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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: TacticalCoder on Sun, 26 June 2011, 11:39:17

Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: TacticalCoder on Sun, 26 June 2011, 11:39:17: From a theoretical point of view, is it possible to hook two computers on a PC?

For example, could I build a super-ghetto split-mechanical IBM Model M by chain-sawing two Model Ms? It would be a bit like the ghetto-mini but more extreme.

But for this to work you'd need to fold two membranes and use two controllers.

Would this work? Would it work with two USB keyboards or one PS/2 and one USB or ?

Would you then be able to type, say, "CTRL+k" by hitting CTRL on the left Model M and 'k' on the right one?

Would that be possible? I'm not saying I'm going to do this, I just want to know if it would be possible.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: woody on Sun, 26 June 2011, 11:41:03: Quote from: TacticalCoder;368460
Would it work with two USB keyboards or one PS/2 and one USB or ?
Yes. Same with mice.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 26 June 2011, 11:41:34: Yes. Geekhackers do it all the time.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: reaper on Sun, 26 June 2011, 11:42:49: I hooked up 3 keyboards into one computer (2 with USB and 1 with PS/2) and they all work perfectly.

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/th_DSC04895.jpg) (http://[URL=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/DSC04895.jpg)](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/th_DSC04895.jpg) (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/DSC04895.jpg)[/URL]
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: alaricljs on Sun, 26 June 2011, 11:43:51: Yes - More involved answer: I just tested shift/ctr/alt/win combos across 2 KBs on 2 different hubs and all the combos I tried worked.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: The Solutor on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:06:15: I just add that connection can be mixed, you can have, say, a ps/2+ one or more USB + one BT keyboards.

At least on Windows and Linux.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: sordna on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:28:29: Yes, even key combos work. For example you can hold shift on one keyboard, and type letters on the other, and you'll get caps. Guess it's a way to increase KRO :-)
I have however noticed that when I plug in a 2nd keyboard, the repeat rate is different. I have to re-run "xset -r rate" (I'm using linux) to give the new keyboard the desired repeat rate.
HTH.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:29:36: Quote from: reaper~;368463
I hooked up 3 keyboards into one computer (2 with USB and 1 with PS/2) and they all work perfectly.

Show Image
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/th_DSC04895.jpg) (http://[URL=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/DSC04895.jpg)
]
Show Image
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/th_DSC04895.jpg) (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/DSC04895.jpg)
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Can you do CTRL on PC#1, ALT on PC#2, DEL on PC#3 at the same time and get CTRL-ALT-DEL??
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: reaper on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:32:19: ^ Sorry, that was a while ago. I had them all packed up now. Currently I'm only using 1 keyboard at a time (no need for multiple ones). I did that just to see if it would work. =P
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: sordna on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:38:05: Quote from: mmmty;368482
Can you do CTRL on PC#1, ALT on PC#2, DEL on PC#3 at the same time and get CTRL-ALT-DEL??

Your sig shows you have plenty of keyboards, why don't you try it and post the results.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:45:45: I could that but I thought reaper had it set up and ready to go. I'm trying it now...

I used 2 different models of Dell keyboards and a Poker and CTRL-ALT-DEL works!!
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: sordna on Sun, 26 June 2011, 12:48:43: Cool! If you have extra hands around, you could try some NKRO testing utilities too, that might be interesting.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: reaper on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:01:09: Quote from: sordna;368488
Your sig shows you have plenty of keyboards, why don't you try it and post the results.

Sorry, laundry day plus I have to run some errands and mmmty has already tried it.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:02:12: No extra hands. I'm all alone at work. I could use my feet. Nobody will know my toes were on their keyboards :)
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: PlayerZero on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:03:16: All this is well and good, but a super-ghetto split keyboard would, I think, be much more awesome.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: reaper on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:03:21: Quote from: mmmty;368506
No extra hands. I'm all alone at work. I could use my feet. Nobody will know my toes were on their keyboards :)

lol Go for it. =D
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: hoggy on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:44:51: Can't resist a chance to plug a previous project...

(http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/hoggyboard/Split-both.jpg)
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: alaricljs on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:48:05: I find it interesting that the picture includes kitchen cabinets and a potato. Don't you have a computer to hook it up to, maybe even on a desk? ;)
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: hoggy on Sun, 26 June 2011, 13:59:48: Sadly, the best light is in the kitchen.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: theferenc on Sun, 26 June 2011, 14:00:28: I think the potato adds a certain charm to the picture, personally.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure this is only a windows thing, but if you hold down a key on each keyboard that is plugged in, you get an exactly alternating sequence of the keys that are held down.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: sinis on Sun, 26 June 2011, 14:02:00: Quote from: TacticalCoder;368460
From a theoretical point of view, is it possible to hook two computers on a PC?

try two LAN cable :P
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: alaricljs on Sun, 26 June 2011, 14:05:32: I do like the potato... although I don't think anything perishable would do too well on my desk. I keep the decorations down to a few minifigs and a rock. Everything else is just detritus from the days/weeks projects.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: TacticalCoder on Sun, 26 June 2011, 17:45:23: Quote from: PlayerZero;368508
All this is well and good, but a super-ghetto split keyboard would, I think, be much more awesome.

Well at least thanks to all the good answers and modifier keys test etc. now I know it's probably doable. Now that would be one heck of an IBM Model M mod : )
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: TacticalCoder on Sun, 26 June 2011, 17:46:55: Quote from: hoggy;368522
Can't resist a chance to plug a previous project...

Looks great. Do you have a link to some article/thread/website about it? (you should add it to your sig) (and you should add a sig)
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: The Solutor on Sun, 26 June 2011, 19:00:03: Quote from: mmmty;368493

I used 2 different models of Dell keyboards and a Poker and CTRL-ALT-DEL works!!

Maybe better don't ask what you used as a third hand...:happy:
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 26 June 2011, 21:32:42: I don't use my 3rd hand for typing. It causes a lot of typos because it soooo big :)

Nah, all 3 keyboards were close enough together. I was able to stretch my hands from 1 keyboard to another. I should have tried Windows Sticky Keys using all 3 keyboards.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: sordna on Sun, 26 June 2011, 22:11:40: So, what kind tests did you do? Did all the key combinations work ?
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 26 June 2011, 23:37:08: I just did CTRL on KBD#1, ALT on KBD#2, and DEL on KBD#3. CTRL-C, CTRL-V worked. I think other key combos should work too. I just tried Sticky Keys and it worked. I turned on Sticky Keys, hit CTRL on KBD#1, ALT on KBD#2, and DEL on KBD#3 and the options came up.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: sordna on Sun, 26 June 2011, 23:44:32: Thanks for sharing your findings!
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: Tony on Mon, 27 June 2011, 06:43:40: I am using two keyboards right now, one ps/2 and one usb. I am using multiple-port usb and all extra usb ports work perfectly.

Since the keyboards and mice are not bandwidth intensive, I think that you can attached unlimited number of keyboards and mice through usb ports.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: almasy on Mon, 27 June 2011, 06:52:23: The sidewinder X4 runs 4 keyboard signals through its USB port for its pseudo-nkro (with ghosting problems on windows)
should work fine with 2 keyboards, they only send a signal for each key pressed, if you hold two keys it two seperate signals not a ctrl-k signal but a ctrl signal and a k signal so there won't be problems with modifier keys from one and pressing non-modifiers on the other.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 27 June 2011, 06:56:19: I ran 2 Realforce 87u's in tandem for a while to test the ergonomics of having a wide split typing position. They kept up perfectly and never had an issue.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: Lester on Mon, 27 June 2011, 07:02:02: Quote from: reaper~;368463
I hooked up 3 keyboards into one computer (2 with USB and 1 with PS/2) and they all work perfectly.

Show Image
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/th_DSC04895.jpg) (http://[URL=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/DSC04895.jpg)
]
Show Image
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/th_DSC04895.jpg) (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/eddie84/OCN/Mech%20keyboard%20club/DSC04895.jpg)
[/URL]

A ducky! <3
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 27 June 2011, 07:03:15: Oh BTW, many of you have laptops with your mechanical boards and/or numpads so you're already using at least 2-3 keyboards at once.
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: hoggy on Mon, 27 June 2011, 12:41:32: Quote from: TacticalCoder;368609
Looks great. Do you have a link to some article/thread/website about it? (you should add it to your sig) (and you should add a sig)

It's not that special - just two access keyboards programmed up. There's a few more pictures in this (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?10874-Access-keyboards) thread - there's more pictures of potatoes too...
Title: Can you hook two keyboards at once on a computer?
Post by: Chobopants on Mon, 27 June 2011, 13:18:35: I have 3 keyboards plugged into my PC at home and for a long time had 2 of my Filcos plugged in here at work to switch between.