Is it possible to effectively remap the Pn key on a Poker II?

[Coreda]

I'm just about to place an order for a Poker II with Reds, but before I do I need to know if I can remap the Pn key via Windows and still keep the programming combos intact.

In other words, if I were to remap Pn to CapsLock using a utility like KeyTweak (which changes the registry) would the same Pn + whatever shortcuts still work?

Autohotkey is out of the question for me as it's slower than native remapping and doesn't work in several apps I've tried it with.

Possible?

[lcs]

I don't think so, as the OS doesn't even know you are using the key, it's all hardware.

[tp4tissue]

yea... cut traces on pcb.. manually solder wires into the intended destination.. straight forward mod..

[Coreda]

I don't think so, as the OS doesn't even know you are using the key, it's all hardware.

Oh no...

Edit:

yea... cut traces on pcb.. manually solder wires into the intended destination.. straight forward mod..

So a relative novice could do this do you think, even on a plate-mounted board? Not sure how these things work, but CapsLock is also fair distance from the original position, unless I used RShift instead.

[tuxsavvy]

A custom controller board is also another way to look at it. Fn key is intercepted by the controller, no keycodes are sent to the machine. Even on linux I cannot see Fn key being emitted to the computer so it is definitely being trapped by the controller.

[spiceBar]

I don't think so, as the OS doesn't even know you are using the key, it's all hardware.

Oh no...

Edit:

yea... cut traces on pcb.. manually solder wires into the intended destination.. straight forward mod..

So a relative novice could do this do you think, even on a plate-mounted board? Not sure how these things work, but CapsLock is also fair distance from the original position, unless I used RShift instead.

I think you should not even try.

Here is how, on a Poker X (first Poker), I have remapped the Fn key so pressing it does the same as pressing the Menu key:



(NOTE: my soldering skills are really really rusty)

It's more complicated than I imagined, because I had to cut traces not only on the back of the PCB, but also on the front side (the side with the switches).

My first attempt worked for the Fn key (it did generate the same as pressing the Menu key), but I discovered that the Windows key was now also generating a press of the L key! I had to cut a trace on the other side and add a wire to compensate (the single one).

On the Poker II, which has a metal plate, you will not even be able to see the traces on the switches side.

So you cannot intercept presses on the Fn and Pn keys, because they don't send any event to the computer, and it would be really difficult to mod the PCB either to remap them to keys that generate events.

[Coreda]

On the Poker II, which has a metal plate, you will not even be able to see the traces on the switches side.

So you cannot intercept presses on the Fn and Pn keys, because they don't send any event to the computer, and it would be really difficult to mod the PCB either to remap them to keys that generate events.

Thanks for the advice. If Vortex make a Poker III they should seriously consider creating a fully programmable board, whether using an app to adjust it visually or sticking to the in-hardware programming. In fact they could likely do this for the Poker II.

As there isn't a reliable method of using custom modifier combos for arrow keys using software, especially in-game, being able to change the location of such keys as Pn and Fn via hardware would be a dream. Vortex, I hope you're listening 

[spiceBar]

On the Poker II, which has a metal plate, you will not even be able to see the traces on the switches side.

So you cannot intercept presses on the Fn and Pn keys, because they don't send any event to the computer, and it would be really difficult to mod the PCB either to remap them to keys that generate events.

Thanks for the advice. If Vortex make a Poker III they should seriously consider creating a fully programmable board, whether using an app to adjust it visually or sticking to the in-hardware programming. In fact they could likely do this for the Poker II.

As there isn't a reliable method of using custom modifier combos for arrow keys using software, especially in-game, being able to change the location of such keys as Pn and Fn via hardware would be a dream. Vortex, I hope you're listening 

No, they are not listening. No manufacturer is listening to our repeated requests for a fully programmable board. Hence the GH60 for example, because we have to do it ourselves.

[Coreda]

No, they are not listening. No manufacturer is listening to our repeated requests for a fully programmable board. Hence the GH60 for example, because we have to do it ourselves.

And as with a good many things on GH it too was a GB I missed *sad tuba*

Decided to order a Poker anyway, the rabbit hole goes deep on GH when searching for boards so I thought I'd settle for something tangible first  ). Ordered via banggood with the discount coupon 'CLNY' ($3 off) for anyone interested, saw there was also some small keyboard sale going on for select models.

[spiceBar]

No, they are not listening. No manufacturer is listening to our repeated requests for a fully programmable board. Hence the GH60 for example, because we have to do it ourselves.

And as with a good many things on GH it too was a GB I missed *sad tuba*

Decided to order a Poker anyway, the rabbit hole goes deep on GH when searching for boards so I thought I'd settle for something tangible first  ). Ordered via banggood with the discount coupon 'CLNY' ($3 off) for anyone interested, saw there was also some small keyboard sale going on for select models.

I think I'm going to order a Poker II as well. I have the Poker X and I love it. I know the Poker II is different, and I could not even use the default layout, which is absurd. But from information I have just got in another thread it seems that I can use it with a new layout I'm working on (and actually been testing for a while now).