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Don't throw that keyboard away!

Breathe new life into your old CMStorm QuickFire Rapid keyboard with reFIRE!

The QuickFire Rapid was a great keyboard, but it used a fixed-function keyboard controller that was a product of its time (2012). The behavior can't be changed, the key map can't be changed, you can't even make the lights blink.

But it's still a perfectly good keyboard! By installing this module, you can upgrade it for the 2020s with a new brain running QMK.

Why, though?

Why would you want to replace your keyboard's brain? Well, why buy a custom set of keycaps? Customization is fun, and the keyboard is the part of the computer you interact with the most!

But while we're at it,

• Enable full N-key rollover when using USB! (The original only supported it on PS/2.)
• Modify the indicator lights (including the weird winlock LED in F9) to indicate layer state!
• Change the keyboard layout in arbitrary ways that follow you from computer to computer!
• Enable OS detection to automatically choose a Mac or PC layout!
• Or any of the other laundry list of features supported by QMK

Compatibility and Disclaimers

This supports the original CMStorm QuickFire Rapid keyboard --- the one without a backlight. The later QuickFire Rapid-i is a different keyboard and isn't compatible.

reFIRE is based on reverse engineering of a proprietary product, and while I've made a best effort to ensure compatibility (and have not so far heard any reports of incompatibility), it's possible that not all QuickFire Rapids are alike under the hood, and that this is not compatible with your keyboard. Even if it fits in the controller slot, it's possible that different batches of the QuickFire Rapid have electrical differences. Like any modification that involves opening your keyboard and altering its electronics, it's possible this may damage your keyboard. I can't be responsible for replacing your keyboard (this is a hobby project for me).

PCB may have slight differences in appearance from the photos above.

Product status

This is derived from my reCODE upgrade for the WASD CODE, which is a four-year-old well-tested design. It should "just work" out of the box. I ship reFIRE with a QMK image built from my branch, and configured to exactly replicate the original keyboard's behavior (including the Winlock key).

I made this for my keyboard, and I'm currently selling the rest of that batch. Quantity is limited, but if there's interest I can make more!

Upgrading your keyboard

To install this module you will need basic through-hole soldering skills. The process is straightforward, and is described in considerable detail in the user manual. Here's a summary:

1. Solder the (included) pin headers into place on either side. (I've already soldered all the surface mount bits for you.)
2. Remove the single screw from the back of your keyboard.
3. Use a spudger or sturdy fingernail to pry the top plastic case off by working around the seam.
4. Gently lift the factory controller PCB out of its position over the cursor keys.
5. Put reFIRE in its place.

Replacing the firmware

Using the default QMK firmware, you can put the keyboard into DFU mode by holding ESC while plugging it in. At that point you can flash a different build of QMK. Have fun, it's almost impossible to brick reFIRE with a firmware update. The user's manual describes this in more detail.

My QMK support for this module is on the same branch I use for reCODE. If you would like to build it yourself, there are instructions in the manual.