Logitech unified keyboard and mouse via nRF24L device!?

Peter Jakacki

Talking about standalone systems always brings me around to keyboards and mice and the difficulty with interfacing them since PS/2 is getting harder and harder to find. Although I use the PS/2 protocol that some devices support I haven't used the old style PS/2 connectors for many years now and prefer to use the standard USB socket for direct connection rather than the passive and therefore redundant PS/2 "adaptor".

But that got me to thinking about implementing HID USB or even programming a small chip to support HID USB back to serial or I2C rather than PS/2 perhaps. Anyway, thinking some more I tried to find if Logitech unifying receiver chips were available even and it seems that they use Nordic nRF24L01+ chips + SOC.

So on the off chance that I can hack the protocol I will hookup the nRF24L to the Prop and interact with the device via Tachyon. Nothing might come of it but if I do make it work it would be a wonderful way to interface modern keyboards and mice and even combos such as the K400r which I also use.

Here's a link to some stuff on hackaday.

jmg

Interesting idea.

I see Digikey stock PS/2 keyboards with some from Adafruit.

Adafriut also have have this, that appears to the Host as a BT Kbd, has contacts in, and also 9600 Baud Serial In.
1535 : BLUETOOTH HID KEYBOARD CNTRLLR $19.95
It does mention 2 way Serial here
https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-bluefruit-ez-key-diy-bluetooth-hid-keyboard/sending-keys-via-serial
but not clear on what data can come from host ?

There are cheaper nRF24L01+ modules, but it is less clear if they can pair with any keyboard.

Peter Jakacki

The nRF24 solution means we don't need any connectors but we can interface modern keyboards and mice wirelessly. The K400r is a touchpad combo that I like to use as it's field friendly being ready to use. If possible I would share the i2c clock and data so that I would only need ss and miso.

RS_Jim

Merry christmas Peter. Did you have any success with this?
Jim

Peter Jakacki

Hi Jim, thanks for the reminder, I have been terribly sidetracked but I do want to check this out for a whole lot of reasons, so I'm bumping this thread for that purpose. I will probably check it out properly in the couple of days.

In actual fact I have some Logitech devices that are missing their receiver so I can reuse them once I get this to work.

I like using this type too, especially as a remote for my Linux PC I use as a TV media centre.

Dave Hein

I just bought one of those keyboards today to use with my Samsung Smart TV. It works great with the TV, except that the touch pad is a little too sensitive. Hopefully, the sensitivity can be adjusted so it doesn't generate a lot of false button pushes. I got mine for $20 at Walmart. It's amazing that they can sell them so cheaply.

Peter, that would be great if you could get it to work with the Prop. I have several PS/2 keyboards that I've picked up at garage sales, but it is getting harder to find them.

Peter Jakacki

There's another PC TV remote version of that keyboard too, the K400 plus although it doesn't look like it would be any better. Those touchpads are a little awkward to drag and drop with.

RS_Jim

Peter,
Did you ever get this working?
Jim

Peter Jakacki

RS_Jim wrote: »

Peter,
Did you ever get this working?
Jim

When i sit down to play with it again (soon), sniffing the airwaves, I will also try other devices too such as Microsoft as well as generic $5 brands etc.

RS_Jim

Peter,
Here is a reference on the use of NRF devices that may or may not be useful in your quest:
http://www.airspayce.com/mikem/arduino/RadioHead/index.html This is a library for packet communication with that “A” MCU but it may offer some helpful info.
Jim