Widespreadness of CODE ping, and fixing it

[rowdy]

Massdrop are dropping CODEs again.  Original great find thread from the last drop 12 months ago.

Ping.  Apparently CODE has it in buckets.

True or false?  Is it a limited batch, or just random samples, that have bad ping?  It's usually (only) the vocal minority that complain, so I'd like to hear from anyone with a CODE with MX clear and little or no ping.

What can be done to correct it?

You can search for yourself as several solutions are offered (including fiddling with the springs in the switches), but one fairly simple solution that appeals to be is placing a layer of some thickish rubbery material, like drawer liner, inside the keyboard under the plate to internally dampen the sound.

Has anyone tried this solution, and did it work?

A TKL with clears (and white backlighting is a plus) is one of the very few keyboards still on my wish list, and this drop would be convenient.  Unless someone can convince me otherwise.

MX clear keyboards are hard to find down here, especially with backlighting, so I don't want to have to consider returning it.  A little ping I can live with, but the overhyped pinggate has me worried.  Thoughts?  Comments?  Suggestions?

[colomb]

My first mechanical keyboard was a CODE TKL with clears. I used it for a couple weeks then returned it because I couldn't get over some of the stabilizer rattle. In hindsight, I could have easily addressed those issues, but I was still very new to the game. Pinging was never an issue with mine though.

[iamtootallforthis]

I would recommend getting it. WASD keyboards are solid and like you said the ping can be solved easily with drawer liner. It's Costar stabs which will need to be kept lubed but other than that I love my WASD V2 TKL with Browns.

[rowdy]

My first mechanical keyboard was a CODE TKL with clears. I used it for a couple weeks then returned it because I couldn't get over some of the stabilizer rattle. In hindsight, I could have easily addressed those issues, but I was still very new to the game. Pinging was never an issue with mine though.

I don't mind Costar stabilisers.  It is more awkward to swap keycaps, but in the environment where this keyboard will be used (work) that is likely to happen far less often.

I would recommend getting it. WASD keyboards are solid and like you said the ping can be solved easily with drawer liner. It's Costar stabs which will need to be kept lubed but other than that I love my WASD V2 TKL with Browns.

Actually I'm not certain whether it can be fixed with the application of a rubber mat.  It was one possible solution on a page that listed half a dozen solutions.  I'm wondering whether anyone has tried it and whether it worked, in a CODE or any other keyboard that pings.

[rpeterclark]

I had a CODE with clears, built like a tank, loved it, but it pinged like a mofo. I embraced the ping, so I can't comment on effective ways to reduce it.

[daerid]

I have two CODEs with Clears. The 104 key pings like a mofo, but the 87key is pretty quiet. Just lube the stabilizers and get some decent keycaps, and they'll do ya right.

[rowdy]

I have two CODEs with Clears. The 104 key pings like a mofo, but the 87key is pretty quiet. Just lube the stabilizers and get some decent keycaps, and they'll do ya right.

Are they from the same batch?  Perhaps an older batch?

I read a comment somewhere saying one older batch had really bad ping, and a newer batch had almost no ping.

I'm hoping that if this is a design problem, then it has been fixed.  Otherwise there could be a lot of disappointed Massdrop subscribers (117 at last count)!

[daerid]

I have two CODEs with Clears. The 104 key pings like a mofo, but the 87key is pretty quiet. Just lube the stabilizers and get some decent keycaps, and they'll do ya right.

Are they from the same batch?  Perhaps an older batch?

I don't think so. 104 S/N starts with VB44 while 87 starst with VB74 (I'm assuming it means the 87 is from a later batch).

[rowdy]

I have two CODEs with Clears. The 104 key pings like a mofo, but the 87key is pretty quiet. Just lube the stabilizers and get some decent keycaps, and they'll do ya right.

Are they from the same batch?  Perhaps an older batch?

I don't think so. 104 S/N starts with VB44 while 87 starst with VB74 (I'm assuming it means the 87 is from a later batch).

Then perhaps the ping has been fixed, or at least reduced, in more recent batches.

Here's hoping, because I just ordered one!

Thanks for the input

[saturnotaku]

Most any MX/MX clone board can suffer from ping. Some are worse than others. I've had a Razer BlackWidow Stealth, a BlackWidow Tournament Chroma Stealth, and a WASD CODE with MX browns where the pinging was minimal at worst. Any keyboard I've had with MX clears, including a CODE TKL and KUL ES-87, have pinged like crazy. As great as its feature set is, I personally would not recommend spending the money on the Massdrop. If I didn't absolutely love the BlackWidow Chroma, I'd really be regretting selling my MX brown CODE.

[rowdy]

Most any MX/MX clone board can suffer from ping. Some are worse than others. I've had a Razer BlackWidow Stealth, a BlackWidow Tournament Chroma Stealth, and a WASD CODE with MX browns where the pinging was minimal at worst. Any keyboard I've had with MX clears, including a CODE TKL and KUL ES-87, have pinged like crazy. As great as its feature set is, I personally would not recommend spending the money on the Massdrop. If I didn't absolutely love the BlackWidow Chroma, I'd really be regretting selling my MX brown CODE.

Too late

Already spent.  This is cheaper for me than buying one directly from WASD, and these don't often appear in classifieds.

Of all my MX keyboard, only one had a little bit of ping that was not consistent across the board, and even that seems to have pretty much disappeared.

But this will be my first keyboard with clears, and I wondered whether it was clears that triggered the pinging in particular.

[saturnotaku]

But this will be my first keyboard with clears, and I wondered whether it was clears that triggered the pinging in particular.

Any keyboard I've had with stiff(er) springs that weren't already lubricated caused the keyboard to ping. The exception is MX green, but that's because the click overrides any secondary noise.

[rowdy]

But this will be my first keyboard with clears, and I wondered whether it was clears that triggered the pinging in particular.

Any keyboard I've had with stiff(er) springs that weren't already lubricated caused the keyboard to ping. The exception is MX green, but that's because the click overrides any secondary noise.

Hmmm...

The one keyboard I had noticeable ping was my Ducky Shine 3 Yellow Edition with MX blacks.  I'm using it now, and there is almost no ping at all ...

[saturnotaku]

If you notice it going away with use, then I imagine the CODE would be the same way. I never used those keyboards long enough for that to happen. At least in the case of MX clears, I also found that I didn't care for the feel of the switches. It's strange I know because I really like greens.

[rowdy]

I'm hoping so, if it pings at all.

Ideally, of course, it would not ping at all.

Next best is that the ping goes away by itself.

Third best is that I can insert a sheet of drawer liner inside the keyboard (voiding warranty, unfortunately) to dampen the ping.

Anything else involes tools, materials and/or techniques that I do not have.

[HalfSharkAlligator]

Hey rowdy, did you ever get your CODE, and if so how have you been liking it?  It's up on MD again, and I'm considering it.  I have a Leopold TKL already, but want another nice TKL with Clears. 

[rowdy]

It is in transit at the moment.  Another week or two and I should have it in my hot little hands!

I noticed the new drop, sigh, it usually takes around 3 weeks before stuff arrives down here, but you'd think they might have waited at least a week longer )

[KHAANNN]

I started with WASD's, complained about the pings for quite some time, theorised how and why they could be happening etc.

There are two topics:
1) Sound stage (case mods, plate)
2) Ping (springs)

Most people combine these two erroneously, make sound stage improvements to prevent the ping, which in my opinion is faulty
The WASD case is very hefty yet empty, that's why it doesn't have a good sound stage in my opinion, there are a lot of empty space to amplify the pings, I think that's why people associate pings with WASD's, otherwise all stock keyboards have it

The only solution to switch pings is to lube the springs

So just de-solder the keyboard when you get it, lube the switches, fill the case with whatever you can find and enjoy a great keyboard with an awesome sound stage (sponges and stuff)

I also recently re-considered WASD V2/Code's, as hasu's PS2_to_USB Teensy based converter is extremely simple to make, it upgrades WASD's to NKRO over USB and adds programmability, however, I skipped, the WASD cases gets too dirty with my usage since I tend to grab the keyboard from the sides

Anyway, long story short, you can't prevent the ping without de-soldering + lubing

[rowdy]

Not quite what I wanted to hear.  That would take me about a year to do, simply through lack of time.

Hopefully mine, when it arrives, will be ping free!

If not, I can try drawer liner or something to line the case, as that is a simple option (but would still void the warranty).  Otherwise the path ahead seems clear, if very, very long ...

[KHAANNN]

Not quite what I wanted to hear.  That would take me about a year to do, simply through lack of time.

Hopefully mine, when it arrives, will be ping free!

If not, I can try drawer liner or something to line the case, as that is a simple option (but would still void the warranty).  Otherwise the path ahead seems clear, if very, very long ...

WASD is a great company with great ownership, they stand behind their keyboards no matter what you do (send replacement parts etc.)

Opening the case is challenging, you have to warp the plastic (it's sturdy tho, much sturdier than it appears)

So while you open the case, it's a good idea to make the re-soldering+modding too

It's an extremely slim possibility for a stock keyboard to be ping-free, even in that case, it won't be ping-free, but a silent pinger (it depends on how well the spring grabs the switch bottom, so at 87 switches and 50% possibility, it's like (1/2)^87)

Just accept your faith and lube the switches, or live with the pings

There is also the Massdrop curse in play, so if you ordered yours from Massdrop, anything that could go wrong and more will go wrong

[rowdy]

Actually GMK TA was the first thing I had shipped from Massdrop (and the reason I joined Massdrop) that did not arrive 100% perfect.  Although a brief inspectino last night did not reveal any noticable scratches despite the random arrangement of keycaps when it arrived.

I'll know in a week or two ...

[rowdy]

The CODE with MX clears arrived earlier this week, but for reasons I was not allowed to open it until today.

There does seem to be a little gentle ping across the board, more like a gentle chime that sounds when I'm typing, pretty much on all keys, so I'm guessing it's more the plate than the switches.

This is in a fairly quiet room, and I suspect that with a little background noise the ping would fade somewhat.

I have not had a chance to do much typing on it (this post is actually the most I have typed on this keyboard, and on MX clears in general), but so far I feel that I could get very used to this, even with the little ping that it has.

[Elrick]

There does seem to be a little gentle ping across the board, more like a gentle chime that sounds when I'm typing, pretty much on all keys, so I'm guessing it's more the plate than the switches.

Confused here, why are some people complaining about a little 'ping' with their Cherry-based keyboards yet no one complains about any Model-M and it's ear shattering PINGS?

Just get any type of Model-M and notice the noise from that when typing furiously, maybe because Model-Ms are so loved and endeared amongst everyone here on GH, that the pinging sound isn't a bother anymore.

Have a CODE TKL with Greens and it doesn't ping, maybe only the larger keyboards do that, so who knows.......

[rowdy]

There does seem to be a little gentle ping across the board, more like a gentle chime that sounds when I'm typing, pretty much on all keys, so I'm guessing it's more the plate than the switches.

Confused here, why are some people complaining about a little 'ping' with their Cherry-based keyboards yet no one complains about any Model-M and it's ear shattering PINGS?

Just get any type of Model-M and notice the noise from that when typing furiously, maybe because Model-Ms are so loved and endeared amongst everyone here on GH, that the pinging sound isn't a bother anymore.

Have a CODE TKL with Greens and it doesn't ping, maybe only the larger keyboards do that, so who knows.......

That's cause a Model M is supposed to ping, whereas MX-based keyboards are not.

This ping, or gentle chime as I prefer to think of it, doesn't seem to have anything much to do with the actuation of the switches, in contradistinction to the Model M, it is just sympathetic vibration of something inside the keyboard.

[saturnotaku]

There does seem to be a little gentle ping across the board, more like a gentle chime that sounds when I'm typing, pretty much on all keys, so I'm guessing it's more the plate than the switches.

If it gets to be a bother, then the aforementioned drawer liner mod would probably fix it, or at least reduce it to the point of being a non-issue.

[pr0ximity]

I don't have experience with a CODE, but I do have experience eliminating ping from a Filco. Drawer liner did a bit and definitely dampened a majority of it, but the only way for the ping to be completely eliminated was to lube the ends of the springs.

[Oobly]

Lube the spring, kill the ping.

[rowdy]

I'm enjoying the keyboard too much at the moment to think about disassembling it!

So far so good, the ping, such as it is, I really don't mind.

I'm also not bottoming out all the time, which is something new for me.

But this sentence was typed with extra strong keypresses and lots of bottoming out and just feels wrong on the MX clears.

But the ping did not increased, so I guess it is not related to how hard you press the keys )

[samsam]

Hi guys,

Hope one of you would have experience with this..
I got the KUL ES-87 with MX-Clears and the reseller i got it from suggested i look at this.

http://www.akoestiekwinkel.nl/stp-gold-geluidsisolerende-ontdreuningsplaten

The only location i can put this on is the top of the metal plate or the whole plastic case (nooks and crannies)...

On my Leopold FC660M is an oasis of silence clicking noise of my MX-clears soft landing with my blue o-rings (got them from china not the expensive WASD).
So i got the tactile feel of MX-Clears with almost no resonance on my Leopold ..

But the KUL ES-87 sounds more like an instrument and doesn't feel as nice as my Leopold that's why i'm looking at this as perhaps a solution..

i asked KUL for support or help..But after a couple of weeks of waiting the only respons that i got was in regard to the squeaking nose one of my keys made..
That i needed to lube the keyboard.. (are you mad ...i just payed $150 you could at least provide me with a perfectly lubed keyboard ) ..
And a remark about mechanical key-boards and mx-clears being noise or something like that..

My god the level of support is awful So i need to solve it myself ..i guess..

[samsam]

I have two CODEs with Clears. The 104 key pings like a mofo, but the 87key is pretty quiet. Just lube the stabilizers and get some decent keycaps, and they'll do ya right.

oh man do i hate my OCD nature 
i respect people that can ignore stuff like that..my wife also is a Zen master when it comes to that chit..
my Compliments on the Zen mastery 

[KHAANNN]

The only real solution: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34332.450

I'm also obsessive, this is the price to pay, desoldering + modding + re-soldering, if you're willing to pay, pay it, otherwise try to become a zen master yourself

Edit: This is an issue with all springed switches by the way, unless they are dampened with lube, they all resonate and ping, and no switch comes pre-lubed (for the sake of the argument, no switch comes pre-lubed, but actually some started pre-lubing switches recently, but definitely not keyboard manufacturers)

[rowdy]

You can try placing a sheet (or two) of drawer liner in the case under the PCB and plate.  That might dampen it enough to stop, or at least reduce, the pinging.

If not, apparently the only solution is to lube the switches.