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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: GenEric35 on Tue, 23 November 2010, 19:51:23

Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: GenEric35 on Tue, 23 November 2010, 19:51:23
Anyone found how to interface a HHKB with an IPad and/or IPhone, maybe via some bluetooth adapter or docking station?
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: jaynoon on Tue, 23 November 2010, 20:40:14
"Normal" USB keyboards can interface with both the iPad & iPhone through the iPad camera adapter: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC531ZM/A

My Filco works, although the iPad warns that it's not compatible when I connect it. Oddly enough I can't get my new HHKB Pro 2 to work. I don't get a message at all, just no worky.

I've tried it in Mac/HHKB/HHKB Lite modes, and none of them seem to work. Not sure what the problem is.. it's unfortunate because they would make a sexy pair.

I'll keep fiddling with it tonight to see if I can figure out what the issue is.
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: GenEric35 on Wed, 24 November 2010, 10:02:33
I see, the Filco works but not the HHKB Pro2. I wonder if the reason could be that the HHKB Pro2 expects more power from the USB cable, since the keyboard itself hosts other USB ports and maybe a bit more hardware(dipswitches etc).
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: WyldKard on Tue, 24 April 2012, 18:58:13
It seems the HKKB Lite had a dip switch to disable the USB hub, but this appears missing on the Pro 2. Has anyone opened their HHKB to see how difficult it would be to disconnect the hub to see if this decreased power draw and enables the HHKB to work on an iPad?
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: TheProfosist on Tue, 24 April 2012, 23:32:34
you could get extra power from something else if necessary.
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: WyldKard on Wed, 25 April 2012, 18:32:35
@TheProfosist - How would you get power from something else if the HHKB has no power input other than the USB port?

@ripster - The HHKB is the perfect small size for travel, which makes it great for the iPad. I'm not aware of another good keyboard for this purpose. I like my Apple bluetooth keyboard, but it's not as ideal as the HHKB.
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: cactux on Wed, 25 April 2012, 18:41:20
Have you tried to use a usb hub
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: lorem3k on Wed, 25 April 2012, 19:06:35
Use a powered USB hub. People do this all the time using USB DACs with the iPad through the Camera Connection Kit when the DAC requires more power than the iPad gives it.
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: TheProfosist on Wed, 25 April 2012, 19:32:52
you could also get a USB splitter like the ones for portable HDDs and plug the power only plug into a portable 5v source i know i have seen some that take AAs even.
Title: hhkb on ipad
Post by: JMK on Thu, 26 April 2012, 00:58:40
i tried several usb keyboards. some work, and some others don't. try a usb hub. in my experiences, a usb hub with or without an external power enables you to use your usb keyboards that don't work when connected directly to the camera connection kit. it's only my guess: i think that the usb hub effectively manages amperage between the devices. additional power is not the solution, because most keyboards use 5 V, which is well covered by idevices.
Title: Re: hhkb on ipad
Post by: WyldKard on Mon, 27 August 2012, 19:40:12
I'm using my HHKB with my iPad. I have a USB splitter attached to the HHKB. One end goes into a power source (powered hub or USB battery), and the other end goes into a Dr. Bott T3Hub. That, in turn, is plugged into the CCK, which is plugged into the iPad. The setup does not work without the Dr. Bott.