Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[Pacifist]

I have 2 questions.

First one is how likely is it for my keyboard to die after I open it up, voiding the warranty?

Second is is the non backlit keycool 84's PCB have holes for LEDs, ie does it use the same PCB as the keycool 84 with backlighting?

1) I voided the warranty on my Filco about 6 months ago. Haven't had any issues. Dont think opening a keyboard up and voiding the warranty means its instantly going to fail.

2) Probably the same PCB. Easier/cheaper for the comapny to just use 1 PCB for both models. Poker 2 is like that. There's holes for the LEDs in the PCBs even though there's no backlit version yet.

That's what I thought. Time to buy some LED's!

Also if I just solder in LED's, I don't need to do anything else and they will work, right?

EDIT: Opened up keycool 84, no holes in PCB for LEDs

[Melvang]

I have 2 questions.

First one is how likely is it for my keyboard to die after I open it up, voiding the warranty?

Second is is the non backlit keycool 84's PCB have holes for LEDs, ie does it use the same PCB as the keycool 84 with backlighting?

1) I voided the warranty on my Filco about 6 months ago. Haven't had any issues. Dont think opening a keyboard up and voiding the warranty means its instantly going to fail.

2) Probably the same PCB. Easier/cheaper for the comapny to just use 1 PCB for both models. Poker 2 is like that. There's holes for the LEDs in the PCBs even though there's no backlit version yet.

That's what I thought. Time to buy some LED's!

Also if I just solder in LED's, I don't need to do anything else and they will work, right?

EDIT: Opened up keycool 84, no holes in PCB for LEDs

I believe the only other thing you will have to install is the resistor/s but I have no idea what size.

Edit:  Question of my own.  Is the 5 volt power from USB enough to power full sized keyboard back lighting?  Not looking for any funky lighting modes like in some of the Duckys but just want on / off for the whole keyboard.

[Photoelectric]

I'm looking for an answer to a theoretical situation regarding diodes on a PCB.  If one or two are installed incorrectly (reversed orientation), will those switches not work at all, or will there be issues with incorrect keystroke registration instead?  Or any other symptoms?

[Melvang]

I'm looking for an answer to a theoretical situation regarding diodes on a PCB.  If one or two are installed incorrectly (reversed orientation), will those switches not work at all, or will there be issues with incorrect keystroke registration instead?  Or any other symptoms?

At minimum those keys will just not register.  I am not sure how it would affect the rest of the switches in that row/column.  I suppose that might depend on how the matrix is setup.

[Photoelectric]

I'm looking for an answer to a theoretical situation regarding diodes on a PCB.  If one or two are installed incorrectly (reversed orientation), will those switches not work at all, or will there be issues with incorrect keystroke registration instead?  Or any other symptoms?

At minimum those keys will just not register.  I am not sure how it would affect the rest of the switches in that row/column.  I suppose that might depend on how the matrix is setup.

Okay, so it wouldn't be a subtle effect, akin to debounce errors?  Just trying to rule that out as an explanation to key registration errors that look like they come from poor debounce handling.  It's most likely the latter, but I'm making sure...

[Melvang]

I'm looking for an answer to a theoretical situation regarding diodes on a PCB.  If one or two are installed incorrectly (reversed orientation), will those switches not work at all, or will there be issues with incorrect keystroke registration instead?  Or any other symptoms?

At minimum those keys will just not register.  I am not sure how it would affect the rest of the switches in that row/column.  I suppose that might depend on how the matrix is setup.

Okay, so it wouldn't be a subtle effect, akin to debounce errors?  Just trying to rule that out as an explanation to key registration errors that look like they come from poor debounce handling.  It's most likely the latter, but I'm making sure...

It would def not be anything subtle due to the function of the diode.  Essentially they are a one way check valve for electricity.  Blocking it from traveling in the wrong direction.  So if it is installed backwards you would have 2 diodes in the same trace path blocking each other. 

[Photoelectric]

Thanks very much!

[Melvang]

Not a problem.  Now to figure out if USB power will have enough horsepower to run a full sized keyboard worth of LED's.  If it helps they are blue rated for 3.4 volts.

Debating on adding full backlighting to my Das and supplying power from the internal USB hub and using a modded small USB thumb drive for the switch.  Possibly attempting to figure out if I can get them all to either be on steady or the pulse/breathing effect by swapping different modded usb thumb drives.

[Photoelectric]

Full-sized Ducky keyboards have no issues with full backlight and white LEDs (also 3V+).  Didn't have any problems with my CM Storm Trigger, which had additional macro keys that were also backlit.  You're probably fine with that.

[Melvang]

Full-sized Ducky keyboards have no issues with full backlight and white LEDs (also 3V+).  Didn't have any problems with my CM Storm Trigger, which had additional macro keys that were also backlit.  You're probably fine with that.

Cool thanks photo.  I would assume wired in parallel then?

[Photoelectric]

Full-sized Ducky keyboards have no issues with full backlight and white LEDs (also 3V+).  Didn't have any problems with my CM Storm Trigger, which had additional macro keys that were also backlit.  You're probably fine with that.

Cool thanks photo.  I would assume wired in parallel then?

Not sure, seems like they are going in series top-down, based on these photos of a Ducky Shine PCB (side-to-side would be in parallel)

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50784.msg1112489#msg1112489
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48250.msg1074653#msg1074653

[Melvang]

Full-sized Ducky keyboards have no issues with full backlight and white LEDs (also 3V+).  Didn't have any problems with my CM Storm Trigger, which had additional macro keys that were also backlit.  You're probably fine with that.

Cool thanks photo.  I would assume wired in parallel then?

Not sure, seems like they are going in series top-down, based on these photos of a Ducky Shine PCB (side-to-side would be in parallel)

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50784.msg1112489#msg1112489
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48250.msg1074653#msg1074653

It appears to me that they are parallel.  Correct me if I am wrong but series would be connecting + on one LED to - on the next and from that + to the next -.  And parallel would be - to - to - and + to + to +.  In pic 5 on the first link it looks like the traces are - to - to -.  Can't really see the + trace due to probable different layer in the PCB.

[kolonelkadat]

Are you sure they arent matrixed or charlieplexed? I dont think driving all the LEDs at once is a good idea.

[Melvang]

Are you sure they arent matrixed or charlieplexed? I dont think driving all the LEDs at once is a good idea.

I have no idea.  All I really know is standard USB 2.0 is 5 volt at 500mA or 1000mA depending on the board.  Also I have no idea what charlieplexed is and not sure what difference being matrixed would do differently unless that is just a single word term for wiring them in a combination of series and parallel.  I am not an electronics guy by nature. 

[Keytrun]

Is there a way to get the stabilizer pieces (costar) to stay in the keys better? Mine keep falling out on one of my keys.

[Pacifist]

Is there a way to get the stabilizer pieces (costar) to stay in the keys better? Mine keep falling out on one of my keys.

put a piece of tape over it

[Kayliss]

Can anyone tell me where these come from originally?

[jdcarpe]

Can anyone tell me where these come from originally?

Show Image

i3oilermaker had them made. Weezer caps. :)

The first batch turned out too thin, so he had them fixed.

[Kayliss]

i3oilermaker had them made. Weezer caps.

The first batch turned out too thin, so he had them fixed.

Great thanks!

[CPTBadAss]

Is there a way to get the stabilizer pieces (costar) to stay in the keys better? Mine keep falling out on one of my keys.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_YY

[Keytrun]

Is there a way to get the stabilizer pieces (costar) to stay in the keys better? Mine keep falling out on one of my keys.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_YY

I'll try using a little piece of plastic bag. Thank you so much!

Also - I love my filco! I didn't realize how amazing this thing would be. I'm not sure why people buy alumium cases for these things - they're already so damn sturdy! When I had my black widow I just assumed that all plastic keyboards were flimsy and crappy but this is on a whole different level! Does anyone know if the filco is made from ABS or PBT plastic? Thanks!

[noisyturtle]

Why is there never Topre or Alps GBs? Is the Topre design proprietary therefor places like SP or GMK aren't allowed to produce them/there's some exorbitant fee? Or is it a matter of cap makers not having Topre or Alps molds? I'm pretty sure SP has Alps molds, is it because the GB demand would be to low to garner interest to make it worth producing?

[do_Og@n]

Why is there never Topre or Alps GBs? Is the Topre design proprietary therefor places like SP or GMK aren't allowed to produce them/there's some exorbitant fee? Or is it a matter of cap makers not having Topre or Alps molds? I'm pretty sure SP has Alps molds, is it because the GB demand would be to low to garner interest to make it worth producing?

Topre - Not a lot of companies have the molds for Topre keycaps and I'm sure the only company that would do it isn't interested. Hard to say though because I've never tried.

ALPS - You are correct about this one. On top of lack of interest there are so many different configurations for ALPS keyboards that it would make putting the GB together extremely difficult.

[noisyturtle]

That's a shame. Even one coordinated Alps GB colab with DT would be epic, if not only to say that it happened.

[Keytrun]

Do the wire stabs come out of the little black plastic pieces on the filco? I can't get them out. For that matter, do the black plastic pieces that hold the wire come out? I can't get them out either.'

EDIT: I'm curious: are keyboard switches supposed to be a little "stiffer" when you first get the keyboard? I feel like my keys are a little "stiff". Any ideas?

[SpAmRaY]

That's a shame. Even one coordinated Alps GB colab with DT would be epic, if not only to say that it happened.

There's been an ALPS buy that has been in the interest check stage for a while now.

[Ch0nG]

How do you reprogram an already setup Ergodox?

I have the keyboard plugged in, I ran the Teensy loader and selected the Hex file I got from Massdrop's configurator. I click "Auto" and then nothing happens. The Verbose output on Teensy loader says (I renamed the hex file):
00:27:19: Teensy Loader 1.15, begin program
00:27:19: File "colemak.hex". 9012 bytes, 28% used
00:27:19: Listening for remote control on port 3149
00:27:19: initialized, showing main window
00:27:31: Verbose Info event
00:27:41: Auto Button event
00:27:41: Auto mode: enabled

Nothing else appeared to happen after that, I even had it sit for 10 minutes. Does it normally take long to reprogram it? Or am I just doing something wrong?

[Larken]

How do you reprogram an already setup Ergodox?

I have the keyboard plugged in, I ran the Teensy loader and selected the Hex file I got from Massdrop's configurator. I click "Auto" and then nothing happens. The Verbose output on Teensy loader says (I renamed the hex file):
00:27:19: Teensy Loader 1.15, begin program
00:27:19: File "colemak.hex". 9012 bytes, 28% used
00:27:19: Listening for remote control on port 3149
00:27:19: initialized, showing main window
00:27:31: Verbose Info event
00:27:41: Auto Button event
00:27:41: Auto mode: enabled

Nothing else appeared to happen after that, I even had it sit for 10 minutes. Does it normally take long to reprogram it? Or am I just doing something wrong?

I normally hit the teensy button (there should be one programmed in if the previous owner didn't change the layout too much, if not, press the physical button on the teensy) before I go into automode. Programming it should take less than 2 seconds.

[Keytrun]

Is there a way to set up media keys on a Filco? Is there a way to change the windows key into a function key so I can use things like fn+f11 / f12 for volume down / up?

Edit: I found Autohotkey and this seems to work fine. Anyone know if it takes a lot of resources / creates any issues? I've got ctl + arrow keys set up for my media controls.

[Melvang]

Is there a way to set up media keys on a Filco? Is there a way to change the windows key into a function key so I can use things like fn+f11 / f12 for volume down / up?

Edit: I found Autohotkey and this seems to work fine. Anyone know if it takes a lot of resources / creates any issues? I've got ctl + arrow keys set up for my media controls.

As far as I know the only issue with AHK is the lack of Mac compatibility.

[CPTBadAss]

Does anyone know if the filco is made from ABS or PBT plastic? Thanks!

Think the body is ABS. Caps are ABS.

Why is there never Topre or Alps GBs? Is the Topre design proprietary therefor places like SP or GMK aren't allowed to produce them/there's some exorbitant fee? Or is it a matter of cap makers not having Topre or Alps molds? I'm pretty sure SP has Alps molds, is it because the GB demand would be to low to garner interest to make it worth producing?

Topre has some kind of contracting or something? There's some form of legality that is blocking Topre GBs, I think. I never quite understood it.

SP has *some* Alps molds but as I understand it, there's been a lot of missing molds. Calavera has an IC open for Alps keycaps and discovered that SP had some molds missing. Also there are so many different Alps setups with all the keyboards. For example, a set that would fit a FK-2001 wouldn't fit a Dell AT101W and those sets wouldn't fit on a Ducky 1087XM. Some company would have to have so many different molds and it seems that that vareity of molds has gone away. That being said, Matias is working on Alps compatible keycaps and has said they're doing a 60% Alps GB. Sprit has suggested he's doing a TKL/75%/60% Alps GB with compatible cases as well. And in general, I think there's low interest in Topre/Alps stuff.

Edit: Apparently Topre has exclusive manufacturing rights or something? Check out this post from EliteKeyboards.

I'm curious: are keyboard switches supposed to be a little "stiffer" when you first get the keyboard? I feel like my keys are a little "stiff". Any ideas?

The switches need to wear in. They'll be a little stiff for now.

I found Autohotkey and this seems to work fine. Anyone know if it takes a lot of resources / creates any issues?

AHK will work fine. Maybe people on the forum use it to remap their keyboards without issue.

[swill]

Is there a way to set up media keys on a Filco? Is there a way to change the windows key into a function key so I can use things like fn+f11 / f12 for volume down / up?

Edit: I found Autohotkey and this seems to work fine. Anyone know if it takes a lot of resources / creates any issues? I've got ctl + arrow keys set up for my media controls.

As far as I know the only issue with AHK is the lack of Mac compatibility.

On my Mac I use KeyRemap4MacBook and it works pretty well...

[Pacifist]

How much would it cost to ship 3 keycaps to the UK?

[CPTBadAss]

How much would it cost to ship 3 keycaps to the UK?

Last time I sent a small package to the UK, I think it had a handful of caps and o-rings, it cost around $6-8 from the USA. I usually ship from the Post Office itself and not online. USPS should have a calculator as well.

[Ch0nG]

I normally hit the teensy button (there should be one programmed in if the previous owner didn't change the layout too much, if not, press the physical button on the teensy) before I go into automode. Programming it should take less than 2 seconds.

Thank you for the assistance. The layout had a Teensy button but I don't think I was utilizing it properly. I just pushed physical button on the Teensy after loading the layout then clicked "Auto" and it programmed the board.

[Pacifist]

Just got my NIB PS2 g80-11900. First time using PS2 on my MSI motherboard, and its not registering. Any help?

I'm getting a belkin PS2 to USB converter later, will that help if its the motherboard's problem?

[CPTBadAss]

Just got my NIB PS2 g80-11900. First time using PS2 on my MSI motherboard, and its not registering. Any help?

I'm getting a belkin PS2 to USB converter later, will that help if its the motherboard's problem?

Did you restart your computer after you plugged in the keyboard?

[jdcarpe]

Just got my NIB PS2 g80-11900. First time using PS2 on my MSI motherboard, and its not registering. Any help?

I'm getting a belkin PS2 to USB converter later, will that help if its the motherboard's problem?

Did you restart the PC after connecting to PS/2?



Edit: One second ninja, CPT? Really?!?!

[CPTBadAss]

I beat JD by 1 second. I am the champion.  )

[esoomenona]

For more clarification, PS/2 isn't hot-swappable, thus you can't unplug and plug things in on the fly, which is why they said to reboot.

[Pacifist]

Ah. Thanks for all the help! I'm going to need to reboot later tonight, the desktop is doing some stuff....

Gotta say, you guys are the best!

[kmiller8]

For more clarification, PS/2 isn't hot-swappable, thus you can't unplug and plug things in on the fly, which is why they said to reboot.

I thought PS/2 wasn't plug-n-play capable, I have unplugged and plugged in different PS/2 keyboards when I was testing them. However my computer would have to boot with a PS/2 keyboard in the motherboard when the computer turned on in order to "enable" the PS/2 port.

[jdcarpe]

[Pacifist]

Another question. Once I get my PS2 to USB cable, do I need to reboot for the keyboard to work?

[CPTBadAss]

Another question. Once I get my PS2 to USB cable, do I need to reboot for the keyboard to work?

No, with the PS2-to-USB adapter, you won't have to.

[esoomenona]

It depends on what it is? If it's an active adapter, no. The active adapter will convert the PS/2 signal into a USB HID signal. Thus, it would be like plugging in any other USB keyboard.

A passive one? I'm not entirely certain.

[CPTBadAss]

Yeah you're right moose, I shouldve stated that. My adapter is an active one from mkawa.

[Pacifist]

Its this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Belkin-F5U119E-PS2-to-USB-Adapter-Converter-Keyboard-Mouse-Barcode-Scanner-/270962163563

[CPTBadAss]

Its this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Belkin-F5U119E-PS2-to-USB-Adapter-Converter-Keyboard-Mouse-Barcode-Scanner-/270962163563

Pretty sure that's the one that Akimbo sent out with his Model F and it was active.

[Pacifist]

Its this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Belkin-F5U119E-PS2-to-USB-Adapter-Converter-Keyboard-Mouse-Barcode-Scanner-/270962163563

Pretty sure that's the one that Akimbo sent out with his Model F and it was active.

Thanks for the help! Can't wait to get this baby up and running