"Mechanical" G15

[ch_123]

Thought this one should generate a few lulz.

[Co-Op]

lulz, and remember kids, Google is your friend....

[Lanx]

6545 posts and that person is a support specialist? dear lord just think about all the "mis" support that person has been giving!

[laden3]

Apparently he/she is a true "Logi Apprentice".
The "Support Specialist" must be pleased that Logitech earned $100 by trying to be disingenuous and let a Logi Apprentice mislead that poor guy =(

[Alfwich]

haha ... Google is your 'Fiend'

[Findecanor]

Hehe.. The post is over two years old, so I suppose that the damage has already been done.

[Konrad]

Even so ...
 
Assuming you have a G15 and a full keyboard worth of mechanical switches/buttons, there's no reason you can't mod your own.  It would be a bit involved, since the G15 key layout has all those extra keys, that LCD, lights, bling and whistles.

[Konrad]

I instantly wanted that M1397000 keyboard, rip. With the same intentions you have, lol. Can't find that sucker for sale anywhere ... it's a rare collector item?
 
Yeah, transferring electronic guts (and LCD, USB ports, etc etc) and wiring a new matrix might be easier than refitting 104+ mechanical switches into the chassis. I suppose that depends on what sorts of tools, parts, and skills you have (for me, electronics is much easier than mechanical work).
 
Looking at Logitech gaming keybs (G15, G19, G110, G510) ... the G510 is the latest/greatest? It looks like the one with the most keys, anyhow.
 
Y'know, now that I think about it ... maybe my Merc keyboard (a frustrating overspecialized curiosity, but it has astonishing build quality and is as solid as a panzer), plus a touchscreen from a dead old PDA, plus my half-abandoned keyb controller project, plus a ton of mechanical switches .... mwoohahahaa!
 
I did find this wee beastie here ...

 
That would take a whole lotta mechanical switches (202, I think).

[elservo]

That picture itself weighs 40 pounds.

[Lanx]

i just ordered a g15 i'm gonna open it up and see what i can incorporate into my own modded keyboard. but i'm running out of internal space lol, i might have to rewire the whole thing cuz if i showed you the horrible underside where the wires reside ppl would be scared!

[Konrad]

lol, I was dumb enough to try researching the letter "vluh" which is said to be one of the keys on this keyboard.

[Konrad]

Lanx,
 
If you're planning on some kind of mod/hack which basically replaces half your G15 with something else, then it might be better to buy one used?  I've seen broken G15's go for as little as $10-$20 on craigslist, dirt cheap because a few keys (usually near WASD) have failed.  Ha, rubber domes.

[Konrad]

Rip,
 
I read up on your Nostromo mod.  Ugly and kinda useless looking gadget, btw, but nonetheless a good job modding it with mechanical switches.
 
I don't quite understand your particular requirement for teflon-insulated silver wire.  Wouldn't any properly insulated small wire suffice (say, Kynar AWG 30 "wire wrap", or even enamel-coated AWG 30 magnet wire)?

[Lanx]

Lanx,
 
If you're planning on some kind of mod/hack which basically replaces half your G15 with something else, then it might be better to buy one used?  I've seen broken G15's go for as little as $10-$20 on craigslist, dirt cheap because a few keys (usually near WASD) have failed.  Ha, rubber domes.

thats exactly what i got a $14 scuffed up g15. seller says it's fully functional + display.

[Konrad]

@ Rip,
Aha, you do things the hard way. Buy (or build) yourself "hoof" and "miniwave" soldering tips and learn to drag solder (or draw solder) like this ... that entire 18-pin/1mm-pitch connector would take about 1-2 mins to set up and <5 seconds to solder (and setup time is excessive only because of the loose wires).
 
I'm curious - if that scale of soldering is tedious for you, then why didn't you make some kind of breakout board?
 
And lol - you had to do it at least once already, so you'll probably be able to use this skill again.
 
 
@ Lanx,
Awesome ... I used to see lots of 'em (especially the same week StarCraft 2 was released), but craigslist has been rather dry lately. It's not a high priority item for me, nor one that's worth paying shipping for.

[noxiq]

They clearly know what they're talking about.

HUEAHUEAHEUAHEUA .

[NamelessPFG]

I got a used G15v1 locally for $4. Very messy, and some of the paint near the left wrist rest area had been worn off, but it works. (At least when the cable near the strain relief end isn't acting up.) I've at least managed to clean it up.

I can't be bothered to use it because of the rubber dome keys, but if anyone can figure out how to give these things some proper keyswitches, count me interested.

[Konrad]

@ Julle (didn't you used to look a lot more masculine and hairy?)
The fluid is some kind of low viscosity (thin, watery) liquid flux, probably rosin-based like all electronics fluxes should be. It might contain (isopropyl) cleaning agents but the board shown was probably prepped before the video shot. Where I work we use syringe bottles to apply instead of chamois swabs, saves money in large volume - doesn't really matter, as long as there's no lint and debris. Kimwipes work best.
 
There are a number of standard approaches for end-wire connectors (as per nostromo example). The wires can be individually "glued" in place with a sticky liquid solder paste, then held down with a flat edge while drag soldering. Or - if many such connectors are being done - a jig (called a "comb") is usually made, usually a flat edge with little wire-shaped circles, the wires are slid into place underneath then the whole thing is clamped and drag soldered.
 
Soldering is like any other craft, you learn tricks and workarounds to solve common problems.
 
I still wonder at the choice of silver wires though ... ideally you'd want to use a silver-bearing solder, but that requires substantially higher temps. Mixed-metal joints have higher long-term failure rates.
 
@ Nameless
Lucky bastard! A perfect G15; throw the wrist-rest away, sand and repaint in some sexy colour and fix the cable and she's as good as new.
 
What's the real difference between G15 v1 and v2? I keep finding fanboy bull****, very little real data. I guess I could actually dig, but I'd rather be lazy and just ask, lol.

[Lanx]

What's the real difference between G15 v1 and v2? I keep finding fanboy bull****, very little real data. I guess I could actually dig, but I'd rather be lazy and just ask, lol.

all i know is that the v1 had the flip display and the v2 is stationary. Don't know anymore past that. (oh i think v1 has more macro buttons)

[KillerBee]

I manage a Rainbow Cleaning System store branch here in Miami, FL. Today I went to a customers house to troubleshoot his machine, I did indeed see a very large ugly looking case and three side by side ACER monitors surrounded by a G15.

I said to him "thats a beast of a machine" he says "yeah I am writing a book"

I was like hey maybe I can lure this guy in to the buckling spring realm... I used his G15 for minute to google up Model M pics and vids and I can tell you that the G15 is garbage, the only thing it has going for it is the display.

I said he could have a Pretty black M13 (pointed him towards my auction) I can tell he was interested but decided to continue with his "cheap" G15

[Konrad]

I used a G510 (rubber domes, most likely) and it really wasn't all that bad. Definitely not as good as advertised or expected and I wouldn't want to use it extensively, plus there's many other good keyboards available at that price. Maybe the G510 is better than the G15, though I suspect they're about the same in this regard.
 
I think I'm one of the minority here, I just don't have the spirit of the thing ... Rubber domes aren't always truly evil and mechanicals aren't always the utter pwnage that geekhackers often assert. Maybe it's just that I basically grew up using both types, got accustomed to domes, and though I appreciate and tend to prefer mechanical switches I'm still a little meh and can live without 'em when balanced against other keyboard features I want.
 
Having said all that, the Logitech gaming keyboards have great macro keys, assorted little conveniences like GUI-key lockout, standard media keys, half-decent "antighosting", USB hub, maybe backlighting. The LCD is a cool gimmick but essentially useless. I'd pick one up for $25 to use for gaming or modding (or even just to cannibalize the USB+LCD system), but I personally wouldn't pay much more and would want to type on something better.

[v193r]

NOOOO! I thought that was a bad dream I had.

[Lanx]

(or even just to cannibalize the USB+LCD system), but I personally wouldn't pay much more and would want to type on something better.

i'll post updates on how i'll be dealing with that (prolly gonna just spend a few days to see if i like the macro system first, that is priority if not, then i'll just go back to plan 1 and integrate a nostromo for it instead again these are work macro's you know stupid stuff like next worksheet or something basic like tab tab space, next).
I have no idea where i'll put the display tho, cuz my secondary monitor hovers a few cm above my hands as it (just think of where a regular desk would be then angle it 20degrees up and thats my secondar monitor). I'm thinking of attaching it to the wrist rest actually, since it's an ergo keyboard there's naturally that space in the middle that is built up. Hopefully i don't get too old and completely loose my metabolism tho cuz then my belly would bump into it!