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Comment by Xevi | Hacker News Reader

> It was like the keyboard would go to sleep if a key wasn’t pressed for a few seconds, and the first keypress after a wake would be delayed or, worse, dropped.

I have a Sculpt keyboard as well, and the way to fix this is just to move the wireless USB stick that's in your computer closer to your keyboard. I have mine at about a 40cm distance. If I place it over 100cm away I start getting sporadic connectivity issues, which result in delayed or dropped input. It also gets worse if you have a lot of things in the way between your USB stick and keyboard/mouse (duh). For example, if you place the stick at the back of your PC, and below your desk, the signal has a harder time going through the chassis and desk to reach your keyboard/mouse.

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> I have a Sculpt keyboard as well, and the way to fix this is just to move the wireless USB stick that's in your computer closer to your keyboard.

The article author actually tried that already: "I’d gone as far as mounting the wireless transceiver directly under my keyboard, on the underside of my desk, and keys were still dropped." - which presumably means the receiver was an inch or two from the keyboard.

This is exactly the reason I'm a wireless hater: every single problem produces the same symptoms. Keyboard battery getting low but hasn't quite failed yet? Dropped keypresses. Keyboard receiver too far from the keyboard? Dropped keypresses. Keyboard receiver getting conducted interference over the USB power rail? Dropped keypresses. Keyboard receiver too close to wifi antenna? Dropped keypresses. Keyboard receiver getting interference from the neighbours' wifi? Dropped keypresses. RF reflective surfaces nearby create nulls? Dropped keypresses.

For me I get the best result when the receiver is on a USB extension hanging down from the table behind the monitor. Currently it's about 30cm from the floor. Every single on-desk position caused interference and delays.

(This is from a Macbook with USB 3 hub, so that might be the actual culprit.)

I use my Sculpt with Windows, but I've tried using it on a Mac Mini m1, and it was horrible due to the lack of drivers. Maybe that plays a part in terms of the wonkiness as well.

I did not need any driver, macOS has a pretty descent support for keyboard.

Did you try switching your keyboard preference from Apple to PC Layout in keyboard preferences?

I did not try on M1, but this keyboard works pretty well with a MacBookPro early 2015 (and it was for a French Azerty Sculpt keyboard, not even the regular US Qwerty!).

Pro tip: on a Mac laptop, add a key shortcut to switch between the 2 layouts, so that you can quickly switch from one to the other layout.

Also add the keyboard icon / input source in the menu bar, for quick visual check : it shows the actual keyboard layout.

It doesn't need a driver for me. Although I do use Karabiner-Elements to swap Alt and Windows key.

Just a tip, you can do this without any third-party tools by going to Settings -> Keyboard -> "Modifier Keys..." and swapping around the modifier keys on a per-keyboard basis. I ended up uninstalling Karabiner after finding this - one less thing to worry about for a new install.

I can chip in here - I've tried using the sculpt with the receiver plugged into a USB hub on a MacBook and it was completely unusable - every other keystroke was dropped. It works fine when plugged directly into the MacBook though, even with a USB A -> C converter. Worth giving it a shot, as it's the best keyboard I've used to date, though I'm currently eyeing up the successor (Microsoft surface ergonomic keyboard) even with the unnecessary numpad - it looks to be of a higher build quality, and the bluetooth freeing up a port is a bonus.

> I'm currently eyeing up the successor (Microsoft surface ergonomic keyboard) even with the unnecessary numpad - it looks to be of a higher build quality, and the bluetooth freeing up a port is a bonus.

Anecdotal word of warning -- this was the worst keyboard I've used, and I promptly switched back to Sculpt. My issues: less ergonomic, worse keys with worse typing experience, fixed numpad, major connection issues with dropped and stuck keys (this was obviously the breaking point), and Bluetooth didn't work during Linux bootup (LUKS password input).

Thanks for the warning, doesn't sound too promising! May go back to drawing board on this one.

> less ergonomic ... fixed numpad I was aware of these and was willing to reach further for the mouse in exchange for aesthetics, build quality, and one less dongle on a 2-port (!) MacBook Air.

> major connection issues with dropped and stuck keys ... Bluetooth didn't work during Linux bootup Are these two related? I've had dodgy experiences with Bluetooth on Linux in the past, but no issues on Mac.

> worse keys with worse typing Can you expand on this a bit? From what I've heard and from the look of it, it looks to be an improved typing experience, especially coming from the awful F-keys of the sculpt.

> Are these two related? I've had dodgy experiences with Bluetooth on Linux in the past, but no issues on Mac.

Both may be Linux only, but not related. If I understood correctly, the bootup issue was because bluetooth drivers are loaded only after LUKS unlock. Missed/stuck key connection issues could have been Linux specific.

> Can you expand on this a bit? From what I've heard and from the look of it, it looks to be an improved typing experience, especially coming from the awful F-keys of the sculpt.

I don't have the keyboard any more and it was a couple of years ago, so I frankly don't remember that well. I didn't like the sharp key corners vs. rounded keys on Sculpt. Could be that otherwise the typing experience was similar and my memory is just colored by the connection issues which obviously destroyed the typing experience, I'd check what other sources say about this.

Thanks for the info, I'll probably continue to deliberate and delay choosing a keyboard for about 3-5 years until my sculpt gives up the ghost and forces my hand. What are you using now, out of curiosity?

Still the Sculpt. And new ones are still sold, so it won't force your hand yet :)

I would next try some wired model, using wireless has only downsides in my setup. I've been checking some split mechanical models like the Kinesis Freestyle but not sure if I can go back to the long key travel of the mechanical models.

Someone in this comment section posted a link to a list of more esoteric keyboards, I'll have to go through that list at some point.

Agreed on the key travel, I know most keyboard enthusiasts refuse to use anything other than mechanical, but I've been through that and come out the other side preferring chiclet - it's just more gentle on the fingers, and imo more aesthetically pleasing.

For what it's worth, I've been through the DIY ergo board phase as well - I made a Corne (or Helidox as it was known then). It was a fun project, but the build quality just wasn't there which ruined it for me. The sculpt is still the closest I've got to my ideal board - good build quality (minus the F keys), relatively good ergonomics, and wireless. I was hoping the Microsoft surface ergonomic would solve the F key and dongle issue, but may have to rethink my plan.

Also keep in mind whatever frequency they use doesn't go through cats very well. Took me a while to realise that the keyboard and mouse are playing up only if a cat is sleeping on the desk just behind them.

I wonder if this problem could've been solved easier with a USB extension cable and simply taping the receiver to the keyboard!

I even saw a power-plug > AA battery adapter on YouTube yesterday they could use if they really wanted to make it fully wired.

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