Poker Mods - What Am I Missing?

[mashby]

After getting a Vortex/KBT Race and playing with it for the past week, I've convinced myself that a Vortex/KBT Poker is a better fit. Being new to the scene, I've been reading through the forums to see what are some of the more common modifications and tweaks and I'm just curious if I'm missing anything.

Poker Mods / Customizations:

• Installing foam under the PCB [link]
• Remounting the Switches to a Stainless Steel Plate [link]
• Switching to a custom metal case [link]
• Changing springs and/or stems [link]
• Inserting Stickers between the top and bottom switch housings on the switches [link]
• Lubing the switches [link]
• Soft-Landing Pads [link]
• O-Ring Switch Dampers [link]
• Custom USB Cable [link]
• and of course... Swapping Key Caps

Am I missing anything?

[The_Beast]

That looks like a pretty complete list but I would skip the soft landing pads and O-rings. I don't really like the feel of o-rings

[mashby]

That looks like a pretty complete list but I would skip the soft landing pads and O-rings. I don't really like the feel of o-rings

What is it you don't like about those two mods?

Also, does that mean you do like the sticker mod?

[TheQsanity]

post pics when you do them.

O-rings and pads are okay. I have some on my pokers. mostly the outside switches. I cant tell enough to tell. hehe

[The_Beast]

The plate has made the biggest difference out of all of those. Lubing would come second.

Stickers are, IDk, not really worth the time unless you have time to waste. If you really think about what they do, it's not much.

[jdcarpe]

Don't forget about swapping stems and/or springs. You can try different switches if you have the stems and springs for it, without even desoldering the switches.

[mashby]

Don't forget about swapping stems and/or springs. You can try different switches if you have the stems and springs for it, without even desoldering the switches.

Added. Thank you for reminding me of that option!

[TheQsanity]

I prefer pbc, does poker plate make that muchof a difference?

[SmallFry]

Yes, indeed it does.

[mashby]

I prefer pbc, does poker plate make that muchof a difference?

From what I've read, it provides a more solid feel and doesn't have as much flex. Someone that has one can probably speak to it better than me though.

[jdcarpe]

Eliminates PCB flex. I defy anyone to install a stainless steel plate on their Poker, then provide measurable evidence of flex using some sort of device. It just ain't there.

[The_Beast]

Like I said, it's the one that makes the most noticeable difference. I didn't hate my poker before plate modding it, but it's for sure my favorite keyboard after adding the plate.

[samwisekoi]

I have been working on yet another Poker mod for the past week; fixing the evil Escape/tilde bug and (optionally) moving the up-arrow key off of the Shift_R key.

The Escape key mod takes two small wires, one cut trace and two lines of xmodmap or AutoHotKey.

Details to follow...

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[TheQsanity]

Does it feel okay? say for something like a QFR. Is the Poker plate better in any way or would you say it is the same or unnoticeable.

[WhiteFireDragon]

I personally like O-rings. I have them on all my keyboard for the purpose of shortening travel distance and dampens the harsh clacks of bottoming out. I've noticed that with O-rings, people will either love them or hate them, not much of an in between. It's a cheap mod though and very easy to reverse, so it doesn't hurt to try yourself.

[TheQsanity]

Eh with my reds I don't notice flex or bottom out. I like to think of my poker as a portable mechanical keyboard.

[mashby]

I have been working on yet another Poker mod for the past week; fixing the evil Escape/tilde bug and (optionally) moving the up-arrow key off of the Shift_R key.

I'm not familiar with this bug. Can you explain exactly what this mod does?

[jdcarpe]

When the Poker has the 'Esc-lock' on (Fn-"Q"), the "~" key acts as Esc. You should be able to press Fn-"~" in that mode to use the "~" character, but it doesn't work. It still sends the Esc character.