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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: bickle on Mon, 06 October 2014, 11:43:00

Title: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: bickle on Mon, 06 October 2014, 11:43:00

I want to change my Bluetooth keyboard case into metal.(Like aluminum)
But I'm concerned that it will interfere with the Bluetooth communication.
What do you think about this?

Title: Re: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 06 October 2014, 14:18:06

Quote from: bickle on Mon, 06 October 2014, 11:43:00

I want to change my Bluetooth keyboard case into metal.(Like aluminum)
But I'm concerned that it will interfere with the Bluetooth communication.
What do you think about this?

If the metal case is properly grounded than it can, but the bluetooth signal can go out the "front" side where the keycaps are. I would expect it to be usable but with decreased range but your mileage may vary.

Title: Re: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: hwood34 on Mon, 06 October 2014, 17:32:57

Yeah I've heard of it interfering with some of the insides (like two times) but nothing about the Bluetooth

Title: Re: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: Tiramisuu on Mon, 06 October 2014, 17:42:04

I've got the old dinovo edge that has plenty of aluminum on it and the bluetooth has never been an issue in the 10 foot range.

Title: Re: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: bickle on Tue, 07 October 2014, 00:49:18

Quote from: hwood34 on Mon, 06 October 2014, 17:32:57

Yeah I've heard of it interfering with some of the insides (like two times) but nothing about the Bluetooth

Two times??
That's worse than Bluetooth interference!!  :eek:

Title: Re: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: keynoob on Mon, 31 July 2017, 14:23:27

Any update on this thread? I want to build a metal case for my BT Keyboard.

Title: Re: Does Metal case interfere with the Bluetooth communication?
Post by: Leslieann on Mon, 31 July 2017, 20:21:43

Depends entirely on where inside the case that the antenna is located and it will not block it entirely, it will simply degrade the signal strength.

If it's in the bottom tray the signal will be terrible, not only do you have the case around it, but you have what amounts to a Faraday Cage above it. If you mount it up above the PCB and the plate (if you have one), then the signal will be fine. Laptops and cell phones have the same problem, antenna position is critical.