Introducing ErgoSentry: a full-size Merc Stealth replacement
ErgoSentry is here! If you've kept up with our Discord server, you may have noticed that the product page for ErgoSentry went live last week. We're now taking orders for the ErgoSentry group buy.
In 2023, we launched the ErgoStrafer and have since sold hundreds of them. We've been constantly making iterative improvements based on customer feedback, and we've also fielded countless requests for a full size replacement of the Merc Stealth. We are now happy to announce the availability of not one, but three different versions of ErgoSentry, all of which incorporates many improvements and lessons learned from ErgoStrafer:
ErgoSentry ANSI
ErgoSentry Plus ANSI
ErgoSentry Plus ISO
The "Plus" versions have a few extra keys to the left of the numpad and thus the keyboard is slightly wider overall. As for ANSI vs ISO, if you're not familiar with the difference, take a look at the size and shape of the enter key. Depending on where you live and what keyboards you've used, one of them will seem correct/familiar to you, and that's the one you'll want:
Group Buy basics
For anyone unfamiliar with group buys: we will be taking orders for ErgoSentry through February 28th, and then use those proceeds to buy a batch of hardware to build ErgoSentry keyboards. The official estimate for the delivery date is in the May/June 2025 timeframe. The estimate is just an estimate--if things go well, we can probably delivery sooner, and if problems/delays happen, we may deliver later than that.
As with other group buys we've run, we will be transparent throughout the process, providing regular updates. Logistically, there is a bit more involved in making ErgoSentry compared to ErgoStrafer (e.g. there are more parts like stabilizers, more special components on the PCB, a wider variety of screws, etc.) and we believe a May/June delivery date (3 to 4 months) should provide us with the opportunity to handle any such issues that arise during the product launch.
After February 28th, we plan to continue to accepting orders (on a pre-order basis) but the price and delivery timeframe will be subject to change. And if all goes well, then long-term, we plan to offer ErgoSentry as a regular product with a lead time measured in weeks (similar to ErgoStrafer).
What's new in ErgoSentry?
A few details about the features you'll find in ErgoSentry:
- A third number row in the gamepad, and an added Z and X key below the WASD gamepad keys
- A second function row (F13-F24) across the top of the keyboard
- Hotswaps in all switch locations (making it easy to change out the switches)
- Integrated USB hub with two USB-A ports provided on the back
- Integrated high-fidelity USB audio using Cmedia CM6646 (192kHz/32bit)
- A microphone input jack which can be muted directly within the keyboard (the mute key always works regardless of the operating system or application)
- Three dedicated rotary encoders
- Per-key RGB
- N-key rollover
- Open source QMK firmware with VIA compatibility
Special thanks
I'd like to extend a special thanks to the folks who bravely commissioned the design of each version of ErgoSentry. Much like Doug was the patron who commissioned ErgoStrafer, the careful (and sometimes tedious) design decisions resulting in the creation of ErgoSentry were led by:
- Jim - ErgoSentry ANSI
- Chris - ErgoSentry Plus ANSI
- Tim - ErgoSentry Plus ISO
There are a lot of emails that go on behind the scenes during the design process, covering everything from the overall layout and features, to minutia like whether to use a stepped caps lock or non-stepped capslock. These folks went above and beyond in being responsive to my sometimes-endless questions, and also funding the hardware prototypes you see in the product photos.
Also, special thanks to Titania on Discord who measured the audio circuit for me, finding it to have excellent performance for general audio needs, with latency as low as 15ms, as well as having low noise even at high gain.