geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: intelli78 on Sat, 29 March 2014, 08:03:29
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I have a Northgate Omnikey like this (http://media.engadget.com/img/product/11/8i4/northgate-computers-omnikey-102-hsv.jpg).
It is functional except for the following keys, which do not work:
F3, F9, Tab, q, w, e, r, u, o, a,s, d, j, k, l, semicolon, x, c, m, Lalt, space, left arrow, down arrow, right arrow.
Some info:
- I have cleaned all of the switches recently; none seem damaged or worn out.
- If I disassemble a working switch and press the leaf against the contact with a screwdriver or Qtip, the key registers. For dead keys, this is NOT the case, so I do not think the problem is in the switch internals. Thinking it's the PCB or a chip, but I'm really not sure.
- The keyboard was working in the past, but got exposed to some gnarly Arizona heat; this could maybe have something to do with it. I don't know.
- The dead keys seem to be in clusters for the most part. Coincidence? you tell me.
Anyone more knowledgeable about electronics able to speculate on what's happening with this board? :( I can do basic multimeter / soldering work but I don't have the knowledge to figure this out myself.
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Well have you tested connections with the multi?
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I performed the most basic level of troubleshooting -- testing continuity of the switches -- and found that all of these had simply gone bad. I opened a few and there was corrosion in the ALPS "gold sandwich." So, the problem was less serious than I had suspected. I have a blue ALPS donor board on the way and will solder in some replacements.