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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: roadblock2thesun on Sun, 20 September 2009, 23:02:33

Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Sun, 20 September 2009, 23:02:33: Hey all,

This is my first post here, came across the forum while attempting to design my own keyboard. Still working on that project, got a lot of inspiration from members photos here.

But the question I am asking in this post relates to wireless keyboards.

I have not yet come across any mechanical keyboards that have wireless interfaces. Have I not looked hard enough or do they truly not exist?

Thanks for the help.

RB
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 20 September 2009, 23:04:38: There are bluetooth Filcos with brown cherrys.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 21 September 2009, 08:19:21: Can you still get those from Japan? I am not sure they are still making those BT Filcos.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Pettifogger on Wed, 23 September 2009, 11:01:59: Well, Filco still makes the Bluetooth keyboards with the Japanese 108-key keyboard layout. Black and brown Cherries. No Blues. They weren't hard to find at all when I was there last March. I saw them for sale at Yodobashi and Bic Camera.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Wed, 23 September 2009, 13:22:59: Great to hear there is SOMETHING, but anything I can get here in the states?

Quote from: Pettifogger;120027
Well, Filco still makes the Bluetooth keyboards with the Japanese 108-key keyboard layout. Black and brown Cherries. No Blues. They weren't hard to find at all when I was there last March. I saw them for sale at Yodobashi and Bic Camera.

Do those stores have websites?
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: mech on Wed, 23 September 2009, 14:19:57: Somebody should make a wired USB -> wireless USB mod kit. Sure, it would be for advanced hackers who are comfortable stripping wires (at least) and (potentially) opening up cases and drilling, but it would be worth it.

While we're wishing, I also want a male/female PS/2 plug that auto-maps between QWERTY and Dvorak, so I can make any PS/2 keyboard hardware Dvorak.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: rdjack21 on Wed, 23 September 2009, 16:39:56: There is one on Yahoo Japan right now. English layout with brown cherry switches at a buy it now price of 6000 yen or about $70 plus brokerage fee and shipping.

You can find it here (http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n75128837)

there is also a new one as well here (http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n72993010) but it is 11,990 yen before fees and shipping.

And a picture of the first one:
(http://img247.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/7/6/0/6/massuzuki-img600x362-1253664788hv9j8w60660.jpg)
and
(http://img247.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/7/6/0/6/massuzuki-img600x303-1253664788n2d42k60660.jpg)

Diatec link for more info on the board here (http://www.diatec.co.jp/products/det.php?prod_c=498)
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 23 September 2009, 16:45:58: A bit of trivia, for better or worse: Costar did not make the wireless Filco. I think it was Datacomp, but there is a thread here that says who made it. I wonder if this version has any logic issues like some of the Costars.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: rdh on Wed, 23 September 2009, 21:06:51: If Diatec is still selling those, I betcha elitekeyboards.com could special-order 'em...

EDIT: I see it's marked "Discontinued". Sorry, shoulda translated the page before posting.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Wed, 23 September 2009, 21:19:18: Quote from: rdjack21;120133
There is one on Yahoo Japan right now. English layout with brown cherry switches at a buy it now price of 6000 yen or about $70 plus brokerage fee and shipping.

You can find it here (http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n75128837)

there is also a new one as well here (http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n72993010) but it is 11,990 yen before fees and shipping.

And a picture of the first one:
Show Image
(http://img247.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/7/6/0/6/massuzuki-img600x362-1253664788hv9j8w60660.jpg)

and
Show Image
(http://img247.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/7/6/0/6/massuzuki-img600x303-1253664788n2d42k60660.jpg)

Diatec link for more info on the board here (http://www.diatec.co.jp/products/det.php?prod_c=498)

You are awesome! Now I have to learn enough japanese to conduct a transaction :)
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: rdh on Wed, 23 September 2009, 21:38:31: Quote from: rdjack21;120133
There is one on Yahoo Japan right now. English layout with brown cherry switches at a buy it now price of 6000 yen or about $70 plus brokerage fee and shipping.

You can find it here (http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n75128837)

there is also a new one as well here (http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n72993010) but it is 11,990 yen before fees and shipping.

Note: The first one is a FKBT104M/EB, so it has brown-stem (light tactile) Cherry switches, but the second one is a FKBT104ML/EB, meaning it has black-stem (linear) Cherrys.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Wed, 23 September 2009, 22:05:40: Thanks for the advice...

I must be giving off "eau de noob" lol

Still not sure how I'm going to handle this one. I'd really like a wireless solution, but, i'd like something more compact (read: no numpad). And, at $70 plus shipping from japan, it'll be a hard sell...

Decisions decisions.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: rdjack21 on Wed, 23 September 2009, 23:47:24: Oh it is more than just shipping to get it from Japan. None on the sellers on Yahoo Japan will ship outside of Japan. So the only way to get one of these is to go through a buying service. So you have to pay quite a bit more for anything you get. My guess that 6,000 yen board would cost you around $130-$150 to your door after all the fees.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Thu, 24 September 2009, 11:17:22: thanks for the heads up, I think I'm going to have to pass on this then... why oh why isnt there an easier way... I just installed a keyboard tray at my desk, maybe that will make the wire less of a problem at home... its when I'm travelling that I'm concerned...
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Input Nirvana on Sun, 14 February 2010, 16:34:57: Resurrecting old threads seems to be a second nature for me.

I now need to make the Kinesis Contoured (and pointing device) into a wireless keyboard. I need some input into what I can use to make this happen. I'm not sure there is a retrofit item I can purchase, so I need to know what can be used to make it wireless while maintaining the features the keyboard has. I've re-read some previous threads. Is Webwits the most universal and plug-n-play? (see pic below)

It needs to work on Mac and PC.
Or any other ideas?
Title: Resurrection
Post by: khokkanen on Tue, 18 January 2011, 09:50:12: Xarmor U27 (http://www.ione-europe.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=73&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=13)

I have been in e-mail contact with them this past few days about this wireless mechanical keyboard. Apparently it comes out mid-March in Europe with a German and British layout. With 5 € extra you can get blank keycaps bundled with it. They do not recommend swapping large keycaps, as they have some sort of balancing mechanism which could be damaged.

The bundled mouse is a freebie, as the keyboard alone would cost just as much as with it. So they at least claim.

I for one will be getting one of these keyboards as soon as they come out. I've been waiting for a wireless mechanical for a while.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Eclairz on Tue, 18 January 2011, 10:50:27: who in europe will be selling these Xarmors? as I'm highly interested in a wireless mechanical. Although a white tenkeyless wireless would have been much more portable and better looking , it looks like my ideal keyboard, with a nano receiver and small case.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: khokkanen on Tue, 18 January 2011, 11:39:53: Quote from: ripster;280405
... tricky nature of wireless means "we'll see". ...

Tricky nature? Meaning what? Haven't come across any problems with mine...
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: khokkanen on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:11:20: My wireless input devices. To be fair, I have only used Logitech products, and only one keyboard and one mouse at a time. I also have no other 2.4 GHz devices.

They have been perfectly fine with everything I've done, from writing to playing games. I've never had trouble I could readily tell was because the device was wireless. I've never noticed any delay or other trouble I've read some people complain about.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Lanx on Tue, 18 January 2011, 15:58:36: logitech 2.4 wireless and bt mice a+++, will buy again.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Oqsy on Thu, 27 January 2011, 19:39:25: (http://184.72.239.143/mu/adda7fd5-1dc3-496e.jpg)

This is the controller from a Rocketfish BT keyboard I plan to hack into a model m if feasible. If not then I may try Cherry.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: db_Iodine on Fri, 28 January 2011, 10:50:14: Problems like that seem a bit weird. I've never had any problems with any of my wireless mice. I also had to try and use my Performance MX from the next room behind 2 walls (about 15 feet from the receiver), and it was tracking perfectly.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: woody on Sat, 29 January 2011, 17:14:52: This picture looks like an Apple IIc keyboard.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: hyperq on Mon, 15 August 2011, 11:18:42: Implanting a wireless board into a Filco is too much of a challenge for many people. But the market for wireless mech keyboards does exist. Filco is targeting niche markets anyway. I'd really like to get a wireless Filco for my TV.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: dreamingftw on Mon, 15 August 2011, 12:04:54: I do remember seeing a wireless mechanical Xarmor keyboard.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: oayhyc on Mon, 15 August 2011, 20:08:41: I am expecting a solar powered wireless mechanical keyboard.
Are you going to design and make one?
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: hyperq on Mon, 15 August 2011, 23:20:37: Hi Ripster,

Thanks for the links to those two threads. Made a suggestion in one of the threads.
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: kbfreak on Sun, 29 April 2012, 23:16:40: This might interest you guys. KBtalKing (http://kbtalking.cool3c.com) from Taiwan will be releasing a multi-pairing bluetooth wireless mechanical keyboard (using I believe cherry browns initially) that also allows for USB wired connection. So basically you can use it on your main computer, while pair up to 10 BT devices (laptop, ipads, iphone, anroid devices, TV, etc.) and control any of them almost instantly and switch back. Imagine switching between any of those devices on demand and type/control any of the devices from the nice feel of a mechanical keyboard as the ultimate command center for everything!

Say you're grooving nicely with the mechanical KB action on the main PC, a text message comes in, instead of dropping what you're doing and having to pick up the phone and type on the damn phone's touchscreen, you just press a shortcut key and bam, you're typing to the android phone (or an ihpone or any other bt phone) using the awesome mechanical kb, and when done with the text msg, bam, you hit the key and switch back to work on whatever it was you were working on at your PC.

As far as I know, this does not exist in the market yet, but they are making them in the next 1-2 months and if we have enough pre-orders, we can get our hands on a batch of these in the US, since I met the KBtalKing guy (Yeager) during my last trip to Taiwan and can talk to him about it. I believe the price will be around $140+shipping within the USA.

Let me know who's interested to have one of these bad boys...I will try to post up more as they release more info. =)
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Human on Sun, 29 April 2012, 23:30:12: Quote from: kbfreak;586058
This might interest you guys. KBtalKing (http://kbtalking.cool3c.com) from Taiwan will be releasing a multi-pairing bluetooth wireless mechanical keyboard (using I believe cherry browns initially) that also allows for USB wired connection. So basically you can use it on your main computer, while pair up to 10 BT devices (laptop, ipads, iphone, anroid devices, TV, etc.) and control any of them almost instantly and switch back. Imagine switching between any of those devices on demand and type/control any of the devices from the nice feel of a mechanical keyboard as the ultimate command center for everything!

Say you're grooving nicely with the mechanical KB action on the main PC, a text message comes in, instead of dropping what you're doing and having to pick up the phone and type on the damn phone's touchscreen, you just press a shortcut key and bam, you're typing to the android phone (or an ihpone or any other bt phone) using the awesome mechanical kb, and when done with the text msg, bam, you hit the key and switch back to work on whatever it was you were working on at your PC.

As far as I know, this does not exist in the market yet, but they are making them in the next 1-2 months and if we have enough pre-orders, we can get our hands on a batch of these in the US, since I met the KBtalKing guy (Yeager) during my last trip to Taiwan and can talk to him about it. I believe the price will be around $140+shipping within the USA.

Let me know who's interested to have one of these bad boys...I will try to post up more as they release more info. =)
You mean this?
http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/57722

Seriously, it looks a little fugly... I rather they make a wireless version of Pure/Race
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: kbfreak on Mon, 30 April 2012, 00:00:12: Yeah that's the prelim post they did there before the actual product comes out. I seriously have to double check and see what keyboard they will build this on. It might be a little different still...but if they do use this black one, I guess I'll just have to think of it as a clean, professional looking, function-rich mechanical KB. =)
Title: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Phil21 on Mon, 30 April 2012, 11:11:15: Posting late as well, but I recent picked up a wireless Filco from eBay a bit ago (overpaid, but hey! I have it!)

Honestly, I wouldn't buy again. They are not the same build quality as the wired (costar) Filco's, and feel rather cheap and plastic. They also seriously fail the flex test. The Razer BWU I have seems extremely solidly built in comparison.

Granted, they are leaps and bounds better than non-mechs, but I was really hoping for a plain old Filco w/o a wire - not an entirely different board :)
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: naisanza on Sat, 27 October 2012, 15:35:15: Quote from: Human on Sun, 29 April 2012, 23:30:12

You mean this?
http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/57722 (http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/57722)

Seriously, it looks a little fugly... I rather they make a wireless version of Pure/Race

Seriously, ugly! I'd rather have a wireless Pure.
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ValerieV on Sat, 27 October 2012, 18:48:56: I would sell ALL of my keyboards (with the exception of the HHKB) if i could get my hands on a wireless Filco. I wish the quality was good though. Maybe in the next year there will be one. :(
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: TheProfosist on Sun, 28 October 2012, 01:58:04: I have one for my HTPC i believe its xarmor or something.
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: MissMurd3r84 on Sun, 28 October 2012, 03:21:06: Wouldn't hold my breath waiting on the Filco to change, especially since I've not heard of them fixing it within the last 3 years since this thread was made.
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: laffindude on Sun, 28 October 2012, 04:06:00: Wireless Filco is a Datacomp. Quality is... disappointing.
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: trentva on Tue, 06 November 2012, 08:47:18: wireless is no good imo
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Bry on Tue, 06 November 2012, 10:25:25: The only wireless mech board I have ever heard of was the very early xarmor boards lol.

Edit: looks like they kept producing one actually -
http://www.amazon.com/XArmor-U9W-wireless-mechanical-keyboard/dp/B004S862FW

xarmor does not exist anymore though, afaik
Title: Re: Wireless Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Binge on Tue, 06 November 2012, 10:32:39: I am currently using the KBT pro. I freaking love this wireless keyboard and it looks slick in real life. Switching from my keyboard to my smart-phone is very very convenient.

The other wireless keyboard I'm excited to use is the PLUM 96. Those should be here in a couple weeks as they were ordered through IMSTO.