Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Tern Ble
Gleb Sabirzyanov published his Tern Ble, a wireless remix of the Tern keyboard.
Published November 29, 2023
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Gleb Sabirzyanov (aka zyumbik) shared Tern Ble, a derivative of Ryan Schenk's Tern, which itself is a variant of Peter Elliot's Hummingbird. This wireless remix is low profile, and comes with 30 keys in a 3D printed case.
Been dreaming of a Hummingbird-style keyboard for ages, so I decided to improve Tern a little bit. This layout is just 4 keys less compared to The Skull that I use to type daily, but it's surprisingly difficult to use so far as it removes a lot of useful combos as well as letters – Gleb.
Changes
- Support for an on/off switch, battery connector (JST PH 2.0mm) and XIAO Ble battery pogo pin
- Slightly different switch footprint with tight holes, switches are held firmly without a plate
- Pinky column is a bit closer to the ring finger column
- PCB outline designed from the ground up
Features
- 30 keys, Hummingbird layout
- Choc hotswap switches
- CFX spacing (MBK/choc spaced keycaps won't work)
- XIAO Ble controller
- 100 mAh battery
- 3D printed case
Because of the redrawn PCB outline, other Tern cases won't work with this version.
Resources
Published on Wed 29th Nov 2023. Featured in KBD #145 (source).
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