Wow what a fantastic project, sorry I’m completely overwhelmed by the volume of data, the 260-page deskauthority and the 300-page manual plus the many videos, so apologies for the dumb questions, I’m also happy to contribute a Quickstart for dummies (I don’t see a wiki or GitHub repo for this so apologies if this already exists), but stupid questions:
0. Should all of these go to desk authority or here? wasn’t sure what a technical question is.
1. What is the default layout with the firmware unchanged? I got an ANSI keyboard, Mac keys, and the Numpad function keys, but it was unclear how to get it all to work. I think the default layout (by looking at keyboardchecker.com) is the same as the illustration on the purchase page.
1a. If so, then how do I get the function keys to work, I can’t find the default coding of the keyboard which is the main problem. so no FN keys (I got the keys that have F1 through F12, but I’m unclear on how actually to access them, is there some sort of page that is the default layout with the reprogramming of the firmware?
2. Overstretched spring. I followed the instructions to hold it vertically and place it, but two keys refused to be recognized. They would not register, but in looking at keyboardchecker.com, I could see that without the keycaps they would depress, it was a little hard to figure it out, but I presume this is because the springs need a little bit of a stretch. I tried that and promptly pulled out the spring on both. One I got on with the tweezer (ok I just needle nose pliers). But the other I think I overstretched, so it is hard down all the time. So do I need to buy a new spring then, is there a way to compress down a spring? Or should I just get a that has more springs, is that the answer? Happy to do, but not clear
3. How do I get the backquote and tilde? It looks like by default the upper left key is the escape key, but how do I get a tilde and backquote? Is there some key combination in the default? Or do I need to crank up QMK or Via or something? The instructions here are a little confusing as I’ve not flashed before but it sounds like you like Vial or via, but I’m unclear on what to do even with your guide mainly because I think I’m on Mac and not Windows.
4.Backspace is loose. As you mentioned some of the keys are loose, it says that you need to widen the prongs, I’m kind of thinking that this looks like brittle plastic, so do you warm it and a gentle opening doesn’t seem to be working, so how much pressure can you apply to make the key stick?
5. I’m a little mystified how to get the numpad right, I downloaded the zip file and it isn’t clear which one I want to make the keybad not function keys, but a number pad?
Yes that would be much appreciated if you would like to contribute anything to the manual.
- and 1a Please see the keyboard product page which will show a rendering of the default layout programming and function layers. For example you may be able to press the right ctrl key which is set to Fn as the default, not ctrl.
- Please follow the quality control secrets video for spring and key testing and adjustment. My guess is whatever you did in terms of stretching damaged the springs permanently.
- FN+Esc, as shown on the keyboard product page’s layout image.
- The 2U and wider keys should be a little looser. Is the stabilizer insert installed properly?
- Please follow the firmware instructional video and written instructions in the manual on the project web site.
OK, here is what I’ve discovered. First of all thanks so much for the Right Control is a function, but here is what I discovered, I’ll document at https://tongfamily.com but lmk where else I should go, does this go into deskauthority.com, I’ve a logon but haven’t dared posted:
0. You are right, the vital thing to know is that the right most Ctrl key should really be relabeled the FN key and the legend on the side of the key should be ` and ~ so that you know how to get to those. It is really nice to have the F-key labels on the side of the upper row btw. Nice touch and I did a labelmaker thing on mine.
1. The backspace looks like it is the problem you mention where the key holder is not wide enough and there is not enough friction, I’m going to heat it to try to get it 0.5mm or so wider.
2. The photos I see don’t make it clear what the right side Option key does, I looked with keyboardchecker.com and it emits a CLEAR on the Mac. So documentation there would be nice.
3. The Numberpad works completely differently on Linux (I haven’t tried Windows yet) and the Mac. I presume you have very few Mac users, but I’ll document it here. The arrow keys, Home, End and Page down and Page up work as expected, but on keyboardchecker.com, it report Insert as HELP (idk what that means on a Mac). PrtSc is reported as F13. Scroll Lock and Pause do nothing. On Linux, they work as expected, so there is something about Mac keyboard mapping that needs to get fixed, maybe with one of the keyboard mapping utilities I’ve too afraid to try.
4. I was curiously what the function FN key did for all the other keys. At least on the Mac, they do some strange likes FN-A and FN-S unmutes the sound and FN mute the sound, FH-H is * FN-J is a / and FN-K, and L is page up, FN-[ is Arrow UP.
Anyway thanks much and the next step I think is to learn one of the keyboard mapper things then? To get the rest of the keyboard working 🙂
OK, I’m finally home from Thanksgiving holidays so had a chance to try this, here is what I found. I’m using https://keyboardchecker.com to try to figure out what is what. First the good news:
0. The loose backspace looks like the key does not fit well. I have the white thingy there for support and I tried widening the span of the key but that didn’t work well.
1. You were so right about the right Control key really being the FN, so I got FN-1 and FN-12 and FN-ESC works! Thanks so much, FYI the image that I see just has the Control button for the FN button, but I know see that is why the F letters are written on the side of the number row so thank you! I will label make the FN onto the right CTRL key to remind me. As an aside, the FN key has really interesting behaviour on the Mac, FN-A is unmute speaker, FN-D is mute the speaker, FN-H is an *, FN-J is /, FN-K is Page Up, FN-J and FN-L is as well. FN-M is -, FN-N is +, FN-S is also mute. I can’t see what the keyboard is emitting, but a little interesting
2. On the Mac, what does the blank key on between the Command and FN key actually do, it reports as CLEAR
4. I also had a chance to try the number pad side. You might want to document that the behaviour of the numberpad is quite different on Mac vs Linux (I haven’t tried Windows yet). On the Mac, Arrow keys work as does Home, Delete, END and Pagedown and PGUP, but the Insert does reports as the HELP key (not sure what that is). PRintscreen reports as F13 and Scroll Lock and Pause do not report as anything. On Linus these all seem to function but I can’t find NUMLock.
4. The section on QMK and the other utilities is pretty daunting for a noob. Is there a recommended way to do this? Seems like on the Mac, need to hack around with it to get the number pad working properly. I’m happy to contribute that, but
Sorry I can’t help regarding your Mac questions or QMK request. Feel free to post on the project threads linked to on the About-Forums page. I have heard that you can remap keys without having to adjust the firmware, by using the software program Karabiner.
Please email me a photo of the bottom of the bad key.
You can find the product pages on the Shop page – click Shop at the top of this page.
The main product photo shows the default layout with the Print Screen etc. right side block and standard ANSI layout. You can also configure the keyboard with the 0-9 style right side block, which is another factory default option that is available.
Yes Ctrl is a Fn key on the right for the standard ANSI and ISO layouts. You can press FN+1 for F1, for example. See the product page for details on the function layer (the image showing Mute, Pause, Play, etc.).
Oh thanks, sorry I didn’t realize you replied, had to check again, ok I will look at the keyboard product page. So to summarize:
1. The Right CTRl is the FN key. Oooh thanks, what is the URL for that product page.
2. Yes, I think I damaged the springs, so I will order a repair kit.
3. Ah got it, so it is the FN+ESC and presumably SHIFT-FN-ESC. Tahnk you!!
4. The stabilizer looks right, but it si look
5. The firmware video and the manual are hard for a noob like me to follow, I’ll try to do a version for dummies and post in https://tongfamily.com.