[Tom] was looking for a standard USB interface for a Palm folding keyboard when he stumbled across this Morse code adapter (cache) from 2004. Palm keyboards use a serial connection to talk to the PDA. Since they are low-power and compact, they’re a good choice for ham radio applications. The site has pictures, schematics and PIC code to make the Morse code keyboard.
agreed, this is one of the cooler hacks i have seen here in a while. i may try to build this.
to continue from yesterdays hack: yeah, i know we used to have hack-a-day extra, i just forgot what they were called. i understand why we dont have them daily anymore, there just arent enough hacks, but weekly was nice.
Posted at 2:56 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by mike
now all we need is a pic based morse code decoder.
Posted at 4:09 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by patrick
cool hack was hopeing to do somthing like this with a ir keyboard i got long ago from the bush internet set top box but havent figured it out yet would love a remote keyboard thanks nice hack on another note eliot is there any chance of a t shirt as i live in the uk and carnt get over there plz plz
Posted at 5:29 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by steve
Nice hack. I’ve been meaning to do something with the palm keyboard I have. Maybe I’ll use it to control my iPod or do something else with a PIC.
Posted at 6:01 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by BronzeG3
If Elliot sends Steve a Tee that isn’t modified with at least fifty LED’s and a set of batteries in the hem, then there really is no justice in the world
Posted at 7:18 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by Liam
Hey TOM, did you ever happen to find some information on using these keyboards with USB? I happen to have a couple of these as well as palm m100 cradles. My keyboards are for the Palm V/Vx as far as I can tell though. If those use the same rs-232 to communicate, I’m sure some programmer can make a USB chip using a usb pic plus a usb-to-rs232 chip, or completly in the usb pic to act as a standard HID keyboard.
Posted at 7:49 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by cde
Comment on cde
I have been looking for the same thing but with the clie kb100 keyboard
Posted at 8:58 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by MAtthew
reminds me of a text message race between a war vet and a 14 girl – morse code vs. the ABC2 DEF3 GHI4 style entry. Old man was miles ahead! wish I could rig one up to my phone….
Posted at 1:29 am on Aug 2nd, 2006 by erik
Here is a diagram and code to attach a palm keyboard to a pc serial port: http://web.archive.org/web/20021214015827/http://www.iptel-now.de/HOWTO/SER_PALM_KBD/ser_palm_kbd.html
(you may have to refresh archive.org to get the page)
Think Outside has a usb stowaway keyboard. http://www.thinkoutside.com/products/stwusb/stwusb_product.html
Posted at 9:58 am on Aug 2nd, 2006 by Mike
Nice hack. I’d also love to see someone put together a one-handed keyboard for a PDA since as a way to get over the input hurdles on these little computers.
Posted at 10:50 am on Aug 2nd, 2006 by mathmonkey
There is code for an Atmel uC floating around for a USB 1 interface, it doesn’t even require USB on chip and uses the standard IO ports to do the job. So if you wanted to convert this over to use USB, I think it would be mostly cut and paste.
Posted at 11:20 am on Aug 2nd, 2006 by Kim Jung
This is a great hack if you’re a ham (I am)…
Just goes to show you that it doesn’t take a lot of money to get involved in ham radio… take this, and build a tuna can CW transmitter, and you’re on the air for probably less than 40 bucks.
Makes me want to get back into QRP.
Posted at 11:21 am on Aug 2nd, 2006 by Richard - ve3ecm
anyone know of a cell phone application that would beep incoming SMS messages in morse code? Would be perfect while driving!
Posted at 11:22 am on Aug 2nd, 2006 by presidentpicker
now all we need is a pic based morse code decoder.
that would probably work as well as pic based handwriting recognition
Posted at 12:24 pm on Aug 2nd, 2006 by Max
mathmonkey: it exists…
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/6c82/
Posted at 1:18 pm on Aug 2nd, 2006 by mike
Palm Keyboards for the m100, III and VII models of the Palm PDA are available on the surplus market ( Ebay example ) for around $20 postpaid. These keyboards are unusual in that they fold up into a compact box about the size of two Altoids tins. The Palm Keyboards also use very little power. The keyboards communicate with the Palm PDA using serial (RS-232) communication. Both their size and low power usage make them ideal for QRP ham radio applications. One obvious application is as a Morse Code keyboard. However there is one problem with these keyboards: they do not use a standard 9 or 25 pin D connector as most serial interfaces do. The Palm Keyboard interface board is an inexpensive way to try out these keyboards with your own PIC or other hardware. I’ve posted a simple PIC based Morse keyboard application using this circuit board along with a PIC and a few other parts housed in an Altoids tin (note that the PIC is NOT on the board for sale, it’s on some perf board). See the source code and pictures of this example project at the bottom of this page.
Mike,
Sorry, I meant one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorded_keyboard. BT or serial, I’d be all over it. I’ll look into your link, tho. Looks promising.
Posted at 10:30 pm on Aug 2nd, 2006 by mathmonkey
Sorry about the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorded_keyboard
Posted at 11:47 pm on Aug 2nd, 2006 by mathmonkey
At the moment I’m currently working on a project. Im modding my 1/6 Scale RC Hummer by like adding a flamethrower and extremely extending the range and adding a camera.
I saw this hack and thought, If this could be done on an ordinary computer keyboard usb or ps/2. I could redirect the morse code output to an RF transmitter. Then with a reciever inside the car. I could convert to morse code back to like standard letters and direct it to an led screen. Then if could type something and watch it appear on the side of the Hummer.
Im not sure how practical this would be but it would be cool if i could pull it off.
Also on a pc could a direct the morse code output to a serial port or something. So that for example what i type would appear in morse code on a light from a serial port.
Sorry if some of this makes no sence im 13 and im just gettin intrested in some of this stuff.
Thanks
Posted at 6:00 am on Aug 3rd, 2006 by Tom!
a little googling led me to this:
http://www.qsl.net/yo5ofh/pic/morse_decoder/mdecoder.htm
so there you go a pic based morse code deocoder, i hope i can make a wirless morse code radio link between my house and my friend’s now
Posted at 3:59 pm on Aug 5th, 2006 by Mike
If you’re interested in PDAs and ham radio, check out http://www.n0hr.com
In particular, the site has a Morse Code utility for ham radio, PPCMorse to learn CW using your PocketPC:
http://www.n0hr.com/ppcmorse_tutorial.htm
As well as utilities to do other ham radio things with PocketPC PDAs. For example, log your ham radio contacts on your PDA with MobileLog http://www.n0hr.com/ml_tutorial.htm
can anybody help me.. i wanna check the transmission from com1 serial port.. i m transmitting the text in the from of morse code..
but i donno if the msg is getting transferred or not.. when i go for a LED test.. i m not getting the expected result…
can anyone tel me how to do this LED test for message transmittion..??
please help me
Posted at 3:41 am on Jan 26th, 2008 by raj
Hi! http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/member.php?u=22291 vardenafil
Posted at 4:41 pm on Oct 1st, 2008 by vardenafilll
i m new here and i just want to say heloo to everyone
Posted at 4:04 am on Dec 27th, 2008 by Joigotahgrogs
empty
Posted at 8:55 am on Feb 23rd, 2009 by DelaySEOFactory
This company (HL Direct Marketing) is a known scammer selling products which do not work. Just keep an eye out for their marketing campaigns. I’ll be hosting and posting their new scams when they do new releases.
Posted at 12:51 am on Apr 17th, 2009 by Joseph Giraud
Just wanted to say hi to everyon wondering if my signature works.
If anyone wants to learn how I “work” just 30 mins a day and bank 6 figures yearly. Check out my sig ;)
Posted at 4:47 am on Apr 30th, 2009 by RobertBank
http://www.zaslike.com/files/gdyhmc29n75i37owysy.jpg
It’s has huge rankings at IMDB, i guess it’s a great movie
Any good sources to watch it? I’ve found Inglorious Basterds but looking for a dvd rip if it’s available already?
Thank you all
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nice i like this.
Posted at 2:39 pm on Aug 1st, 2006 by tylerl