How to repair a broken Logitech Wirless Receiver (The Calavera Way)

[Calavera]

For the past month or two I've been having problems with my Logitech Wireless Receiver. One of these


It connects both my mouse and keyboard. It would work but for whatever reason when I'd restart the computer it would lose connection and I'd have to use a wired mouse and the on-screen keyboard to log in. After logging in if I twisted and wiggled the receiver around it would eventually connect and then be fine.

Well today after logging in I couldn't get it to function at all. No matter how much I wiggled and jiggled it just wouldn't connect. I tried cleaning the contacts with a q-tip and alcohol, nothing. I figured it had finally gave out so as a last resort I soaked it in vinegar (to try and clean any corrosion that may have been on the contacts) after that I soaked it in alcohol because at this point why not. After it dried I tried it again and nothing. While this was going on I obviously couldn't use my wireless mouse and keyboard so had to switch to a Zelotes Great Spider Inception T-90 gaming mouse and a Saitek Eclipse II keyboard I had laying around.




The mouse was fine but I use a trackball and with how my setup is I don't really have an area to use a standard mouse so I had to have a Laserdisc cover in my lap for a mousepad which was pretty awkward. The Saitek though was very nice and even though it is wired I'm considered switching over to it for awhile. Don't you love how my stories have so many extremely necessary details.

So the mouse situation was very annoying. I could order a new receiver for around $11 but I'd have to wait on it to arrive. As a last ditch effort I said eff it and broke the housing for the wireless reciever so I just had the circuit board and then broke the metal shield off the end of a USB extension cable. I then held the bare receiver onto the bare USB cable and success it actually connected! I then took some Scotch tape and taped it down as tight as I could get it. It was almost enough, when I plugged it in it wouldn't connect but if I just barely pushed the receiver to the cable it would then connect. So to get that extra bit of force I put a wooden clothes pin on it and voila! I'm now able to use my wireless trackball and keyboard again without having to spend money on a new receiver.

Here is a picture of the final product.



I have to say, I'm pretty happy I was able to get it working this way.

[Roofus]

I respect the world-class jank.

[melancholy]

If you have both a mouse and keyboard, wouldn’t you have an extra receiver? If they are both unifying devices, you could just program the extra one to run both devices.

[pixel]

I respect the world-class jank.

Excellent work cal

[ian]

OH MY FUCKING GOD! Congrats CAL! you are the only person (other than myself) to ever own, let alone mention owning a Saitek Eclipse 2 keyboard.
And I only ever owned one because at one point or another I've owned literally and figuratively EVERY keyboard and mouse humanity has ever invented.

I went out of my way to get one, clean one, and use one simply because I could! So the fact you had one just laying around is even more impressive.
I've put a hat on, just to tip it at you good sir.

If you have both a mouse and keyboard, wouldn’t you have an extra receiver? If they are both unifying devices, you could just program the extra one to run both devices.

You ever try to get a unifying receiver to work with a device it wasn't paired to? Even when it was just the unifying receiver and you didn't have to worry about 2.4GHz, or gaming, or 2.4GHz gaming, it was fucked.
Logitech says just do steps 1-5 on their website and you're off... The reality is, you have to be intricately familiar with every programming language ever conceived and have 450+ hours free time just to get the receiver that came with your M330 to work with your new M331 with any consistency.

I spent a day trying to get my G700 receiver properly pairing to my G700S.
If my G700S (the best mouse humanity has EVER made) stops working on my second reprogrammed receiver, I'll throw the fucking thing in my ewaste pile in a fraction of a second without even a single second thought.

[Calavera]

OH MY FUCKING GOD! Congrats CAL! you are the only person (other than myself) to ever own, let alone mention owning a Saitek Eclipse 2 keyboard.
And I only ever owned one because at one point or another I've owned literally and figuratively EVERY keyboard and mouse humanity has ever invented.

I went out of my way to get one, clean one, and use one simply because I could! So the fact you had one just laying around is even more impressive.
I've put a hat on, just to tip it at you good sir.

I've actually switched to it over my wireless keyboard. It is sooooooo much better than the wireless one I was using. The wireless keyboard I was using was a Logitech MK710. While it wasn't bad typing is just so much better on the Eclipse II. It is a night and day difference.

If you have both a mouse and keyboard, wouldn’t you have an extra receiver? If they are both unifying devices, you could just program the extra one to run both devices.

No I only have the one. The reason for that is I bought my Logitech M570 wireless trackball new which came with a receiver. However the many different Logitech keyboards I've used over time have come from Goodwill which NEVER have the receiver with them.