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Orangutang
35
Apr 18, 2019
Got mine to work, staring shamelessly in awe at the RGB now! First QMK and I want to post and help other noobs like myself if possible. My success stems completely from "textonly" and "blacksunix"posts under the BM-16A drop discussions https://www.massdrop.com/buy/bm-16a-16-key-programmable-mini-pad-kit/talk/2331792 READ these. The only changes I made were to use the json layout files for the BM-16S from the Google Drive Get: QMK Toolbox from Github, install it Get: the default JSON and instructions from manufacturer Google Drive. This is on their Aliexpress page for the BM-16A as mentioned by "jf647" here. So you can just search for it as well.
  • I used https://kbfirmware.com/ to modify my layout. Upload the "BM16S.json" file from the manufacturer Google Drive pack into kbfirmware.com
  • This loads the basic layout in kbfirmware.com. Customize it
  • Backup your json if you wish under the Settings tab. Then go to the Compile tab and export the ".Hex" file and load it into QMK Toolbox. Make sure the right chip is correctly selected in the toolbox UI
  • Connect the board to the computer. I shorted the reset pins, labeled "RE" next to the smaller of the board chips, with a pair of needle nose pliers. Definitely gonna solder and run an external switch there at some point...
  • The keypad will be put into DFU mode with this reset, and will then be visible in the QMK Toolbox console. Here you can flash your custom Hex file to the board
  • Unplug, replug
Again, me noob, much to learn, go to sources
(Edited)
donatj
73
Apr 18, 2019
(Edited)
Mittrei
0
Apr 26, 2019
OrangutangDo you know how to change the led colour, that's the only part I couldn't figure out
Orangutang
35
Apr 26, 2019
MittreiProgram a key or a key layer to use the QMK codes for RGB Lighting, (RGB_HUI) and (RGB_HUD) for Hue Increase and Hue Decrease. Bunch of other commands in there as well. Check here https://beta.docs.qmk.fm/reference/keycodes
eltonka
0
Jun 3, 2019
OrangutangWas there any indication the keypad was in DFU mode? Trying to reset mine by shorting the pins but no luck, did you have to short the pins for a couple seconds?
Orangutang
35
Jun 3, 2019
eltonkaWhile the board is plugged in, and the reset pins are shorted, Windows should do it's little chime to say a device was disconnected and reconnected. Also, in QMK Toolbox, the console will display " *** DFU device connected ". The response should be instant when the pins are shorted, at least from my experience
eltonka
0
Jun 3, 2019
OrangutangThanks for the reply, I figured that is what I should expect but guess this one is stubborn...
danielhanick
0
Jul 4, 2019
OrangutangAre the reset pins supposed to be hollow? Think I may have gotten a defective PCB...
(Edited)
Orangutang
35
Jul 4, 2019
danielhanickThey look like this on mine, basically unsolder/unoccupied points so yeah hollow in the center
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danielhanick
0
Jul 4, 2019
OrangutangIs soldering a necessity? By the way, everything seems to be working fine but I'm limited with what I can do since I can't enable DFU mode.
danielhanick
0
Jul 4, 2019
danielhanickThis is what mine looks like at the moment, don't know if this is how it should have looked prior to assembly
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Orangutang
35
Jul 4, 2019
danielhanickYeah that looks like mine, and nope no soldering! For the pins, you can make sure you line up the cutout segment of the backplate with the reset pins so you can access them like I can by going through the keycaps (I didn't do this the first time I assembled it and thought I'd have to solder leads to it... :V ) Once the backplate is lined up to the PCB, just carefully press the switches into the plate and into the PCB sockets, making sure the pins on the switches are straight (I bent a few that weren't first time trying). Then just bridge the pins with pliers or a paperclip between the caps when you need to DFU. Also, I ended up putting very tiny bits of 3m tape between the PCB and the backplate to act as a spacer. It's hard to describe, but you want the back plate to float slightly above the PCB so the switches mount more securely. I have multiple layers programmed on mine, and in QMK you can specify a key to be the RESET so you don't have to fish those contacts every time. I don't change my programming at all now, but it was useful in the beginning.
Orangutang
35
Jul 4, 2019
danielhanickIt should show up in the firmware editor as DFU device, and windows will even make a separate chime when you bridge the pins while it's connected
danielhanick
0
Jul 4, 2019
OrangutangHow would you go about bridging the pins? EDIT: Trying paper clips out now, hope this does the trick
(Edited)
danielhanick
0
Jul 4, 2019
danielhanickYeah, still pretty lost. Would you mind showing me a video?
ipsum
0
Jul 16, 2019
OrangutangHello, I just got my board yesterday, assembled it no problem and it receives power and has all the default settings, but I can't seem to get the flashing to work. My guess is that I'm not doing the "shorting" process correctly, which is possible since I haven't done it much. Do I just need to stick a paper clip in the two holes next to "RE" while it's on? EDIT: I also tried the "RESET" command that's in the default keymapping, it makes the RBG lighting freeze and the device no longer registers any input until I unplug and plug it back in again, but QMK Toolbox still doesn't see it.
(Edited)
eltonka
0
Jul 16, 2019
danielhanickDaniel, I had a similar issue when trying to flash and it was the material I was attempting to use when sticking them in the reset pins. Make sure there is proper contact as well. I just stripped ethernet cable and used the cooper wires inside and it worked. Had to hold in the reset for a couple of seconds. Try using a USB 2.0 port as well.
eltonka
0
Jul 16, 2019
ipsumTry using a USB 2.0 port, this was an issue I had and worked when I changed ports.
ipsum
0
Jul 16, 2019
eltonkaI'll try that when I get home. Side question: is the light for each key configurable? For example, make one key of my choosing red, another green. I didn't see a way to do that when I was researching.
ipsum
0
Jul 17, 2019
eltonkaIt's on USB 2.0. I believe I'm shorting it correctly now: I have a metal wire touching both pins and when I plug in the keyboard it does not light up like normal. But QMK toolbox still doesn't pick it up. I'm not sure what else to try.
monkey_jesus
0
Jul 19, 2019
OrangutangSo, if you just press the bottom right button and the top left quickly as you connect the device it'll enter boot mode. The bottom right drops you down a layer, top left is reset.
Orangutang
35
Jul 23, 2019
monkey_jesusOh I wasn't aware! That's good to know We really need better documentation for this thing
Orangutang
35
Jul 23, 2019
danielhanickHey man, sorry couldn't do a video. Did you get it working though? eltonka had some good info
pocketoperator
187
Jul 31, 2019
OrangutangThanks much for the info and all the links, very helpful!
ipsum
0
Aug 2, 2019
OrangutangDo you know how to program the LED color for each key individually?
Orangutang
35
Aug 2, 2019
pocketoperator✌︎('ω' ✌︎ )
Orangutang
35
Aug 2, 2019
ipsumHuh I have no idea, I have "RGB_MODE_FORWARD" as one key to cycle the modes, but I'm not sure how to program individual ones if it's even possible. Would be interested if it was
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