Unicomp Model-M a disaster

On 2018-05-04 01:18, B00ze wrote:

On 2018-05-01 22:44, B00ze wrote:

For those who can still access the rest of this thread (for context):

I have finally taken the time to replace the v6.x controller boards for
my USB Unicomps with the v7.x controllers they sent me. The problem with
the keyboard totally freezing-up if I dared to touch it while the BIOS
was booting-up is resolved (Hurray!) The strange behaviour when waking
the computer from sleep is still the Windows re-detects the keyboard,
as tho I had unplugged it while asleep, and sometimes it does not detect
it correctly so you're stuck on the logon screen. I tested with a cheap
Logitech keyboard, and it is definitively a Unicomp thing, there is no
re-detecting the keyboard on wake with the Logitech.

The bad news is that my older 101 keys Unicomp uses a different locking
mechanism for holding the controller board than my newer 103 keys, and I
am totally unable to make the controller connect to all of the
keyboard's signal lines, so some keys are always not working. I guess I
will have to buy some foam-tape and try to make the foam push the
flexible membrane harder against the PCB. I have asked Unicomp if they
can do anything for me but had not heard back in a week - I might have
to open a new ticket rather than open my old one. Will update this
thread.

Regards,

Unicomp is sending me a new foam pad. I will try to remove the old one
and place this one a little lower, so that contact is better with the
PCB. Will report back. Pretty happy with the new version 7 controller;
if this foam pad works, I will mark this thread as resolved and give a
hearty two thumbs up for Unicomp keyboards.

Well, there is good and bad news. The new v7 controllers are much better
than previous versions, even tho they still do that weird thing when
coming out of sleep mode. And the new foam pad Unicomp sent worked
great, all the keys that were ever going to work were now working.
Unfortunately, I had used 100% alcohol to clean the traces on the
transparent plastic "membrane" earlier, trying to get better contact to
the controller board. This weekend, flipping the membrane over, I
discovered that I had totally removed some of the traces when I used the
alcohol; so some of the traces were "cut" and will never again make
contact with the controller board. So this keyboard is toast; my fault.
I offered to send it back to Unicomp instead of throwing it away but
have not heard back.

I'll just buy another one if I need a gaming keyboard with no Windows
keys. I don't expect my current Unicomp WITH Windows keys to ever stop
working, these keyboard are like tanks. Sorry it took me so long to
update this thread. Conclusion is: If you have some issues with your
current Unicomp, especially during boot or sleep, get a new controller
board.

Best Regards,

--
! _\|/_ Sylvain /
! (o o) Memberavid-Suzuki-Fdn/EFF/Red+Cross/SPCA/Planetary-Society
oO-( )-Oo GOLFER: One who yells "fore!" takes 5 & writes down 3.