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+ <div class="nav-text notice">2026 / 03 / 11</div>
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+ </div>
+ <div class="nav-item block">
<div class="nav-text notice">2026 / 02 / 11</div>
<a href="news/2026/2026_02_11-linux_is_dead.html" class="nav-text link">Linux is Dead</a>
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<h1 class="section-title h h1">News</h1>
</header>
- <article id="2026_02_11-linux_is_dead" class="article">
+ <article id="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus" class="article">
<header class="article-header header">
+ <h2 id="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-title" class="article-title h h2">2026 / 03 / 11 - Gateron Red PI 500+</h2>
+ </header>
+
+ <div class="article-content">
+ <p class="p">
+ I previously reported on my <a href="news/2025/2025_08_09-rp500_lap_top.html" class="nav-text link">RP500 Lap Top</a> some time ago.
+ Not long after that report the <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-500-plus/" class="link external">RP500+</a> came out that addressed some of the power problems, the real time clock problem, and even had a <strong class="strong">PCI Express Generation 2</strong> hardware slot for <strong class="strong">M.2</strong> cards like the <strong class="strong"><abbr title=" Non-Volatile Memory Express">NVMe</abbr></strong> cards.
+ There is even 16 Gigabytes of <abbr title="Random Access Memory">RAM</abbr>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ I thought this was great!
+ Many of the problems or wishes I had were solved.
+ The <abbr title="PCI Express Generation">PCIe</abbr> slot even increased performance somewhat.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ But not everything is good about it.
+ As a forewarning, I am clearly not the target audience.
+ Loud clickly keys and blinding, flashing, lights is not a good thing.
+ The case is also notably larger, making it more difficul to use as a <strong class="strong">Lap Top</strong>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ A custom keyboard configuration and firmware is provided to turn off all of the lights except the power button.
+ That power button is a huge problem and diming the power button isn't even remotely a solution to the problem.
+ The clickity clack of the keyboard cannot be easily fixed because the grey colored <a href="https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-ks-33-low-profile-20-switch-set?VariantsId=11154" class="link external">Gateron KS-33 blue switches</a> are solder in (yes they are the blue type but are colored grey for some reason).
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ True to my nature as a hacker, I decided to pick up a <a href="https://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fr301.html" class="link external">Hakko FR-301 de-soldering iron</a> and directly solve the problem myself.
+ I chose the <a href="https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-ks-33-low-profile-20-switch-set?VariantsId=11152" class="link external">Gateron Red KS-33 low profile mechanical switch</a>.
+ I chose the closest matching <strong class="strong">Gateron</strong> that matches the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> for my first attempt.
+ I might venture on to quieter switches in the future.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The end result is a beautiful working far more quiet keyboard without a glaring always on power button (there might still be some very small leakage of light).
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/01-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Updated PI 500+ Keyboard with some keys removed showing Gateron Red switches." title="Updated PI 500+ Keyboard with some keys removed showing Gateron Red switches." class="image content center margin-1rem border-2px">
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ <a id="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-more" href="news/2026/2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus.html" class="content link" aria-labelledby="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-more 2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-title">Continue reading…</a>
+ </p>
+ </div>
+ </article>
+
+ <article id="2026_02_11-linux_is_dead" class="article">
+ <header class="article-header header separate">
<h2 id="2026_02_11-linux_is_dead-title" class="article-title h h2">2026 / 02 / 11 - Linux is Dead</h2>
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<a href="news.html" class="nav-text link back">Back</a>
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+ <div class="nav-text notice">2026 / 03 / 11</div>
+ <a href="news/2026/2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus.html" class="nav-text link">Gateron Red PI 500+</a>
+ </div>
+ <div class="nav-item block">
<div class="nav-text notice">2026 / 02 / 11</div>
<a href="news/2026/2026_02_11-linux_is_dead.html" class="nav-text link">Linux is Dead</a>
</div>
<h1 class="section-title h h1">Year 2026 News</h1>
</header>
- <article id="2026_02_11-linux_is_dead" class="article">
+ <article id="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus" class="article">
<header class="article-header header">
+ <h2 id="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-title" class="article-title h h2">2026 / 03 / 11 - Gateron Red PI 500+</h2>
+ </header>
+
+ <div class="article-content">
+ <p class="p">
+ I previously reported on my <a href="news/2025/2025_08_09-rp500_lap_top.html" class="nav-text link">RP500 Lap Top</a> some time ago.
+ Not long after that report the <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-500-plus/" class="link external">RP500+</a> came out that addressed some of the power problems, the real time clock problem, and even had a <strong class="strong">PCI Express Generation 2</strong> hardware slot for <strong class="strong">M.2</strong> cards like the <strong class="strong"><abbr title=" Non-Volatile Memory Express">NVMe</abbr></strong> cards.
+ There is even 16 Gigabytes of <abbr title="Random Access Memory">RAM</abbr>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ I thought this was great!
+ Many of the problems or wishes I had were solved.
+ The <abbr title="PCI Express Generation">PCIe</abbr> slot even increased performance somewhat.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ But not everything is good about it.
+ As a forewarning, I am clearly not the target audience.
+ Loud clickly keys and blinding, flashing, lights is not a good thing.
+ The case is also notably larger, making it more difficul to use as a <strong class="strong">Lap Top</strong>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ A custom keyboard configuration and firmware is provided to turn off all of the lights except the power button.
+ That power button is a huge problem and diming the power button isn't even remotely a solution to the problem.
+ The clickity clack of the keyboard cannot be easily fixed because the grey colored <a href="https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-ks-33-low-profile-20-switch-set?VariantsId=11154" class="link external">Gateron KS-33 blue switches</a> are solder in (yes they are the blue type but are colored grey for some reason).
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ True to my nature as a hacker, I decided to pick up a <a href="https://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fr301.html" class="link external">Hakko FR-301 de-soldering iron</a> and directly solve the problem myself.
+ I chose the <a href="https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-ks-33-low-profile-20-switch-set?VariantsId=11152" class="link external">Gateron Red KS-33 low profile mechanical switch</a>.
+ I chose the closest matching <strong class="strong">Gateron</strong> that matches the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> for my first attempt.
+ I might venture on to quieter switches in the future.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The end result is a beautiful working far more quiet keyboard without a glaring always on power button (there might still be some very small leakage of light).
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/01-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Updated PI 500+ Keyboard with some keys removed showing Gateron Red switches." title="Updated PI 500+ Keyboard with some keys removed showing Gateron Red switches." class="image content center margin-1rem border-2px">
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ <a id="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-more" href="news/2026/2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus.html" class="content link" aria-labelledby="2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-more 2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus-title">Continue reading…</a>
+ </p>
+ </div>
+ </article>
+
+ <article id="2026_02_11-linux_is_dead" class="article">
+ <header class="article-header header separate">
<h2 id="2026_02_11-linux_is_dead-title" class="article-title h h2">2026 / 02 / 11 - Linux is Dead</h2>
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+ <div class="nav-text unlink">Gateron Red PI 500+</div>
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+ <a href="news/2026/2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus.html#turn_off_light" class="nav-text link"><div>Turn off that Light</div></a>
+ </div>
+ <div class="nav-item block">
+ <a href="news/2026/2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus.html#size_matters" class="nav-text link"><div>Size Matters</div></a>
+ </div>
+ <div class="nav-item block">
+ <a href="news/2026/2026_03_11-gateron_red_pi_500_plus.html#shh_clickity_clack" class="nav-text link"><div>Shh! Clickity Clack</div></a>
+ </div>
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+ <div role="document" class="main-block">
+ <main class="main">
+ <header class="section-header header">
+ <h1 class="section-title h h1">2026 / 03 / 11 - Gateron Red PI 500+</h1>
+ </header>
+
+ <div class="main-content">
+ <p class="p">
+ I previously reported on my <a href="news/2025/2025_08_09-rp500_lap_top.html" class="nav-text link">RP500 Lap Top</a> some time ago.
+ Not long after that report the <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-500-plus/" class="link external">RP500+</a> came out that addressed some of the power problems, the real time clock problem, and even had a <strong class="strong">PCI Express Generation 2</strong> hardware slot for <strong class="strong">M.2</strong> cards like the <strong class="strong"><abbr title=" Non-Volatile Memory Express">NVMe</abbr></strong> cards.
+ There is even 16 Gigabytes of <abbr title="Random Access Memory">RAM</abbr>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ I thought this was great!
+ Many of the problems or wishes I had were solved.
+ The <abbr title="PCI Express Generation">PCIe</abbr> slot even increased performance somewhat.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ But not everything is good about it.
+ As a forewarning, I am clearly not the target audience.
+ Loud clickity keys and blinding, flashing, lights is not a good thing.
+ The case is also notably larger, making it more difficult to use as a <strong class="strong">Lap Top</strong>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ A custom keyboard configuration and firmware is provided to turn off all of the lights except the power button.
+ That power button is a huge problem and dimming the power button isn't even remotely a solution to the problem.
+ The clickity clack of the keyboard cannot be easily fixed because the grey colored <a href="https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-ks-33-low-profile-20-switch-set?VariantsId=11154" class="link external">Gateron KS-33 blue switches</a> are solder in (yes they are the blue type but are colored grey for some reason).
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ True to my nature as a hacker, I decided to pick up a <a href="https://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fr301.html" class="link external">Hakko FR-301 de-soldering iron</a> and directly solve the problem myself.
+ I chose the <a href="https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-ks-33-low-profile-20-switch-set?VariantsId=11152" class="link external">Gateron Red KS-33 low profile mechanical switch</a>.
+ I chose the closest matching <strong class="strong">Gateron</strong> that matches the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> for my first attempt.
+ I might venture on to quieter switches in the future.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The end result is a much quieter keyboard without a glaring always on power button (there still may be a small amount of light leakage).
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/01-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Updated PI 500+ Keyboard with some keys removed showing Gateron Red switches." title="Updated PI 500+ Keyboard with some keys removed showing Gateron Red switches." class="image content center margin-1rem border-2px">
+ </p>
+
+ <section id="turn_off_light" class="section">
+ <header class="section-header header separate">
+ <h2 id="turn_off_light-title" class="section-title h h2">Turn off that Light</h2>
+ </header>
+
+ <div class="section-content">
+ <p class="p">
+ I think there is something wrong with computer people these days.
+ The current popular trend is to have a disco ball as a computer.
+ They even sell lights on <abbr title="Random Access Memory">RAM</abbr>!
+ That is plain crazy and really annoying.
+ The <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> is, unfortunately, no exception to this.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The good news is that the keyboard <em class="em">firmware</em> is actually <em class="em">software</em> and so this <em class="em">firmware</em> can simply be updated to disable the lights (except of course for the power button light).
+ The <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI</strong> team did a great job on documenting <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/keyboard-computers.html#lighting" class="link external">how to configure the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> lighting</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ <div class="tip">
+ The documentation is all well and good but they mention the following:
+ <em class="em">"XDA, OEM, and SA keycaps aren’t recommended because they’re taller, and can therefore produce more noise or come into contact with the keyboard frame."</em>
+ This turned out to not exactly be true.
+ In fact, it ended up the opposite in my particular case.
+ I experimentally switched to some other key caps that I happened to have that were not the low profile type.
+ I found adding the rubber o-rings to these full profile types ended up capturing more sound and reducing the click compared to the low-profile types with the rubber o-ring added.
+ I suspect it is because more sound escapes the low-profile cap unlike the larger caps.
+ My caps are not contacting the keyboards base part and so there are no sounds coming from that part.
+ </div>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The first thing to do is to install the required software:<samp class="code terminal">sudo apt install rpi-keyboard-fw-update rpi-keyboard-config.
+ </samp>
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The firmware should then be updated and the computer should ideally be restarted:
+ <samp class="code terminal">sudo rpi-keyboard-fw-update
+ </samp>
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The keyboard can be configured once the system is rebooted with the new firmware installed to the keyboard.
+ The goal is to disable all lights, setting their brightness to the minimum.
+ The lights on start up should also be disabled.
+ The following accomplishes this:
+ <samp class="code terminal">sudo rpi-keyboard-config leds clear
+sudo rpi-keyboard-config brightness 0
+sudo rpi-keyboard-config preset set 0 --startup-animation "START_ANIM_NONE"
+sudo rpi-keyboard-config leds save
+ </samp>
+ </p>
+
+ <div class="tip">
+ Be sure to consult the documentation regarding which preset is in use.
+ This documentation expects the preset of <code class="code">0</code> to be used.
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ </section>
+
+ <section id="size_matters" class="section">
+ <header class="section-header header separate">
+ <h2 id="size_matters-title" class="section-title h h2">Size Matters</h2>
+ </header>
+
+ <div class="section-content">
+ <p class="p">
+ The <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500 Keyboard</strong> that was originally used in the <strong class="strong">RP500 Lap Top</strong> is relatively small.
+ The dimensions of the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500 Keyboard</strong> are <code class="code">256mm x 122mm x 23mm</code> and has an approximate weight of <code class="code">370g</code>.
+ The dimensions of the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> are <code class="code">312mm x 123.06mm x 35.76mm</code> and has an approximate weight of <code class="code">605g</code>.
+ </p>
+ <p class="p">
+ These larger dimensions and heavier weight push the portability of the <strong class="strong">Lap Top</strong> to the limit.
+ The <strong class="strong">Lap Top</strong> now just barely fits into my carrying case.
+ </p>
+ <p class="p">
+ Having an internal <abbr title=" Non-Volatile Memory Express">NVMe</abbr> with fewer exposed cables provides for a safer and easier device to carry.
+ The most critical improvement, the power management, is also the least obvious.
+ The <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500+ Keyboard</strong> has improved power efficiency over the <strong class="strong">Raspberry PI 500 Keyboard</strong>, thereby reducing the overall power consumption despite an increase in power demand.
+ These improvements make the <strong class="strong">RP500+ Lap Top</strong> tolerable when considering the bigger size and the heavier weight.
+ </p>
+ </div>
+ </section>
+
+ <section id="shh_clickity_clack" class="section">
+ <header class="section-header header separate">
+ <h2 id="shh_clickity_clack-title" class="section-title h h2">Shh! Clickity Clack</h2>
+ </header>
+
+ <div class="section-content">
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/02-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Keyboard exposing all grey colored Gateron blue switches." title="Keyboard exposing all grey colored Gateron blue switches." class="image content center margin-1rem border-2px">
+
+ <p class="p">
+ I brought the <strong class="strong">Lap Top</strong> to meetings and other events and there is no end of people glancing daggers at me every time I try to type anything.
+ It does not matter how softly I press, it still goes clickity clack.
+ This is because the switches themselves intentionally make clicking sounds!
+ I cannot call this crazy enough times.
+ </p>
+
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/03-gateron_pi_keyboard-400.png" alt="Switches exposed, one switch removed with Hakko FR-301 in picture." title="Switches exposed, one switch removed with Hakko FR-301 in picture." class="image content left margin-1rem border-2px">
+
+ <p class="p">
+ Well, enough is enough.
+ I may have very little soldering experience but I do have some.
+ Time to permanently fix this.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ There are two pins for every switch to de-solder.
+ <strong class="strong">Gateron</strong> calls these three pin switches because they include that center plastic piece.
+ This really isn't a pin in my book so I would more appropriately call these two pin switches.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ I used the standard bit that comes with the <strong class="strong">Hakko FR-301</strong>.
+ I believe the bit part is the <em class="em">N61-08 1mm Nozzle</em>.
+ This nozzle fits perfectly over each pin and covers enough of the side areas to be able to suck up all of the melted solder.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ As for the temperature, I started on the lowest setting and gradually worked my way up until I discovered the lowest temperature that easily and quickly melts the solder.
+ I found 450 Fahrenheit to be the correct approximate temperature range.
+ Be sure to wait for a minute or two for the iron to completely warm up.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The process of de-soldering was simple enough once I figured it out.
+ I placed the iron directly over a single pin with the hole going straight down on top of the pin.
+ I ideally want to have part of the iron touching the wire part of the pin rather than the solder.
+ However, I found that this detail wasn't too important most of the time.
+ </p>
+
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/04-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Switches exposed, one switch removed with Hakko FR-301 in picture." title="Switches exposed, one switch removed with Hakko FR-301 in picture." class="image content center margin-1rem border-2px clear">
+
+ <p class="p">
+ All hundred or so switches have been removed.
+ The board is nice and clean looking.
+ It is a real shame that my personal soldering skills are a very poor match to the soldering quality from the manufacturer.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The real difficult part for me is soldering on every single one of the switches.
+ I happen to also have a <a href="https://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fx888d.html" class="link external">Hakko FX-888D</a> base and iron.
+ I had a bit of trouble with this tool.
+ Perhaps my temperature is wrong, perhaps the tip is either defective or going bad, or perhaps I am just that inexperienced.
+ Either way, the temperature from the tip didn't consistently maintain the temperature along the piece long enough for me to get the job done correctly.
+ I ended up using the de-solder tool to start over.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ I took a piece of black electrical tape and taped over the <abbr title="Light Emitting Diode">LED</abbr> that is responsible for the power button.
+ This piece of tape is placed on the top part of the board, below the switch.
+ The switch had to be fully removed in order to accomplish this.
+ </p>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ While using the <strong class="strong">Hakko FR-301</strong> de-solder tool, I discovered that I could more easily solder with this tool.
+ The hole in the de-solder iron tip gave me better coverage and the heat radiated to enough parts.
+ There was still some trial and error here and there.
+ Some areas gave me a lot of trouble for reasons I could not determine.
+ Still, I was able to reasonably re-solder everything using the de-solder iron.
+ </p>
+
+ <img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/05-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Red Gateron switches all soldered on." title="Red Gateron switches all soldered on." class="image content center margin-1rem border-2px clear">
+
+ <p class="p">
+ The moment of truth came after all this was completed.
+ I added all of the caps back and completely re-connected the entire keyboard computer.
+ The power button did not have an obvious light!
+ The power button worked and turned on the computer.
+ I then used the following program in <strong class="strong">X</strong> via some <strong class="strong">terminal</strong> to test every single key:
+ <samp class="code terminal">sudo showkey
+ </samp>
+ The <strong class="strong">Control-C</strong> sequence is used to terminate the program.
+ </p>
+
+ <div class="center">
+ <a href="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/07-gateron_pi_keyboard-1000.png" class="link image"><img src="images/news/2026/2026_03_11/06-gateron_pi_keyboard-600.png" alt="Close up on not so great soldering work." title="Close up on not so great soldering work." class="image content margin-1rem border-2px clear"></a>
+ </div>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ Overall, I am pleased with this change.
+ The switches are a lot nicer.
+ The board did take a beating as I learned and had to fight with keeping the hot iron on or near the board longer than a second or so.
+ But this damage due to my inexperience and lack of skill is worth it.
+ I provided an additional picture showing some of my not so great soldering skills.
+ (I added a link to a larger version of the picture so you can get a better view of my work.)
+ </p>
+ </div>
+ </section>
+
+ <p class="p">
+ <strong class="strong">Kevin Day</strong>
+ </p>
+ </div>
+ </main>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ </body>
+</html>
projects / kevux.org-website / commitdiff
