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TomHMeredith · Feb 4, 2003, 08:26 PM

I've been thinking for a while about mounting my bluetooth adaptor inside my pro keyboard, (there's a gap on teh underside where it would fit) so tonight I finally took the plunge.

I disassembled my keyboard, unsoldered the USB plug on the left hand side (kept the right one for mouse) and was in the process of soldering some wires onto the bluetooth adaptor to attach it to the keyboard when I slipped.

The soldering iron ripped three of those tiny little resistors from my bluetooth adaptor.

My bluetooth adaptor has gone on to that big bluetooth grave in the sky, and my soldering iron has been put away in a draw, where it will stay for the foreseable future.

This is my warning, if you haven't done any soldering for a few years then don't take on to your mac!!!! (it's common sense really!)

my $0.02 or worthless advice.

Tom

phidauex · Feb 5, 2003, 02:33 AM

Thanks for the sobering advice. Soldering irons are wicked tools of destruction! I've destroyed quite a few things with mine, though I've also built some wonderful things.

Since the adapter is already presumed dead, you might try repairing it.. If nothing else, it will give you some practice in surface mount soldering by hand! Maybe someone else with the same model of adapter could send you a photo so you know the exact orientation of the resistors?

Don't give up! Just get a simple project to practice on, get your skills tuned up, and then get back in there.

peace,
sam

sine -''-..- · Feb 9, 2003, 06:12 PM

dont let it stop you! all for the sake of innovation.

the greatest success comes from a sea of failures.

COmie JOe · Feb 9, 2003, 11:15 PM

Remember, �We all must constantly work forward for the sake of progression� ~Chairman Mao

jamez bond · Feb 14, 2003, 09:16 AM

wow!
Why didn't I think of doing that!
How do you do it? Have you got a link to a page that can show me how to do this? Iguess you would need to give it power somehow....

Maybe I could do it with my wacom tablet as well....

TomHMeredith · Feb 14, 2003, 10:06 AM

I haveno instructions at all.

At the moment I am waiting for a tiny 2 port hub to be delivered, so that I still have use of two USB ports on my keyboard.

Power shouldn't be a problem, as USB BlueTooth adaptors work fine from an unpowered hub. What you do have to remember though is that USB has 5 connections, not the 4 that you think it has on first glance. The 5th and final one is the metal casing around the edge of the port.

I have reading week the week after next, and plan to be finished by the end of that. I'll be sure to post lots of pictues and a complete how to then.

Tom.

jamez bond · Feb 14, 2003, 10:58 AM

Brilliant stuff Tom!
Keep us posted, and let me know if I can do anything to help you out!

TomHMeredith · Feb 14, 2003, 11:13 AM

my graphics tablet!!

what am amazing idea!!

i'll look ino it...

TomHMeredith · Feb 14, 2003, 11:34 AM

Ok, it looks like an integrated graphics tablet is a no go, at least practically.

I have one of the wacom a6 graphics tablet, and there is no way it would fit inside a keyboard, I opened it up and it is one big sheet, the size of the actual case, there is no free space.

I'm going to put this idea on the shelf, so to speak, until I come across a tablet that is small enough to fit inside a keyboard and has a larger enough area to make it worthwhile.

Any ideas?

Tom.

PS: for those that are wondering, I was planning to remove the numberpad on the right of the keyboard, as i never really use it. I have a spare case from a pro keyboard, so would have cut that up. I'm sure you can imagine the rest.

jamez bond · Feb 14, 2003, 11:42 AM

ehm...I thought of it a bit different....
Put a bluetooth adaptor on the tablet itself. I could probably bodge up a box to fit on top of the tablet for the adaptor and batteries...If I know what to make space for....
Find out what batteries you would need and how big the bluetooth adaptor is, and I'll make something to fit..

TomHMeredith · Feb 14, 2003, 11:52 AM

Ahh, I'm with you now!

I still doubt that power would be a problem, so lets ignore that for now.

Space wise, a little box, would be fine, or really wherever you want to put it, personal choice really.

The problem is one I mentioned in the making bluetooth integrated into a laptop post. This concerns how USB works. How do you split a USB chanel into 2? does it work like IDE and the hardware sorts itself out, assigning themselves addresses or do you need a hub?

If a hub is needed, then you will need to find space in the tablet to fit the hub.

Tom

jamez bond · Feb 14, 2003, 12:06 PM

right...maybe I have a plan...
If I fit a "box" on top of the tablet that can hold a battery (it must need some sort of power), a small HUB, (like the small 3 into 1 jobbies) and the bluetooth adaptor, then you could either run it as a bluetooth device, OR, plug a usb lead into it, and use it with a wire (if you would ever want to do that after using this thing with bluetooth).

As for splitting usb signal...beats me... I have not got a clue. I will ask my brother tonight when I talk to him. He's an electronics buff..