Support request for Chicony RGB keyboard (VID: 04f2, PID: 011a) - Acer Predator Helios PH16-71

🖥️ Feature Request: Add support for Chicony RGB keyboard on Acer Predator Helios PH16-71

Summary

Requesting OpenRGB support for the built-in RGB keyboard of the Acer Predator Helios PH16-71. The keyboard uses a Chicony USB HID device with the following identifiers:

  • Vendor ID (VID): 04f2
  • Product ID (PID): 011a
  • Device Name (from lsusb): Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd USB-HID Gaming Keyboard (C)

The RGB lighting is fully functional in Windows using PredatorSense, but OpenRGB does not detect the device under Linux.

🔍 System Information

  • Model: Acer Predator Helios PH16-71
  • Keyboard: Chicony USB-HID Gaming Keyboard
  • Dual Boot: Windows 11 + Parrot OS (HTB edition)
  • Linux Kernel: (insert output of uname -r here)
  • OpenRGB Version: 1.0 RC1 (built from source)
  • Root access: Yes

🧪 What I’ve Tried

  • Enabled modules: i2c-dev, i2c-i801
  • Ran OpenRGB as root
  • Keyboard is detected with lsusb and lsusb -v shows 4 HID interfaces
  • Tested USB write access via hidapi Python scripts
  • Identified and replayed Interrupt OUT packets captured from PredatorSense
  • Replayed valid RGB color payloads (static red, green, etc.)
  • Replayed SET_REPORT, SET_IDLE and URB_FUNCTION_CONTROL_TRANSFER_EX packets
  • Confirmed that even correct packet replay does not alter lighting

🧾 Additional Observations

  • RGB lighting resets on boot to a default effect that is not selectable in PredatorSense
  • Changing color via PredatorSense requires "Acer Lightning Service" to be running
    • If the service is stopped, even PredatorSense can't change lighting
  • This suggests vendor-specific HID initialization or locking mechanism

📎 Attached Files

  1. USB capture log (from Wireshark/USBPcap on Windows): chicony_rgb_log.pcapng
    • Contains sequences for static colors (green, red, orange, violet) and attempted wave effect
    • chicony_rgb_log.pcapng
  2. Full lsusb -v dump for the device: lsusb_04f2_011a.txt

🙏 Request

Please consider investigating support for this keyboard model. I’m available to:

  • Run additional captures
  • Test early support builds
  • Collect further debug data

Let me know if any additional information is required.