it's what the above screenshot is from.
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 26 November 2013, 20:31:52
Try this -

take the pcb/plate etc. out of the case, put it on a non conductive surface (like a rubber mat or something) then try all the switches, it could be something to do with the pcb being tightened down into the case too tight, this is only an idea as it's something that I've heard of happening before - when I built it it was just in a basic poker tray.

To test the keys with a program just get aqua key test, it registers the input and marks it off - it's what the above screenshot is from.
This is good advice. I had this issue with one of my keyboards once (actually, it's the one I'm using right now!) and could certainly be the (easily fixable) issue.

Aqua's key test is available here:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=34670.0;attach=2245
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: Jocelyn on Tue, 26 November 2013, 20:33:42
Nice looking board! I'm gonna need to get a 38GT one of these days :)
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 27 November 2013, 07:06:21
Try this -

take the pcb/plate etc. out of the case, put it on a non conductive surface (like a rubber mat or something) then try all the switches, it could be something to do with the pcb being tightened down into the case too tight, this is only an idea as it's something that I've heard of happening before - when I built it it was just in a basic poker tray.

To test the keys with a program just get aqua key test, it registers the input and marks it off - it's what the above screenshot is from.

It is no good, G key does not work so as Win and Alt key. Also the I am totally no clue why the numpad 5,6 seems not to work. Is there anything I could do? I know basic about electric, i could do soldering if required. Help is really appreciated

Furthmore, @Sent has not yet replied to me, I hope he did not sell me a defect product :(
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 27 November 2013, 20:17:21
Why are some of the white LEDs higher temp than others?  Like Z, X and V?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: terran5992 on Wed, 27 November 2013, 20:23:52
Why are some of the white LEDs higher temp than others?  Like Z, X and V?

How can you tell?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: Pacifist on Wed, 27 November 2013, 21:25:27
Why are some of the white LEDs higher temp than others?  Like Z, X and V?

How can you tell?

the color is differnet
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: terran5992 on Wed, 27 November 2013, 21:39:58
Why are some of the white LEDs higher temp than others?  Like Z, X and V?

How can you tell?

the color is differnet

Oh i forgot that there was a picture in the first post.

I thought how was he able to tell just from the Autohotkey software
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 27 November 2013, 23:54:48
Why are some of the white LEDs higher temp than others?  Like Z, X and V?

I do notice that too, unplug USB and plug it in sometimes fix it. It seems to me this board is very defected.

I still hope @Sent is coming back to me via PM but he's just disappeared.
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Fri, 29 November 2013, 06:45:05
Today, I look carefully and find our the diode near G switch is broken as of picture, can some1 tell me which part is this? Where could I get one?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: codyeatworld on Fri, 29 November 2013, 07:14:04
well the part that's broken is a diode.  I'm not sure about the resistor.

1N4148 diode (through-hole)
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Fri, 29 November 2013, 15:52:29
well the part that's broken is a diode.  I'm not sure about the resistor.

1N4148 diode (through-hole)

Thx for this, yes, it is a diode not a resistor * embarrassed *

Time to head to Jaycar (electrical store) to get this part and desoldering gun
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Fri, 27 December 2013, 05:33:35
I've fixed the diode for the key G.

Can someone please let me know how I could flash this PCB? The current layout is totally madness to me. Many thanks
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: terran5992 on Fri, 27 December 2013, 07:37:18
Whats wrong with the layout?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: Neo.X on Fri, 27 December 2013, 13:00:48
I've fixed the diode for the key G.

Can someone please let me know how I could flash this PCB? The current layout is totally madness to me. Many thanks

I got a pla poker with 38GT, here is where I found the instruction to configure the layout.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38406.0
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Fri, 27 December 2013, 15:04:35
It doesn't w
Whats wrong with the layout?

It is not HHKB or Poker layout, some random layout as far as I see it
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Tue, 07 January 2014, 20:43:25
Everything is now working as I wanted.

FYI, the MKC Case is ONLY for Poker PCB. When the previous owner try to squeeze the 38GT into this case, the bolt stem on the case hit the diode and broke it.

So please be careful if you attemp to do so
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: codyeatworld on Tue, 07 January 2014, 21:42:42
Everything is now working as I wanted.

FYI, the MKC Case is ONLY for Poker PCB. When the previous owner try to squeeze the 38GT into this case, the bolt stem on the case hit the diode and broke it.

So please be careful if you attemp to do so

You can install the diodes on the top of the pcb with the 38gt so they don't hit anything or if they dont fit.

Glad its working now tho! :D
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 08 January 2014, 02:49:00
Oh, I did not know that , thx much anyway

One more things is that I failed to get the key mapper  app run under VMware, is it just only me?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: codyeatworld on Wed, 08 January 2014, 03:29:07
Well I installed mine that way, realizing after I shouldof kept them underneath, but they didnt get in the way at all. :P

I've only had success programing my 38gt on windows 8, im sure windows 7 is fine and probably better. 
You'll need to install libusb/filter driver for the aikon mapper to work.

(libusb) http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=aikon_down&wr_id=98 (dl link has an F icon next to it)

Then run aikon.

(aikon) http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=aikon_down&wr_id=60

What error do you get when you try to run the program?
Title: Re: My first 38GT keyboard
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 08 January 2014, 20:37:29
Well I installed mine that way, realizing after I shouldof kept them underneath, but they didnt get in the way at all. :P

I've only had success programing my 38gt on windows 8, im sure windows 7 is fine and probably better. 
You'll need to install libusb/filter driver for the aikon mapper to work.

(libusb) http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=aikon_down&wr_id=98 (dl link has an F icon next to it)

Then run aikon.

(aikon) http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=aikon_down&wr_id=60

What error do you get when you try to run the program?

I just could not install the libusb under VirtualBox and VMWare. On normal box, it works fine.