Few things rival the usability and speed of a full-sized keyboard for text input. For decades, though, keyboards were mostly wired, which can limit where you use your favorite one. To address this, [KoStard]’s latest project uses an ESP32 to bridge a USB keyboard to BLE devices.
The ESP32-S3 packs a ton of fantastic functionality into its small size and low price—including USB-OTG support, which is key here. Taking advantage of this, [KoStard] programmed an ESP32-S3 to host a keyboard over its USB port while connecting via BLE to devices like cellphones.
There are some slick tricks baked in, too: you can pair with up to three devices and switch between them using a key combo. Some of you might be wondering how you can just plug a microcontroller into a keyboard and have it work. The truth is, it doesn’t without extra hardware. Both the keyboard and ESP32-S3 need power. The simplest fix is a powered USB hub: it can be battery-powered for a truly mobile setup, or use a wired 5V supply so you never have to charge batteries.
We love seeing a simple, affordable microcontroller extend the usefulness of gear you already have. Let us know in the comments about other hacks you’ve used to connect keyboards to devices never designed for them.
definitely a hack…
i feel like the timing is right for some sort of light/not too serious ‘hacker’-themed version of McGyver.
… okay maybe not.
Awesome and useful project.
It reminds me of Evan Kale’s adapter.
Next update to support usb over tcp for usb 1.1.?
Now if there was just a way to use all those wireless MS keyboards that are missing their dongles
I genuinely don’t understand the drive to make something like a keyboard wireless.
The monitor you are sitting in front of has wires.
So does the computer.
Having them on your keyboard is a feature, not a problem to be solved.
You gain nothing, but now have to deal with everything that comes with radio, and also batteries.
It would be different if you have a specialized need like a keyboard for living room use on ‘the big screen’.
It would also be different if the device itself needed to physically attach to you like headphones, and be usable while moving around.
But a keyboard and mouse are used in a confined area.
They get used on a desk, not while walking to the kitchen to refill your beverage.
This feels a lot like the ‘problem’ solved by putting wifi in a smart tv and gaming console.
The same tv and console that have wires plugged into wall power AND connecting the video/audio signals between them.
If they need a network connection, the CORRECT solution is just another wire.
Wireless CONTROLLERS make perfect sense.
Wireless NETWORKING for a device that doesn’t move and is already tethered with power/video cables does not.
“Because I can.” Is certainly a valid answer. But only when it accounts for the downsides of the ‘upgrade’ too.
Having a car tuned to run on 120 octane fuel, with a suspension stiff enough to break your teeth might make for a great race car, but driving it on the road means accepting that those ‘features’ make it much worse at being a non-race car.
“It looks nice” is not a good excuse for creating functional problems.
And it is rarely a good excuse for added maintenance.