XD60 Rev 3 Keyboard PCB faulty firmware/design errors?

[Boojakascha]

Hello

I got a XD60 Rev 3 Keyboard PCB with the humble wish to make the last row 1.25-1.25-1.5-2.25-2.75-1-1-1-1-1-1 with a split spacebar and a AltGr. The thing is I can't get neither TKG and QMK to get the last row straight. The GUI helpers of both flasher kinds won't allow me to choose 1.25-1.25-1.5-2.25-2.75-1-1-1-1-1-1 and if I do it in code for QMK it won't work.

Has somebody similar experiences? To keep the question as general as possible: "Encountered a programmable keyboard PCB product, which straight was faulty by design or firmware & which you weren't able to use the intended way?"

I am several days in, trying to program this f*cker and I wasn't yet able to find a solution. If I can't get it sorted out in software I will solder it as I please. I already probed which points to solder, drill and isolate. It's not a hurdle, but it somewhat ruined the concept of "programmable" PCBs for me.

[suicidal_orange]

This one?  It says the layout you want is supported but looking at the picture it doesn't look like there's space for the second 1u from the right.  Also the controller is near the bottom of the board so there are going to be a lot of traces down there so drilling is not advised.

Can you physically get the switches in the positions you want?

[Boojakascha]

Yes, the one you linked, thank you.

The keys fit, I don't use normal sizes. Here is a picture of it:


I will give it another dozen of hours trying, but in the end if I have to cut and solder I will^^

[suicidal_orange]

Hmm... it fits so it should be easy enough to fix in the firmware.  What have you tried changing?  If I could get a pic of the back of the PCB that might be helpful, though I think it's going to have so many holes and traces seeing what's going on might be a challenge.

[Boojakascha]

Thank you!

That's the back:


And that's what I flashed on it:
https://pastebin.com/H8F0J2ZZ

[suicidal_orange]

Yeah, it's black and very holey - not much help!

The firmware looks fine but the switch numbering down there is strange, what outputs are you (not) seeing?  If all the keys do something it might be easier to assign the problem area as numbers so it's easier to talk about.

[Boojakascha]

The left space bar and the key labeled with "<." don't do anything. By modifying the header file I can make them functional, but then the dead positions are shifted onto the Nav-Cluster (eg down and right don't work then anymore).

There seems to way to get the layout accepting 11 keys on the bottom. The "all layout" just sports 9 positions there...

[suicidal_orange]

I've made and attached a firmware in EasyAVR, it looks like this (ignore the spacing!)


Please can you flash it and then type each key on the bottom row and we'll see what you get and check the key assignments in QMK.  Or if you're in it for the layout not the pretty lights you could just use EasyAVR on the board...

[Boojakascha]

I've made and attached a firmware in EasyAVR, it looks like this (ignore the spacing!)

Show Image

Please can you flash it and then type each key on the bottom row and we'll see what you get and check the key assignments in QMK.  Or if you're in it for the layout not the pretty lights you could just use EasyAVR on the board...

Dear suicidal_orange

Thank you very much for this stepping stone! Meanwhile I think I have it down in QMK. I am not 100 % done yet. When I am, I will upload it to this thread, so that others will be able to use it in the future. It definitely required heavy changes in the header.

I really hate the light^^ Luckily my case isn't translucent and hides it. You say EasyAVR is another flashing alternative to QMK and TKG? I will try it out in the future if you recommend it.

[Boojakascha]

Here are the QMK files:
https://pastebin.com/KUpKTjUi

They were made by CloudySkys of Reddit, whom I sort of commissioned with this.
It works now.

Great thanks to suicidal_orange, for the possible solution in EasyAVR! I am sure this will serve me well in future projects (already ordered parts^^ )

[suicidal_orange]

You say EasyAVR is another flashing alternative to QMK and TKG? I will try it out in the future if you recommend it.

I like it because you can see exactly what's assigned to which position in the matrix in the config file and can mess around with that in a spreadsheet, rather than counting across lists to change a key you can just click it (also fixed by QMK websites)  It has some drawbacks compared to QMK - no RGB support and the default config only stores the base layer so you have to add macros and tapkeys and all the other fun stuff but you can save your layouts for later tweaking.

Looks like I was wrong about the designer of this board as the end of the bottom row is completely random for no apparent reason.  We would have got there for free but glad you got it working, that's the main thing.  I will tweak the EasyAVR file and if you could test it that would be great - it currently doesn't have enough keys either.  Similarly I hope CloudySkies will be sending his fix to QMK so it's just there next time but until then I'll remember it's here if anyone asks

[Boojakascha]

I will tweak the EasyAVR file and if you could test it that would be great - it currently doesn't have enough keys either.

I will try =) will be a great introduction into EasyAVR. But I can't start until tomorrow. Thanks again for your help!

[suicidal_orange]

OK I'll leave it with you, it's easier to test when you have the hardware.  Not sure there's any documentation when it comes to layouts so I'll wish you good luck, f you get stuck this is the thread to ask though there's a good chance it will be me answering still