ISO layout Key next to shift not working

[pokopf]

Hey guys

i bought a couple of used cherry MX1800 boards for cheap. Im quite happy with them overall, considering the price. Yes, the blacks are scratchy, the stabiliziers are horrbile... but i quite like the typing feel.

But i have an issue with one key not registering, since it is the same for all boards im guessing its not a defect switch or sth like that. Its about the small 1u key next to the 1,25 u in ISO layouts. In german ISO its used for > .

Has an1 an idea where the issue could be? Only thing i could think of is that the firmware for the DIN2 to usb converter is somewhat an issue. Im guessing maybe this is a common issue but i have little knowledge whats the proper forum search term for this.

Here is a picture of the key in question https://imgur.com/a/A84sNeY

I apreciate any help!

[Muirium]

Check your host computer knows these are German layout. Sounds like a language setting rather than a hardware issue.

[pokopf]

Well i checked every option and its on german. Every other key ist doing exactly what they should do, yz and everything is correct. I connected the keyboard to 2 PCs and its the same issue on both.

So it seems like an actually not so common issue. I mean its on everyone of the boards i bought. I was thinking maybe the PS2 to USB converter, but these things should have not any interference.

EDIT: I used an ISO-DE online keyboard tester, which lights up the keys that have been pressed. This key is the only one not working.

[Muirium]

Mysterious. How about a pic of the Cherry label on the keyboard, and this converter of yours?

You're right that USB converters don't usually magic away keys. There's nothing magical about the extra key in ISO, signal-wise.

[pokopf]

Yeah i thought this would be an easy fix. Now im completly lost. I have 4 keyboards which all have the same issue on 2 different PCs.

So it doesnt make sense to be an issue with the keyboard or the PC but here it is.

Here are pictures, its a cheap converter from BIGtect or sth like this. Didnt have any other issues. https://imgur.com/a/6fPY7js

[Muirium]

Aye, it's weird. Those are fairly modern Cherry boards, made in Czechia, and converters usually work 100% or 0%. But if the converter is the remaining common link between these multiple keyboards and multiple hosts, it does begin to look guilty. Process of elimination!

[Bjerrk]

I'll betcha it's the converter.
I've had the exact same problem with a cheap PS2-USB converter. Same key even.
Everything was fine after getting (/making) a good converter.

Post a picture of the converter.

[pokopf]

Thank god, this is the reply i was looking forward to. The converter is pictured in the imgur link of my previous comment. Its from BIGtec, i bought it new from ebay.

Could you reccomend what i should be looking for? Most active converters look similiar to the one i own, so i guess theyre just rebranded versions of the same manufacturer with the same issue. I dont feel like building one myself if i can get a working one for a few bucks.

EDIT: Seems of amazon.de if i look under the Questionsarea, under any converter posted theres a discussion about this exact issue. Im gonna take one where people confirmed the button works.

[Man from Mars]

I'll betcha it's the converter.

I have had a similar problem but, in my experience, it was a combination of keyboard and converter. The same cheap gadget that works flawlessly on a couple of keyboards I use constantly (a RD BTC and a Model M, for example) was instead creating the exact same issue on 2 other keyboards I was testing (a modern-ish rubber dome IBM and another cheap board I found lying around).

[Bjerrk]

EDIT: Seems of amazon.de if i look under the Questionsarea, under any converter posted theres a discussion about this exact issue. Im gonna take one where people confirmed the button works.

This one works well for me (and it's German ): https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIPRO-4 ... B008DFVQFW

In general, though, you can build a converter that blows everything "commercial" out of the water with a Pro Micro, a minimal amount of soldering and e.g. the TMK keyboard firmware. You get remapping and all sorts of amazing features. I'm completely hooked on controlling the cursor via the keyboard now, for instance. Rarely use a mouse.

You can even reuse parts of your faulty converter (e.g. the PS2 plugs), that's what I did with the crappy one I got.

[Bjerrk]

Here are pictures, its a cheap converter from BIGtect or sth like this. Didnt have any other issues. https://imgur.com/a/6fPY7js

If I recall correctly, the bad one I had was this one:
https://www.avxperten.dk/ps2-kabler/ps2 ... dapter.asp
DO NOT BUY THIS ONE
Even looks similar to yours, minus the branding.

[Man from Mars]

Same as mine, it works as I described in my previous post (it's a bit "picky", so to speak, about boards it likes to cooperate with).

[Muirium]

Another word: flaky.

Take Bjerk’s advice and gut it for its precious bodily ports!

I’ve been running Soarer converters since 2013. They are gold, and I built them myself.

[Palatino]

I once bought a board that the owner was convinced worked on some protocol that regular PS2 to USB adapters couldn’t handle, so he insisted on selling me a Hasu converter to go with it. However, when I received it it worked fine with my usual green and purple £3 adapter off ebay. He must just have had bad luck with budget adapters in Canada: there seem to be so many with wildly variable results.

[pokopf]

EDIT: Seems of amazon.de if i look under the Questionsarea, under any converter posted theres a discussion about this exact issue. Im gonna take one where people confirmed the button works.

This one works well for me (and it's German ): https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIPRO-4 ... B008DFVQFW

In general, though, you can build a converter that blows everything "commercial" out of the water with a Pro Micro, a minimal amount of soldering and e.g. the TMK keyboard firmware. You get remapping and all sorts of amazing features. I'm completely hooked on controlling the cursor via the keyboard now, for instance. Rarely use a mouse.

You can even reuse parts of your faulty converter (e.g. the PS2 plugs), that's what I did with the crappy one I got.

So is this like really easy and reasonably priced? I dont mind a little bit of soldering, if theres a straight forward guide and all. So TMK is similiar to QMK/VIA as i can remap any key? Sounds neat, do you have any guides?

[Bjerrk]

EDIT: Seems of amazon.de if i look under the Questionsarea, under any converter posted theres a discussion about this exact issue. Im gonna take one where people confirmed the button works.

This one works well for me (and it's German ): https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIPRO-4 ... B008DFVQFW

In general, though, you can build a converter that blows everything "commercial" out of the water with a Pro Micro, a minimal amount of soldering and e.g. the TMK keyboard firmware. You get remapping and all sorts of amazing features. I'm completely hooked on controlling the cursor via the keyboard now, for instance. Rarely use a mouse.

You can even reuse parts of your faulty converter (e.g. the PS2 plugs), that's what I did with the crappy one I got.

So is this like really easy and reasonably priced? I dont mind a little bit of soldering, if theres a straight forward guide and all. So TMK is similiar to QMK/VIA as i can remap any key? Sounds neat, do you have any guides?

Yeah, QMK is based on TMK, as I understand the lineage.
It's pretty darn easy. On the order of 5-10 solder joints, depending on exactly how you do it.
Perhaps start by reading the README on this page: https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/tre ... /ibmpc_usb