The Chyrosran22 keyboard has now shipped! Below is a photo of this keyboard. Chyros has a beige UK ISO F104 keyboard with a solenoid, some keys from the Mopar Blue addon set, stepped Caps Lock, and the Model M-specific add-on keys Tab, Print Screen, and Pause/Break.
I have also put together a summary of the various updates since Chyros's F77 review, for those wondering what has been going on with the project in recent years:
No more QMK web site: The old QMK is gone, not even an option on these keyboards any more. The firmware is now exclusively Vial, thanks to DT forum member NathanA. Can use the Vial program for offline use or go to the web site Vial.rocks using a Chrome-based browser. You don't have to load any configuration files as the keyboard is recognized natively by both those options. The latest firmware is flashed on each 104/SSK, so it is not necessary to flash anything to change your keymap options. New firmware is now flashed with a bat file or .sh file for linux instead of directly flashing a hex file. This means that it's a few steps now, but all you have to do to flash new firmware is install the atmega drivers, download the QMK-layout-files.zip file from the manual, and double click the bat file that you want to flash. The bat files are named to correspond with the keyboard, round, and layout, for example "f104 r2 ansi HHKB Split Backspace.bat" is for the round 2 Model M style f104 keyboard with ANSI style layout (ANSI style Enter and left shift), HHKB style modifications (split right shift and swapped caps/ctrl), and split backspace. The bootloader mode is accessible by a key combination or more easily by clicking the Enter Bootloader button in the pandrew utility available in that same zip file mentioned above.
All in stock instead of made to order: The F104 and FSSK variations are now all in stock. Shipping started in September and the backlog will continue shipping this month and should wrap up next month. As opposed to the made-to-order nature of the prior projects, I made many extra keyboards so that everyone can still order from current stock in the near future and get a keyboard from this completed batch.
Clear order status now at the top of the Updates page: The top of the Updates page now describes a detailed order status for each item, for those eager to see when their keyboard is expected to finish assembly and/or ship. I also detailed all of the reasons behind the tooling and production delays (one main issue was getting the cases right - delays were due to both the time to complete the tooling to make the new die cast molds for the cases as well as making sure the production quality of the cases met my standards).
Case material is now die cast aluminum instead of die cast zinc but the keyboard is still very heavy because the layout is bigger. This allowed the package weight to remain about the same so I didn't have to pass along a shipping cost increase. The case was designed to look like the Model M on top, but with the bottom being modified to be more like the XT bottom cases (just a curved metal plate) so I didn't have to make a mold for the bottom cases and so the thicker Model F inner assembly could fit in a Model M-sized case. The case bolts are now countersunk and T8. There is now a spot inside each keyboard case to mount both the solenoid and driver. There is a choice of 12 LED overlay options.
Controllers: The F104/FSSK controllers are still the ATMEGA32 based open source design, but they now support 3 LEDs and a solenoid at the same time, thanks to updates by pandrew and wcass. The RP2040 based open source controller developed by forum member Rico ("the Leyden Jar controller") is not used with the 104/SSK, but it was completed and is being used in all of the 122 keyboards as this controller supports 18x8 matrix (2 extra columns) compared to the ATMEGA controllers which support a 16x8 matrix. It is also exclusively Vial, no QMK. There are plans to extend support of this controller to the other new Model F keyboards for future compatibility once the ATMEGA chip goes away. Two of the most talked about new features planned but not yet implemented are PS/2 support and the ability to connect one Leyden Jar controller to another Leyden Jar controller for the purposes of using the controller in a split keyboard like the Split Ortholinear Model F Keyboard. This controller has the advantage of more memory for complex macros and layers, but I have not seen any real-world performance differences. The optional solenoid can be powered on and off by a key combination.
NKRO: NKRO remains disabled by default for compatibility reasons; the manual describes a Vial option that can be set up to toggle NKRO.
Reorganized manual: The manual has been thoroughly updated and reorganized based on feedback over the past few years. An hour-long, step-by-step setup video has been created and the included green booklet now instructs everyone to follow the video and manual exclusively to set up their keyboard. The manual is now comprehensive and it includes every setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting step needed for a new Model F keyboard, so folks won't have to spend hours trying to think of their own way to do something. One no longer needs to visit any other web sites or consult any other manuals unless you want to do something advanced like compiling your own firmware. I have also been more vocal about the project philosophy, writing it up at the top of the manual and discussing it elsewhere, which explains the reasons behind the project philosophy focusing on teaching everyone how to maintain their Model F for life instead of relying on Genius Bar type folks to answer every question for you for the one-year warranty period and then encourage you to buy the newer model because it is impossible to repair the current product in a cost effective way. My position is that the current manual is the only place you need to go for the Model F and almost every possible issue can be fixed on your own by reading the manual from start to finish instead of emailing me directly for any issue. I also created a "Model F vs. Model M - what are the differences" video and put it on the home page as that appears to have been a big help. Other small changes for clarity: for example, Right Ctrl is now Right Ctrl and not Fn as it was before (the key between right Alt and Right Ctrl is now the Fn key).
Big price drops on previous Model F project: It has been 9 years (!) since the Brand New Model F Keyboards project started and now the original models have been discounted by a couple hundred dollars as that project draws nearer to a close, so those with smaller spending abilities can pick up a smaller layout new Model F for as low as $175.
Status of F122 and Round 2 Beam Spring projects: Hopefully around year end (or maybe early next year) the next container ship will be here or on its way here for the next batch, which will contain the F122 and Round 2 beam spring keyboards. The factory is wrapping up assembly this month on the F122 keyboards, which have all finished production, and they are finishing up the final prototypes of each beam spring keyboard model for my review. The beam spring project has taken far longer than expected but since we may only do one production run, I want to make sure everything is correct.
Current factory set Fn keys:
Hold down Fn+Spacebar+
T–>Toggle the Solenoid On/Off Any key HPT_TOG
+= Increase Solenoid dwell time HPT_DWLI
-_ Decrease Solenoid dwell time HPT_DWLD
E–>EEPROM Reset
R–>Reset (enter bootloader)
D–>Debug
Hold down the keys Fn+
Esc–>Power
F1–>Brightness Down
F2–>Brightness Up
F6–>Media Stop
F7–>Media Prev
F8–>Media Play
F9–>Media Next
F10–>Media Mute
F11–>Vol Down
F12–>Vol Up
Print Screen–>Eject
