Supported Hardware

This page lists the machine known to work with Plover.

It lists:

• Stenotype machines
• Keyboards
• Dedicated machines designed for use with Plover

Stenotype Machines

Supported protocols

Plover supports several protocols that are in use by various machines:

• Stentura serial: most machines by Stenograph and many others.
• Gemini PR serial: typically any recent machine made by the Neutrino Group, such as the Piper, Revolution, or Infinity series.
• ProCAT: protocol used by all ProCAT machines.
• TX Bolt: an older protocol supported by some machines as a primary or secondary protocol.
• Treal: used only by the Treal from Word Technologies.
• Passport: used only by the Passport Writer from Advantage Software.

This means that, in theory, many machines work with Plover.

Known supported stenotypes

The following machines have been confirmed by users to work with Plover after actually trying it:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Protocol/Connection	Comments
Elan Cybra Student	Stenograph	TX Bolt (serial)
Flash, Blaze, Impression, and Xpression	ProCAT	ProCAT
Flash Writer	ProCAT	TX Bolt	Press Mode (far right button), click Setup, then press the Emul button. Display should read Emulate: Baron
Gemini2	Neutrino Group	Gemini PR (serial)
Gemini RT	Neutrino Group	TX Bolt	Must start a job on screen or in Infinity2
Lightspeed	Stenovations	TX Bolt (serial over USB/Bluetooth)	Baud rate 9600
Infinity Ergonomic	Neutrino Group	Gemini PR (serial over USB/Bluetooth)	Baud rate 115200
Infinity Genesis	Neutrino Group	Gemini PR (serial)
Passport	Advantage Software	Passport (USB)
Passport Touch	Advantage Software	USB, Bluetooth	While in "Emulation Mode": Stentura over Bluetooth or TX Bolt over USB 
Protege	Stenograph
Revolution Grand	Neutrino Group	Gemini PR (serial)
Stentura 400 SRT	Stenograph	Stentura (serial)	[[Setup Instructions
Tréal	Word technologies	Treal (USB)
Wave	Stenograph

Keyboards

If you don't have a steno machine, you can use a keyboard that supports N-Key Rollover (NKRO).

What's NKRO?

This is a feature that certain keyboards have that let the keyboards register each key regardless of other keys being pressed. Read the Wikipedia entry about NKRO.

How do I know if my keyboard has NKRO?

A simple test is to open up a text editor and--while holding down both shift keys--type each letter on your keyboard. If all keys are typed into the text editor, your keyboard probably has NKRO.

Microsoft's website provides a web application that lets you test your keyboard's capabilities for registering multiple key presses. To test, click where it says "click to use", then each key you press lights up green in the picture of a keyboard. Press the middle row keys asdfjkl; and with a normal keyboard only 6 of the 8 keys will light up green, maybe fewer, but if your keyboard has n-key rollover, all 8 will light up green. Then press other multiple-key combinations such as yuhj and see if they all light up green.

What if my keyboard is not capable of NKRO?

If you don't have a keyboard that's capable of NKRO, but still want to give Plover a try, you can arpeggiate/roll the keyboard chords. More info can be found at the bottom of this post.

Known supported keyboards

Warning: Be wary of false advertising; some keyboards are advertised as NKRO or anti-ghosting, but are limited to certain combinations. Check reviews to get confirmation before making a purchase. Some keyboards might only support full-NKRO over a PS/2 connector (the old-style plug.) Full NKRO over USB is possible. Many keyboards do it well, and will work with Plover.

The following machines have been confirmed by users to work with Plover after actually trying it:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Comments	Price
Apex m-800	SteelSeries	NKRO over USB	$199
CM Storm Quickfire TK	Cooler Master	NKRO over USB	$85
Noppoo Choc	Noppoo	NKRO over USB	$95
Ergo Pro	Matias	NKRO over USB	$200
Ergodox	Ergodox	NKRO over USB	$295
G710+	Logitech	NKRO over USB	$130
Keyboardio	Keyboardio	NKRO over USB	$329
Majestouch-2	Filco	NKRO over USB	$167
Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate	Das Keyboard	NKRO over USB	$169
Ultimate Hacking Keyboard	Ultimate Gadget Labs	NKRO over USB	$250
Vengeance K65	Corsair	NKRO over USB	$90
ZM-K600S	Zalman	NKRO over USB	$40

Which type of key switch should I choose?

Stenography works best when the keyboard takes little force to depress keys. The lighter, the better. Ideally, the switch will be linear, it should lack any clicks or bumps. The lighter the force, the better, for steno. In the Cherry MX line, the best switch is Red, at 45 cN actuation. For Gaterons, the best switch for steno is Clear/White (different names, same switch), at only 35 cN actuation.

Adapt a keyboard for steno use

Most keyboards have the keys in staggered rows, which can make it difficult to press two keys in a column with a single finger. To adapt a keyboard for steno use, you can use:

• Keytoppers
• Keycaps
• A keyboard with an ortholinear layout

Keytoppers

To solve this problem, you can use keytoppers, which are in the shape of the keys on a steno machine, and stick them on top of the relevant keys on the keyboard.

You can buy laser-cut keytoppers from the Plover Store. You can also make your own keytoppers out of plastic or even coins.

Keycaps

If you have a mechanical keyboard, chances are your keys have a Cherry MX stem and will work with custom keycaps. Keys that have little space between them are good for steno because then you can hit two neighboring keys with one finger (which is frequently necessary).

• The G20 keycap set from Signature Plastics is a great set for steno, and will fit on an ErgoDox or other mechanical keyboard. The keys have a direction, so for optimal comfort, you should angle the top row of steno (STPH...) down, so that they are close to the bottom row (SKWR...)
• You can 3D-print a steno-friendly keycap.

NKRO keyboards with an ortholinear layout

Keyboards with an "ortholinear" layout have the keys in straight columns. This is handy for steno, as it makes it easier to press two keys in a column with a single finger.

The following machines have been confirmed by users to work with Plover after actually trying it:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Protocol/Connection	Comments
ErgoDox	Ergodox	USB	The ErgoDox is a fairly high-end NKRO keyboard at $200, with an ortholinear layout. It has two separate halves, so you can angle them to suit you. You can order it with the Gateron White keys, which have an extremely light, 35 gram activation force.
Planck	OLKB	USB	The Planck is a NKRO keyboard with an ortholinear layout. It is 40% the size of a standard keyboard.
Preonic	OLKB	USB	The Preonic is a NKRO keyboard with an ortholinear layout. It is 60% the size of a standard keyboard.

Dedicated machines designed for use with Plover

Various steno enthusiasts are making and selling machines designed for use with Plover.

The following machines have been confirmed by users to work with Plover after actually trying it:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Protocol/Connection	Comments
SOFT/HRUF	Scott Urueta	TX Bolt (serial)	Open source hardware. This has the shape of a stenography machine, but is built using computer keys rather than levers. It is built and sold by Scott Urueta, in Miami. See Ellis Pratt's [review of the SOFT/HRUF and Stenomod]. The name is the steno representation for, and is pronounced as, "soft love".
Stenoboard	Utopen	NKRO/TX Bolt/Gemini PR	Open source hardware. * The first open source steno machine on the market, released in 2014. It is sold and built by Caruso Emanuele, in Italy. The Stenoboard's keys actuate like mouse-clicks instead of a keyboard or lever-machine.
Stenomod	Charley Shattuck	TX Bolt	Open source hardware. This has light keys and a split design. See Ted Morin's review of the StenoMod. The name is supposed to hint at how the machine is "modular" and adaptable. It is very barebones so it is easy to take apart and customize.