Rosewill RK-9000 issue

[milkseller]

I just got a RK9000 that I ordered a few days ago and after testing it, I've found that when I use the left or the right shift key with certain keys, the keyboard will register an extra character. For example, in notepad I'll press left SHIFT + M and I'll get "MY"; if I press right SHIFT + M, i'll get "MJ" instead of only "M" as it should be. I'm not sure what is causing the problem. Only the shift keys do this and only when pressed with certain keys, mostly the keys on the lower row (z, x, c, ...). Is there a way to fix this issue, or should I return the keyboard to newegg?

[alaricljs]

If you're using a USB hub, try without it.  My Filco did wacky things on a particular USB hub I had that turned out to be flaky.

If not, then you got a wacky board... RMA time?

[sg1717]

You got me all scared I just tested out, but the only difference is that I am on PS2 port....  But for sure I would remove the USB port just to be sure it is not causing anything funky...

[milkseller]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll have to exchange it for another one. I have tested the keyboard in all three USB ports of my laptop but the issue persists. I thought it might be due to not enough USB power but my USB-powered external HDD works fine. I'd like to test it on a PS2 port but my laptop doesn't have one. I probably got unlucky.

[pyro]

maybe you could try it on another computer, just to be sure

[duncan]

Yes do try the board on another computer if you can.
The USB hubs on laptops are not always the most reliable of items.
What is the laptop you are using?

[milkseller]

I finally was able to test it on another computer today. It was a desktop Dell computer but pressing L.SHIFT + M on the keyboard still produced MY. Using Aquakeytest, when I press L.SHIFT and M, it shows that Y is also pressed. The keys that I saw that had this problem were: z, x, c, v, m, <, >, ENTER, NUMLOCK, NUM/ and NUM*, when pressed together with LSHIFT or RSHIFT; each shift+key combo activated another key as if there was a short circuit or something.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm afraid that there isn't anything I can do so I'll RMA the keyboard tomorrow. Luckily, I won't have any problems with the next one.

[sordna]

I would return it and get a WASD instead.

[morfinx]

Hi milkseller, did you ever find a solution to this?

Just got a Rosewill RK-9000, which as I understand it, is a Filco Majestouch clone. I'm noticing something strange. When the key "x" and "n" and both depressed, it produces the letter "m". I confirmed this on Optimus' N-key rollerover test:

(Ugh, can't post URLs as a new user. Just google "Optimus Keyboard Demo". It's the first link)

You can also test by holding down "n" first, then "x", and you should see something like this:

nnnnnnxmmmmmm

I tried the same test on my laptop, I get something like this:

nnnnnnxmxmxmxmx

Note at no time is the "m" key actually pressed.

Should I return it for a replacement?

[morfinx]

Found more "phantom" key presses:

n x m
n s j
n w u
n 2 7
n F1 6

The 3rd key appears to be pressed (but not physically pressed) when the first 2 keys are physically pressed.

[N8N]

hmmm... is everyone experiencing these issues with recent Rosewills or only a few people?  Starting to look like less of a sure buy now... no sense not spending a couple extra bucks for, say, a WASD semi-custom which we know will work right if this is a widespread issue

[Warduke]

I'm waiting for my RK-9000 to get here. I was really excited before but now I'm a little nervous.

[caughtjoo]

I got mine in last Monday.  Haven't seen any of the issues you are having, and I am unable to reproduce any of your issues.  Is it just holding both down at the same time or concurrent presses?

[caughtjoo]

N + Keys and Keys + N do not set off the M key.  There may be some shoddy work on some of the boards with the NM area.

[morfinx]

I got mine in last Monday.  Haven't seen any of the issues you are having, and I am unable to reproduce any of your issues.  Is it just holding both down at the same time or concurrent presses?

 
Either way, just make sure both keys are held down. On Aqua Keytest, it would show the 3rd key being pressed as well. I actually went through and done a more exhaustive test and discovered more bad combinations:

x b v
x / \
x F12 Enter
b s f
b CapsLock T
b w r
b 2 4
b F1 5
n x m
n s j
n w u
n 2 7
n F1 6
n CapsLock y
/ CapsLock [
/ s ;
/ w p
/ 2 0
/ F1 -
s F12 \

Just to make sure try Test1 or Test2 on this page provided by RicerCar.

For test 1:

test 1: xem

Directions: Type some keys.


Keys accepted: NSJ
Count: 3

Even though I'm only holding down 'n' and 's'.

For test 2:



I'm ONLY holding "n", "s", "b", and "w".

[caughtjoo]

Not getting any of those errors with Test 1 or Test 2.

[morfinx]

Not getting any of those errors with Test 1 or Test 2.

Bah. Looks like I just got a bad board

[morfinx]

And no stuck modifier keys?  That's weird.

Die Ode!

Not according to Aqua's keytest or the test you posted.

[morfinx]

Not good to have two bad boards.  Diode failures are pretty rare.  Can't think of another reason for this unless there is a firmware bug on early runs.

I thought this is not a new product? It's been out for awhile now, no?

[Warduke]

I thought this is not a new product? It's been out for awhile now, no?

Does yours have a detachable cable? If it does, then it would be the newer version, if not, then old one.

[morfinx]

Does yours have a detachable cable? If it does, then it would be the newer version, if not, then old one.

Yes, it has detachable cable. It came with both a USB cable and a PS/2 one.

[blert]

I've got a recent RK-9000, and I don't seem to be affected.   Probably a bad board.

[Warduke]

Just got my RK-9000 and no problems at all.

[blert]

I've got a recent RK-9000, and I don't seem to be affected.   Probably a bad board.

FWIW, no ping on my RK-9000, either, though I have noticed a slight intermittent squeak from the spacebar.   Very quiet, and very intermittent.  Otherwise, seems to be very solid, smooth, and blue-clicky.   I haven't had it long enough to tell about long-term reliability, but I can't imagine there is much improvement that could be made to the build of this one, relative to a Filco or WASD or whatever.  (Though I am planning on getting a WASD next, if I can decide on blues vs. brown vs. reds).

[VesperSAINT]

I have two friends who ordered the RK-9000RE and both have received boards with, what they described as, "mushy" spacebars or shift keys... I was wanting to buy one of them off them but I'm scared I can't fix this problem without having to do some soldering.. Has any of you had this problem and if so, did any of you guys try fixing it yourselves without needing to solder? I assumed the problem was with the spring and I could just replace them with a new spring and top part of the switch (and maybe even replace it with a MX black switch).

[Mugen]

I got mine ~10 days ago. very solid, so far so issues. you freaked me out and made me test my entire keyboard again with Shift key combos >_<

Anyway, just finished my custom WASD design template so i will be returning it and grabbing one of those bad boys instead.

[sordna]

I got mine ~10 days ago. very solid, so far so issues. you freaked me out and made me test my entire keyboard again with Shift key combos >_<

Anyway, just finished my custom WASD design template so i will be returning it and grabbing one of those bad boys instead.

If you received a good one, keep it man! Getting a WASD is a great choice, but no reason to return a good Rosewill keyboard. You need more than one (or two, or three, or four, ...) keybords anyway, to swap around, for multiple computers, and as backups!