Programming and installing a DIP switch on shop-bought boards

[lancre]

This is a really crazy idea, but I got a Realforce 104uw from Massdrop a while back, I went with the 104 because I like large keyboards and this one looked particularly nice. But Massdrop kind of mis-sold it a bit because they said it came with a DIP switch and lo and behold it doesn't.

Which is fine - I do love the board and I decided to keep it. But I do miss the fact that ctrl is not in the correct place (in my opinion).

So I was wondering if it would be completely impossible to program a DIP switch and... uh... kind of solder it on the board somewhere...?

Would this be utterly impossible unless I work for Topre and had a degree in electrical engineering and software engineering?

[Wodan]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIP_switch

That should answer your question. You cannot program a switch.

[lancre]

Aha, so they just close circuits, the actual logic is on the PCB. That's a shame.

So what other options are there without changing the keymaps in the OS?

Could I use something like a teensy?

[Wodan]

Exactly, DIP is just a form factor for switches.

Using the Soarer Converter (Teensy based) you can built a USB=>USB converter and add layers and stuff to your keyboard. Pretty neat! Not too trivial though, maybe you can find a nice guide. I just read about it somewhere.

[scottc]

I don't think Soarer's converter handles that, but Hasu has a USB->USB converter. I think you can even buy it assembled.

[Wodan]

Oh right must have confused them. Haven't made one myself and I somehow thought that was Soarers work ...

[scottc]

Easy mistake to make! Soarer's does IBM terminal, AT/PS2, XT, Wyse, [...]. Hasu's TMK does USB->USB, AT/PS2, NeXT, XT (recently, I think), [...] etc. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=69169.0;topicseen