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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jcoffin1981 on Fri, 23 October 2015, 18:14:59

Title: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Fri, 23 October 2015, 18:14:59
I am trying to update the firmware on  my  new V60 as I am having keychatter issues  with the spacebar.  I  have found a specific update for this and it can be downloaded from KBP's Facebook page (the newest and only version v107).  However, it is unable to connect to the  controller chip.  I have  read of a few people who had the same issue, but they were trying to connect through a USB port on a laptop or a front desktop port.  I have tried plugging into  every USB  port directly but it still cannot identify the current firmware version or if the board is even connected.  I'm out of ideas and would love  if anybody has any relevant thoughts.
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Sat, 24 October 2015, 05:50:47
It looks like my post has not generated much interest.  However after the vendor not being able to help me and being at the point where I was about to smash the keyboard, I was able to install the firmware update.  Just on a whim I decided to run the program in Safe Mode, as I had nothing left to try.  Perhaps there were other drivers or something that were interfering.

This time it connected and found the older firmware version _V106   and updated it to _V107.  So far I have found only one extra space in my typed text so far and that could have been me.  I wish I had known this in the beginning and I could have saved myself many hours of frustration.  I looks like nobody has replied or showed much interest, but I'm sure it's happened before.  I hope somebody else who cannot update their keyboard finds this and saves themselves some hassle.
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: njbair on Sat, 24 October 2015, 20:08:41
Don't be discouraged by the lack of replies. One day is not that long.

You may have received more exposure in a v60 review thread or another existing v60-related topic. People often check the threads they contribute to more often than the rest.
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Sat, 24 October 2015, 22:59:19
Yes Njbair, you are right, and I do not want to seem impatient.  But I often see threads with dozens of replies within the first few hours, but that is often not on a topic as obscure as this.  By the way, the firmware fix did not work as well as I thought (fixed about 50 or 60% of the chatter) and I am thinking about starting a new thread.  I do not think there is software fix that can completely solve this.  I'm waiting to hear from the vendor  to see if they can send me a single switch and I can replace it myself and be done with it. 

I am quite fed up  with this keyboard as it is and wish I never purchased it.  I just always feel that the  grass is greener on the other side and that  there is still a better keyboard out there  than what I a m using. 
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: njbair on Sat, 24 October 2015, 23:01:23
Will a replacement switch solve the problem? If it's a problem with a switch, why would they release a software update to fix it?
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Sun, 25 October 2015, 09:47:58
I don't know:  my understanding is the switch debounce is inherent in the switch (most mechanical switches) and it falls under certain tolerances.  Software and or firmware is supposed to filter out extra debounce or keychatter that falls within certain tolerances whether it's 5-10ms or whatever.  So from what I understand it is a mechanical occurrence, but firmware can also play a part.  This is just  what I've tried to summarize from  the many postings and articles that  I have read.

From using Switch Hitter software the 5 and 8 key chatter very  infrequently  and  I  don't really care about this, but the space bar does it enough to cause a problem.  I noticed that if I hit the space bar on the  left and the right side alternatively  there w ill be key chatter with EVERY Keystroke.  I am replacing the keycaps with heavy PBT Leopolds and I wonder if this  will have any effect  on this. 
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Sun, 25 October 2015, 20:36:58
You may also find this interesting.  As I said I noticed that I got space bar chatter if I hit the bar on the right and left side alternatively.  This led me to believe that uneven vertical pressure applied to the switch stem encouraged the registering of extra keystrokes. 

So what I have done is flipped the space bar around 180 degrees, while being slightly more ergonomic, (actually, I'm not positive I like it better) but the chatter is almost eliminated.  It happens with a frequency small enough that I can probably leave it alone.  If I strike the key on the right side and then the left side as it is returning up it still chatters, but obviously that is not an every day typing situation.  I may just leave it alone now.

I don't know how unique or "anecdotal" my particular case is, but I hope that somebody else finds this as flipping the space bar may help them as well.  I understand that this is a common key to register extra keystrokes.
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: getf on Sun, 25 October 2015, 20:57:40
I've had 4 different v60s, and never had any chattering.  What type of switches gave you this problem?
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Mon, 26 October 2015, 00:32:01
I think you have just been lucky.  Supposedly it is common, even with the Cherry MX switches, which is what the firmware updates are supposed to fix. 

These however are Gateron.  Could not buy it here and had to buy it overseas.  IF there are problems however getting them fixed are a nightmare.  I would not be surprised if there is less consistency in Gateron switches.
Title: Re: Firmware update issues v60 Mini
Post by: file_id on Mon, 26 October 2015, 03:14:34
I had the same issue until unplugged the usb extension that I had the keyboard plugged into. Also, make sure it is connected directly to the motherboard. That is how I solved my problem updating the keyboard.