Pi 400 as a keyboard

Am 02.06.22 um 08:40 schrieb F. W.:

Yes, with an Arduino Leonardo a correct software.

Directly, no.

FW,

That fully depends on how you want to connect it to the other device.

Using USB ? Nope, as as far as I know you can't change its USB "master" mode into "client" mode (as the Pi Zero can). Though, as mentioned, you could always look at some extra hardware perhaps emulating an USB keyboard at one side and getting fed with 7 bits + strobe, I2C or SPI..

Using Bluetooth ? Possibly, but you would need to be able to set it up in "client" mode (which actually initiates the connection). If that is not possible you could take a peek at the multitude of (very cheap) BlueTooth modules that you can buy.

Using a PS/2 or even older Philips 5-pin plug ? Possibly, as the 400 /should/ be fast enough to drive the pins by way of its own I/O pins.

RS232 ? Yep, the 400 has got four hardware drivers.

Regards, Rudy Wieser

Yes:

You'd need to adapt the code to read keystrokes from the physical keyboard and forward them to the gadget device.

Alternatively, the PiKVM software allows the Pi to be a USB keyboard and supply keystrokes from a browser window. Without the HDMI input module you wouldn't be able to see what you're doing, but the keystrokes would still work.

Theo

Am 02.06.2022 um 14:52 schrieb R.Wieser:

You are absolutely right. I did not think about that.

FW

Am 02.06.2022 um 15:09 schrieb Theo:

Excuse me please, I am not a native english speaker.

I understand the words but not the meaning: supply keystrokes from a browser window? You mean I start a firefox with Linux and type into its canvas?

FW

Yes: Install the distro from

The PiKVM distro itself doesn't use the Pi's HDMI output or a desktop installed, so out of the box it's easier use a browser on another computer, but the distro is based on Arch Linux so it should be possible to install those things.

Theo

not a strange question and very easy:

you should have stopped there, as that's the only thing you said that's not wrong, largely because it's meaningless.

false. it can easily be done, and without any additional hardware. details in another post.

this is also false. bluetooth is certainly an option, also without any additional hardware.

ps/2? hah. 1990 wants you back.

that's even more hilarious. perhaps 1990 is not far enough. you might also want to learn about how rs-232 actually works, because it needs more than 'four hardware drivers'. just sayin'..

false.

he's wrong.

pretty sure someone has written the code to do this (possibly @gadgetoid from @Pimoroni)

Not without some keys to press..

-- “I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.”

― Leo Tolstoy

... which the Pi400 has, being a keyboard with an internal 4GB Pi 4 and what looks like all Pi 4 interfaces connected to sockets on its rear edge.

Ah. Missed that. Seems an expensive way to make a cheap keyboard. I buy 'Kensingtons' for my servers that don't get used much. Here I have a Cherry mechanical tacky-clacky.

But if you already have one at hand are are wondering about the utility of being able to plug it in wherever you might need a keyboard, it looks more like an efficient use of resources. Better than carrying a Pi400 *and* a spare keyboard to the server room.

Cheers, Tom

For anyone who's wondering whats going on, nospam has taken a dislike to me, 'cause I do not let him get away with continuous usage of hollow claims and other shennigans.

Reference :

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current last message in our "conversation" : <t7b63a$k25$ snipped-for-privacy@gioia.aioe.org>

nospam,

As always, not underbuild or explained, and as such absolutily meaningless.

I thought it was a good idea to make the OP (and respondants) aware that there are more ways to do what he asked for. You know, giving options.

Its always easy to bash someone with something /someone else/ came up with, isn't it.

The only thing you've shown that I do not know everything about everything. In further news it has been concluded that water is wet.

:-) you might want to re-read what I said there.

"forgetting" about the first part of what you quoted yourself just makes you look stupid - or someone who doesn't let details like that stop him from making accusations.

Arrogance has called, it want to fight you to get their lost title back.

Kid, its about what the *OP* might want or need, not you.

As always, not underbuild or explained, and as such absolutily meaningless. just sayin'..

You obviously have no idea what I ment with "hardware drivers" in this context, but that didn't stop you drom jumping to the (percieved) chance to again bash me with it.

Suggestion : find yourself the specs of the 400 and check out its RS232 capabilities. Than compare it to what the Pi 3 range offers, and see if you can spot the difference.

And by the way, assuming that you where talking about the different available RS232 signals and how they are converted into worldly electrical ones, you're still wrong. On multiple points (no pun intended).

The above just to spare you another meaningless post.

Regards, Rudy Wieser

nospam,

As always, not underbuild or explained, and as such absolutily meaningless.

And actually ? I think I'm more right than wrong there. The only thing I missed was an USB-to-go option on the 400. But you just could not pass up a chance to bash me and make it sound as if that invalidates everything I said there.

And by the way, I have no problem with taking Theos and that randomnerdtutorials.com websites word for it that it actually does exist. I do not even have the urge to double-check it.

In contrast I would not even believe you if would tell me that the sun comes up in the east.

Regards, Rudy Wieser

no, it's because you don't like when you're cornered and your claims shown to be nonsensical or flat out false.

that's fine, except you neglected to mention any options that would actually work and be helpful to the op.

nothing more than a lot of word-salad to make it look like you know what you're talking about (and you don't).

it's easy when it's wrong and unhelpful.

if it's correct, then no bashing is needed. only thanks. not applicable here.

i'm the only person in this thread who provided a working solution and with a link. another person mentioned where one could find the solution but did not provide the actual link.

that's a start.

not always.

nothing has been forgotten.

it's clear that you don't actually know how one would turn a pi 400 into a bluetooth keyboard.

bluetooth is more work than via usb and might be a somewhat interesting project which could be the basis for other and more useful projects, but if the goal is to reimplement a bluetooth keyboard, it's not worth the trouble.

nor is usb worth the trouble either. like bluetooth keyboards, usb keyboards are also very cheap, the cheapest costing less than a pi zero.

where did you get the idea i wanted anything?

the fact is that usb has been around for more than 20 years.

if he wanted ps/2 (or rs-232 for that matter), he would have said so.

you're assuming facts not in evidence again.

not that it matters since the likelihood that he wants an rs-232 keyboard is zero.

more waffling.