Vortex POK3R Keyboard Layouts

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Tips & Tricks
• Programming Instructions
• Layer 2 (Blue) for Linux/Windows
• Layer 3 (Red) for macOS
• Common Bindings
• Move Fn to L_Ctrl
• Sources

Introduction

This document contains helpful hints and layout improvements for users of the popular Vortex POK3R mechanical keyboard. The layouts work with Linux, Windows and macOS.

Multiple sources to buy one:

• WASD Keyboards brand-lables it, provides custom key caps
• Amazon,
• mechanicalkeyboards.com

The following layers are used:

• Linux/Windows: Layer 2 (blue LED), switch to it with: Fn + ,<
• macOS: Layer 3 (red LED), switch with: Fn + .>

Tips & Tricks

• Toggle arrow-keys on R_Shift, Fn, Pn, and R_Ctrl: L_Win + R_Alt + Space
• Factory reset: Hold L_Alt + R_Alt keys for five seconds, until LED under spacebar stops flashing
• Reset selected layer only: Fn + R until LED under spacebar stops flashing

POK3R User Manual; Vortex keeps shifting their URLs, so local copy (thanks @couto, @josephfusco)

Programming Instructions

When the keyboard is in programming mode a second LED will light up on the right hand side of the space bar. It starts blinking as soon as you start the programming of a key and will only turn off when you exit the programming mode.

• Default layer (Fn+M) cannot be programmed
• Enter programming mode: Fn + R_Ctrl¹, second LED under space bar lights up
  • Press key to program, second LED under spacebar will now blink
  • Enter new content, this can be up to 32 characters
  • Confirm with Pn, second LED will now stop blinking
• Exit programming: Fn + R_Ctrl, second LED goes dark

Note: During programming, use the keys as labelled on the keyboard, irrespective of any reassignments.

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¹ If you've already moved/reassigned your Fn key, as mentioned below, then you need to use that key + R_Ctrl to enter/exit programming mode.

Layer 2 (Blue) for Linux/Windows

Fn + ,< to switch to Layer 2

• Move Fn to L_Ctrl
• Fn + R_Ctrl to enter programming
• Common bindings
• Fn + R_Ctrl to exit programming

Resulting programming:

Linux/Windows Layout on keyboard-layout-editor.com

Layer 3 (Red) for macOS

Fn + . to switch to Layer 3.

• Move Fn to L_Ctrl
• Fn + R_Ctrl to enter programming
• Common bindings
• Swap Cmd/Opt keys on both sides of space bar:
  • L_Cmd: L_Alt then: L_WIN then: Pn
  • L_Option: L_WIN then: L_Alt then: Pn
  • R_CMD: R_Alt then: R_Fn (Win) then: Pn
  • R_Option: R_Fn (Win) then: R_Alt then: Pn
• Fn + R_Ctrl to exit programming

Resulting programming:

macOS Layout on keyboard-layout-editor.com

Common Bindings

Enter programming mode first.

• CapsLock always as Ctrl:
  • CapsLock then: L_Ctrl then: Pn to confirm
  • Fn + CapsLock then: L_Ctrl then: Pn to confirm
• VI/VIM style HJKL for arrow keys and Page Up/Down:
  • Left: Fn + H then: Fn + J then: Pn
  • Down: Fn + J then: Fn + K then: Pn
  • Up: Fn + K then: Fn + I then: Pn
  • PgDown: Fn + F then: Fn + O then: Pn
  • PgUp: Fn + B then: Fn + U then: Pn
• Home: Fn + I then: Fn + H then: Pn
• Volume controls:
  • Mute: Fn + X then: Fn + /? then: Pn
  • Vol-: Fn + C then: Fn + ,< then: Pn
  • Vol+: Fn + V then: Fn + .> then: Pn

Remember to exit programming mode to activate changes. See each respective OS section above.

Move Fn to L_Ctrl

The VI/VIM style HJKL as cursor keys are more ergonomical to reach by moving the Fn to the left Ctrl key location. Note: here you don't need to go into the programming mode, instead the DIP switch on the back is used:

• Switch to Layer 2 (or 3, 4); this programming is per layer
• Unplug keyboard
• DIP switch 4 to ON
• Plugin keyboard again, then press Fn then: L_Ctrl then: Pn then: Pn (to leave it in its original location)
• DIP switch 4 back to OFF (no need to unplug)

Sources

The how-to for these mappings is from 2 reddit threads:

• r/mk: HowTo program pok3r
• r/mk: HowTo media controls pok3r

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.