Did we manage to find someone to add custom programming on the breakout PCB? My norbatouch is seriously lacking this feature.
from what xondat says in the XRF thread, it is impossible and a new pcb/firmware needs to be designed
apparently it is under development now
Only just seen this so thought I'd weigh in.
To explain it best, it's important to outline why it's possible on the HHKB.
With the HHKB, you have the main PCB, which is where the domes/spring sit etc. This board has the matrix, and then is plugged into the other PCB. The other PCB has the controller on. Stock, it isn't possible to program the HHKB due to the controller, but because the side PCB is easily replaceable, you can edit it like that. It's why Hasu has a PCB replacement only for the HHKB.
The RF is different in this sense (but similar to most keyboard PCBs) where the controller and the matrix are on the whole board. This means there is no where to "intercept" the communication between the matrix and the controller, so it leaves only one option, which is to try and program the controller... But you can't, as there isn't any where to plug in or whatever. I think it's possible to solder wires to the controller, but at this point, it's too messy.
With the RF, you can have a breakout PCB to change the type of connector, but you can't edit the keycodes directly. Think of it as being read only after the information has gone through the controller.
So with the HHKB, you have this:
Key press -> matrix -> through connecting cable -> controller -> physical output
RF is:
Key press -> matrix -> controller -> physical output
Now with a breakout PCB, you can change the physical output, but you can't directly edit the keycode.
It is possible to have a small PCB that takes whatever it's given from the controller, and edit it like this, but this adds latency, and it isn't what we really want, so it'd be pointless to put time development into that.
We want to edit what the controller gives, not what the computer receives.Why haven't there been any complete PCB replacements yet? It's incredibly complex, and there isn't any public knowledge on it. We all know Topre works using capacitive sensing, which is infinitely more complex than Cherry where it's either on or off.
Hope that explains it well
Disclaimer: I'm not a PCB designer, and honestly I don't understand how you'd do it, but I think I understand the reasoning of
why you can't simply use a breakout board.