Modifier keys (Shift, Alt, etc.) not working on Zowie Celeritas keyboard in Linux

[FSund]

Have anyone heard of this problem before, and know if there's anything to do about it?

I just got my first mechanical keyboard, a Zowie Celeritas Pro. But after connecting it to my laptop running Xubuntu (temporary while I wait for my RMA'd motherboard), none of the modifier keys seem to work. I've tried connecting the keyboard to a machine running Windows 7, and everything works like it should there.

I tried searching, and I found some similar issues, but no solutions. Apparently it's some kind of driver issue, that needs to be fixed by Zowie.
 - https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/24505

[davkol]

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[FSund]

Just tried it, and all of the modifier keys are registered as exactly the same as my laptop's keyboard.

Code: [Select]

$ sudo showkey
kb mode was RAW
[ if you are trying this under X, it might not work
since the X server is also reading /dev/console ]

press any key (program terminates 10s after last keypress)...
keycode  28 release
keycode  42 press # Left Shift
keycode  42 release
keycode  29 press # Left Ctrl
keycode  29 release
keycode 125 press # Windows button
keycode 125 release
keycode  56 press # Left Alt
keycode  56 release
keycode 100 press # AltGr
keycode 100 release
keycode 127 press # Menu button
keycode 127 release
keycode  97 press # Right Ctrl
keycode  97 release
keycode  54 press # Right Shift
keycode  54 release

[urbanus]

The link in your post answers your question, I think: it appears that there are quirks in the way this keyboard sends scan codes, which may be fixed in future with an updated X11 driver.

Do you have an active ps/2 to USB adapter (i.e. one with an embedded chip and probably a little LED that lights up when connected)?  If so, try chaining through that: Zowie keyboard --> USB to ps/2 adapter --> active ps/2 to USB adapter --> computer.  The theory is that if the chip in the active adapter can "understand" your keyboard it might work, because the chip simulates a USB keyboard.

I can't guarantee success, but I've seen this trick work for other similar weird keyboard compatibility issues.  If you try it, please post back here with results.

[FSund]

I think I already answered in this thread, but my post seems to have disappeared somehow..?

Anyway: I tried the trick you mentioned, after reading about it in another thread here on GH. I'm using the purple USB to PS/2 adapter that came with the keyboard, and a generic 2xPS/2 to 1xUSB adapter that I got from Dealextreme a while back. And now the keyboard works (almost) perfect! The "greater than/smaller than"-key next to the left shift, and the media keys on the F-buttons don't work, but I guess this is caused by the keyboard just getting some generic drivers now:

Before:

Code: [Select]


$ lsusb
[...]
Bus 007 Device 002: ID 2345:0101  
[...]

Now:

Code: [Select]


$ lsusb
[...]
Bus 007 Device 005: ID 13ba:0017 Unknown PS/2 Keyboard+Mouse Adapter
[...]


Thanks a lot! Now I just have to hone my typing technique (I'm using most of my fingers, but not in a very organized way, and I make a lot of errors), as I'm only getting around 70 wpm at max.

[chad]

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=46491#c3 - worked for me