cheapest programmable tkl options

[hoffs1]

So I have been digging around quite a lot lately about programmable tkl options. Most of which seem to be self-built boards. But even those end up costing a lot. Cheapest option seems so far QFR with frosty, but  it doesn't look great and overall is quite limiting. Phantom PCB's seems to be out of stock for quite a while. So other pcbs seem to be B.87 or GoN TKL. Also there is still upcoming Input Club K-Type, but it's still coming and the price is not defined. So what else am I missing? Are there prebuilts with TKL form factor which are programmable?

[blighty]

Plum topre-clone boards are programmable and somewhat cheap?



https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Plum-plum-108-rgb-35-45-realforce-capacitor-keyboard/32737960095.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.bY9MWW&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_6_10065_10130_10068_433_434_10136_10137_10138_10060_10062_10141_202_10056_10055_10054_10059_10531_10099_10530_129_10103_10102_10096_10052_10144_10053_10050_10107_10142_10051_10106_10143_10526_10529_10084_10083_10080_10082_10081_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_10078_10079_10073_10070_10122_10123_10124,searchweb201603_4,afswitch_1,ppcSwitch_4,single_sort_0_default&btsid=cf8de410-2251-467d-957e-a0c67b75fa1b&algo_expid=139b2457-5e27-4f0d-8324-961149c5fa57-0&algo_pvid=139b2457-5e27-4f0d-8324-961149c5fa57

[klennkellon]

A second hand/used Quickfire Rapid with a Frosty Flake controller.

[henz]

A second hand/used Quickfire Rapid with a Frosty Flake controller.

this can be cheap, but somewhat cumbersome to achieve.

[Tactile]

One way to do it would be to choose your favorite TKL board and plug it into one of these.

[Tally810]

One way to do it would be to choose your favorite TKL board and plug it into one of these.

Hasu is such a boss...

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

[opensecret]

One way to do it would be to choose your favorite TKL board and plug it into one of these.

And it's also worth asking if you really need a programmable keyboard as opposed to re-programming the keyboard in the OS instead.  Programmable board is good if you plan to move the board around to more than one machine, but programming in OS works well if you use multiple boards with the same machine.  In Windows, Autohotkey, Keytweak and Sharpkeys are all free downloads.  I like Autohotkey best (even though it has a steeper learning curve) because it can do almost anything, and you can change settings on the fly without rebooting.  The other two write to the registry, and need a re-boot when you make changes. 

[ErgoMacros]

Agree with OpenSecret, you may not need programable kbd. There are things you can do better in the kbd, but many you can do in the OS.

For macOS (OS X) the available tools, in my order of preference are:
  Hammerspoon (can do things your kbd cannot because it can detect the state of your commuter. WiFi network, wake from sleep, current app, window size...)
  Karabiner (warning, harder to deal with if you are on macOS 10.12, Sierra)
  USBOverdrive

Of course, it's OK to use both. Things many functions in Hyper-key use and SpaceFn can be implemented in both.

[drakche]

Plum topre-clone boards are programmable and somewhat cheap?

(Attachment Link)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Plum-plum-108-rgb-35-45-realforce-capacitor-keyboard/32737960095.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.bY9MWW&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_6_10065_10130_10068_433_434_10136_10137_10138_10060_10062_10141_202_10056_10055_10054_10059_10531_10099_10530_129_10103_10102_10096_10052_10144_10053_10050_10107_10142_10051_10106_10143_10526_10529_10084_10083_10080_10082_10081_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_10078_10079_10073_10070_10122_10123_10124,searchweb201603_4,afswitch_1,ppcSwitch_4,single_sort_0_default&btsid=cf8de410-2251-467d-957e-a0c67b75fa1b&algo_expid=139b2457-5e27-4f0d-8324-961149c5fa57-0&algo_pvid=139b2457-5e27-4f0d-8324-961149c5fa57

+1 for the Plum.
Currently typing on one.

And you can make it feel amazing with an easy 55g swap if the keys feel too light with 55g.

Programmability works like a charm, but only drawback is that the software is Win only.

[davkol]

The PLUM isn't really _programmable_ AFAIK, i.e., you can't run a custom firmware on it. This is particularly important, if you need something more complex than a permutation of codes, perhaps on a couple of layers at most.

A custom controller/PCB is necessary.

[drakche]

The PLUM isn't really _programmable_ AFAIK, i.e., you can't run a custom firmware on it. This is particularly important, if you need something more complex than a permutation of codes, perhaps on a couple of layers at most.

A custom controller/PCB is necessary.

Maybe it's possible to flash a different firmware but I'm not keen on frying my keyboard.
Things you can program on the PLUM are, mouse emulation, layer 1 and layer 2, macros and system functions.

You can switch an entire layout to something like a colemac or dvorak and save that preset.
You can also change all the modifiers.

AFAIK, there are no double tap functions. I didn't play around a lot with it, since I prefer the use my keyboard stock, w/o heavy modification

[davkol]

Frying? Bricking at worst.

That said, the controller has to support flashing—it probably does because of firmware updates—and there has to be a custom compatible firmware… I doubt there is one, though.

[drakche]

Frying? Bricking at worst.

That said, the controller has to support flashing—it probably does because of firmware updates—and there has to be a custom compatible firmware… I doubt there is one, though.

Mistranslated...

In my language bricking is translated to frying and then I just forgot the correct term.

But yeah. It's possible that you can write a custom firmware if you have enough time and experience. The programming software does support firmware flashing, but I haven't find any firmware for it except the one that's on the keyboard.

I might at one point try it when I upgrade to a realforce or something like that, but for now. I like it as it is.