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Hey everyone,
We confirmed today that the Planck Light PCB's were not flashed properly at the manufacturer and they are arriving without the bootloader. This means your keyboard will arrive functional and usable, but without reprogramability.
Right now we are working with Jack to restore the reprogramability that was designed to be there. At the moment we are looking to fix this by creating a module that will allow you to flash the PCB using the In-System Programming which should be the fastest and simplest method.
That said, we will need some time to create and test that module. We are evaluating timelines with our manufacturer now and will reach out to everyone with any updates and an expected ship date as soon as we have more information.
My apologies for this issue and we are working to get everything taken care of as quickly as possible.
jayem
12
Jun 22, 2018
YanboWuWhat? Are you saying that the boards are not programmable? That's one of the biggest selling points! Am I reading/understanding this correctly?
jayemCurrently the PCBs were not flashed properly and is missing the bootloader allowing it to be reprogrammable.
We'll be making a device that we'll send to everyone so they can use it and load the bootloader onto the PCB. This will return the proper functionality to the Planck Light keyboard including the ability to reprogram it.
jeffeb3
4
Jun 22, 2018
YanboWuAre there details available for those of us that have ISP already (pins and bootloader settings)?
KITTY
1454
Jun 22, 2018
YanboWuHOW DID THEY FORGET THAT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND LMFAO?
KITTYThey used an incorrect hex file for the flashing method that was used.
@jeffeb3 we are working with Jack on instructions and will post them for those that already can ISP flash.
YanboWuThis issue affects both customers who got an assembled keyboard and those who ordered the kit?
drashna
48
Jun 22, 2018
jeffeb3That depends on the programmer that you're using, but avrdude, avrdudess, or qmk toolbox supports ISP programming.
If you have the QMK repo downloaded, you can find the at90usb1286's bootloader hex in the util directory. If not, you can find it on github.
As for the pin config, I'm not really sure.
PreacherOfDune
0
Jun 22, 2018
YanboWuAny idea of how long that might take?
drashna
48
Jun 22, 2018
PreacherOfDuneI can't say for sure, but a few weeks to a month, unfortunately. Design, manufacture and distribution of the devices would take a bit/while. Maybe longer. But I know that Jack (OLKB) is working hard to find a solution quickly.
joegle
9
Jun 22, 2018
YanboWuwill the bootloader have a bootloader?
MarkeyMark
41
Jun 22, 2018
YanboWuWTF - this a joke! The turnaround time from ordering to delivery is a crazy long time. And in all this time you don’t even bother to carry out any quality control to ensure the product you are shipping is as advertised? I have to pay import charges to receive my faulty keyboard - I don’t expect to pay additional import fees because of your mistake. How is this going to be handled?
FreePotato
11
Jun 23, 2018
YanboWuNice to see that at least I'm getting an upgraded board, it's been taking longer than expected but hey, things take time, shit happens, it will be a nice reward to myself when it finally arrives. Thanks for the updates guys
richtera
21
Jun 23, 2018
YanboWuGot the keyboard, assembled it but I am missing keycaps. I have a lot of extra ones but none for single place "tab" "shift" "lower" "raise" "enter". There are three empties included which I suppose can be "lower" and "raise". I guess you can use the alternate color up for "shift" and the alternate color right for "tab" and another empty for "enter".
Sparroew
10
Jun 23, 2018
YanboWuNot only is my board not programmable, but it's not even flashed correctly. I currently have an unusable keyboard since only the alphas correspond to the layout. I have no idea what the modifiers are set to other than the fact that none of them are correct. To top it all off, I'm going to have to wait an unknown amount of time for this issue to be rectified? This is the worst screw up yet with Massdrop keyboards. Did you guys even check whether the keyboards worked before shipping them?
kyhy
3
Jun 23, 2018
YanboWuNone of the missing modifiers are on the photos. Did you guys know there won't be properly sized modifier keys? I don't want to sound petty but I'm very disappointed and feel ripped off.
richtera
21
Jun 24, 2018
YanboWuSomething makes it randomly reboot. Is this a known problem? I keep hearing the startup beep every once in a while and get a USB hiccup.
richteraThe default keymap of the Planck Light isn't available as a keyset, as Kailh isn't doing custom keycaps for this profile yet. You should be able to recreate the layout I configured in the images.
SparroewAside from the Fn issues the default should be fully operational - it's not currently possible to get the keycaps customised in a way that make the default keymap, so we have to somewhat randomly assign them like in the drop photos.
kyhyI think this definitely could have been made clearer, but we knew this going in - currently Kailh isn't making custom keysets to match the default keymap of the Light.
Sparroew
10
Jun 24, 2018
jackhumbertMy board was pre-assembled so its layout matches the photos in the drop. The alphas are correct, but none of the other keys correspond to the keys on the board. So unless you have different layout pictures than are shown in the overview of the drop, that's just not correct.
richtera
21
Jun 24, 2018
YanboWuArghhh, I can't get the keyboard back apart either. The screw go into these little plastic clips which turn when you try to unscrew. Ohhhhh no!
jackhumbertIs it possible to flash the keyboard ourselves using the ISP or do we have to wait for the product you're working on?
richtera
21
Jun 24, 2018
jackhumbertOk. Maybe the plank keycaps drop was useful :) I figured that I'd have default caps and didn't join it
drashna
48
Jun 24, 2018
stryakrIf you have something that lets you ISP flash, then you can do this now. You need to use the at90usb128x bootloader though (and you can find them in the util/bootloaders folder in the QMK repo)
Kittehn
9
Jun 25, 2018
richteraI also have this issue. I have larger keys for TAB, BACKSPACE, DELETE, etc. I also have a full size SPACE key. I did not get any 1u keys for those keys or a 2/3u space bar. ( I think thats the size). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
richtera
21
Jun 25, 2018
Kittehn
search
I got a little separate bag with blanks for the space bar, and 3 single blanks. Then I used the alternate color Up for Shift, the alternate color Right for tab. So I used the blanks for enter, raise and lower. But yes the blanks are kind of completely different looking but it's working. Also I had to mount the space bar reverse otherwise it gets stuck on the case.
richtera
21
Jun 25, 2018
YanboWuThere seems to be a bad connection on the USB plug as well. When you wiggle it the thing resets.
Guyver
2
Jun 25, 2018
richteraTake a small flat head screw driver and place it in the groove of the plastic clips to stop it from spinning while unscrewing from the bottom of the housing.
richtera
21
Jun 25, 2018
GuyverI ended up doing that but that requires popping see keycaps. I was thinking maybe hitting them with a spot of glue but there is too much still in flux. What's going on with the Fn key?
Kittehn
9
Jun 26, 2018
richteraThanks for the info. I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t just me with the key kap issue. That being said, does anyone know of another key kap set that is more complete for this?
Kikan
124
Jun 26, 2018
KittehnNope
Kittehn
9
Jun 27, 2018
KikanLAAAAMUH!!!
joegle
9
Jun 28, 2018
ishtobDoes this require opening up the keyboard to expose leads or can I flash over USB?
ishtob
10
Jun 29, 2018
joegleyou would need access to the bottom of the circuit board as well as a way to ISP flash (dedicated flasher or a teensy, RPI or promicro loaded with the right firmware) the ISP ports are between the controller and the reset button
joegle
9
Jun 29, 2018
ishtobthanks. I have some arduino’s to use and have used avrdude and the IDE before. How will I be connecting to those ISP ports? Do I need solder or a special cord coming from the Arduino?
ishtob
10
Jun 29, 2018
joeglei would take a look at this QMK doc: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/isp_flashing_guide.md The pins are labeled on the planck light. The ports are made with standard 2.54mm pitch, so any head of that spacing would work.
What I did personally is use a header and a few of these jumpers: https://www.adafruit.com/product/266 connected to the appropriate pinouts on a teensy that I own with the teensyduino AVR ISP firmware flashed. I then hold the header to the board by hand to flash as the flashing process is over is <20 sec or so
PoisonOak
57
Jun 29, 2018
joegleThis was my USBasp setup. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. There are pretty good instructions on the OLKB subreddit in a post by HylianSavior.
search
keru
12
Jul 3, 2018
YanboWu@YanboWu are there any news regarding the bootloader issue ? any date expected to get the device to flash it ?
jhorology
3
Jul 4, 2018
YanboWuI've received a package two days ago. Here in Japan USBasp is really cheap, I will be able to get it in one day. If massdrop could specifies warranty conditions and pay partial refund, I want to buy USBasp and flash bootloader by self. It's much faster and easier than massdrops's solution for me.
ishtob
10
Jul 9, 2018
PoisonOaknice! glad to hear it worked out for you.
Pham0100
3
Jul 13, 2018
ishtobNot really. If you remove a few keycaps by the USB port (Q/W/A/S in default layout), you can see the pin holes for it. You just need to know what pin is what, which is obviously on the bottom side.
Txaume
3
Jul 16, 2018
YanboWuAny estimation as to when the solution will be ready? Thanks
Kikan
124
Jul 17, 2018
TxaumeCouldn't wait any longer after already waiting so long for the Planck Light to come in. Bought myself an AVR ISP and some Dupont cables to flash the bootloader myself. Been happily working with this keyboard as my main driver since ! I anyone lives near Bordeaux, France and want to meet & flash, just drop me a line ;-)
MarkeyMark
41
Jul 17, 2018
YanboWuSo 4 weeks have passed - what’s happening? I have a keyboard that I cannot flash - you’ve promised a solution and then there’s just silence for a month. I payed for a fully programmable keyboard and even though I’ve received something through the post I still have not received what I payed for! What are you doing and when will you have the decency to update your customers on if and when you are going to make amends? I have payed a significant amount of money this for this drop plus import duty and processing charges and have not received what I have payed for. Either fulfill the orders with a solution to be able to flash these keyboards or send full refunds...
seanflanagan
5
Jul 23, 2018
YanboWu6 weeks later and still no update. @YanboWu any update would go a long way.
KITTY
1454
Jul 23, 2018
MarkeyMarkI got my refund instead lol. At least I have $150 to spend on clothes :)
pvinis
2
Jul 31, 2018
Kikancould you describe what we actually need to do the flashing etc? i want to look into possibly fixing the keyboard myself. what hardware and software is needed to flash?
sapien
5
Jul 31, 2018
KikanI'm thinking of flashing the bootloader myself, but I have zero experience in electronics besides some basic soldering. Is there a website that describes what hardware and cables are needed and how to connect them to the Planck Light to do what you did? I looked around for AVR ISP hardware and can see that I need a step-by-step process to get the right hardware and to connect it properly without blowing up my keyboard. Can you point me to a resource?
Thanks,
-=Marc=-
hotmeals
9
Aug 6, 2018
YanboWuIt's been six weeks and still no word, we don't deserve it!
PoisonOak
57
Aug 6, 2018
pvinisHardware: 1) USBasp 2) 6 female-female jumpers 3) straight single row pin header strip (cut to 6 pin length)
Software: 1) AVRDUDESS 2) USBasp drivers 3) qmk bootloader hex file
/u/hyliansavior has a good thread on Reddit with more detail.
ImHumble
0
Aug 6, 2018
danglingelse
36
Sep 2, 2018
MarkeyMarkHi there Mark, did you get sny answers because of the possible import fees? Massdrop should at least tag the package as a gift or something. I already paid custom fees for almost 180$, which cost me almost 50€ with DHL handling. It will be frustrating.
demollator
95
Sep 10, 2018
danglingelseIt was 'declared' at a worth of 1$, so the envelope slipped straight through here (germany).
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