HQ ProgKey¶

The HQ ProgKey is an 8 pin probe with two rows of 4 pins. It works great for interfacing with a variety of lights since it can be used for nearly any of the common layouts by matching the wiring of the pins to whichever light needs to be updated.

The following materials can be used to craft one of these probes:

One or more HQ ProgKey PCBs ordered from OSHPark.

Warning

When ordering these boards from OSHPark, select 2 oz copper, 0.8mm thickness or the board will be the wrong size.
Pogo pins
Soldering paste and a Reflow plate or equivalent, or a soldering iron and typical soldering supplies.
Dupont connector pins

Solder the pogo pins to both sides of the board and then solder the Dupont connector pins in whichever orientation is most convenient.

Tip

Soldering the pogo pins to the board can be extremely tricky! Have patience, and don’t be afraid to pull the pins off, clean up, and start over.

../_images/4o4-probe-hq-1-top.jpg — HQ ProgKey (Top)¶

../_images/4o4-probe-hq-2-bottom.jpg — HQ ProgKey (Bottom)¶

Using HQ ProgKey for 3 over 3 Pads¶

With 4 over 4 pins on the HQ ProgKey there are four ways to wire up the probe, either using pins 1-3 and 6-8, or pins 2-4 and 5-7 and in each of those cases the wires could be arranged with either side of the probe as the top side. The diagram below uses the first layout. Any way is OK so long as the probe is properly aligned when connecting to the light.

../_images/wire_3o3_probe_progkey.png — Pins on HQ ProgKey probe for connecting to USBASP for 3 over 3 Pads¶

Use jumper wires to connect from the probe to the USBASP board following the layout in these images.

../_images/wire_usbasp.png — USBASP pins for connecting to HQ ProgKey for 3 over 3 Pads¶

Make a note of which pins are which so that when the probe is aligned with the board all of the proper pins make contact.

../_images/3o3-hq-progkey-1-top.jpg — HQ ProgKey wired for 3 over 3 (Top)¶

../_images/3o3-hq-progkey-2-bottom.jpg — HQ ProgKey wired for 3 over 3 (Bottom)¶

Using HQ ProgKey for 3 Pin UPDI¶

Any three pins in a row on the probe can be used to connect with the CH340 programmer, but for simplicity’s sake, this example uses pins 1-3.

../_images/wire_updi_probe_progkey.png — Pins on HQ ProgKey probe for connecting to CH340¶

Connect a socket-to-socket jumper wire from + on the probe to VCC on the CH340 board.
Connect a socket-to-socket jumper wire from - on the probe to GND on the CH340 board.
Connect a socket-to-plug jumper wire from R on the probe to both RXD and TXD on the CH340 board.

../_images/ch340-hq-progkey.jpg — HQ ProgKey connected to CH340 Programmer¶

The CH340 board linked above has a jumper between RXD and TXD and a plug Dupont connector can rest in the opening of the jumper and make contact, so it touches both pins.

../_images/ch340-rxtx-bridge.jpg — Bridging RX and TX on the CH340 Board (Side)¶

../_images/ch340-rxtx-bridge2.jpg — Bridging RX and TX on the CH340 Board (Bottom)¶

Alternately, some people have chosen to solder the wire to the jumper, or made A cable to connect both pins, for example. As long as the R contact on the probe makes good electrical contact with both RXD and TXD it will work.