Bluetooth keyboard

Hi,

I'm a complete newbie to smartphones but enjoying getting used to my HTC Desire. It's an Orange branded one so may look at rooting it in the near future

I've bought a simple Bluetooth keyboard off Ebay (think it's one of the Chinese mass made ones) but can't get it to connect with my phone Got it paired eventually). I looked through various sites but there's no recent information. I've also done a search on here and found nothing   Has anyone manage to connect a bluetooth keyboard to a Desire?

Thanks

Vijay

As I understand it, phones with the HTC Sense UI have a proprietary Bluetooth stack, not the stock Android Bluetooth stack.  That's why HID keyboard apps like BlueInput and others do not work on HTC Sense phones.

The CyanogenMod ROM has a Bluetooth stack that does work for HID keyboards, but I think it lacks HTC Sense...

So seems we're stuck waiting for HTC to build a proper Bluetooth stack into the ROM, or you have to have a rooted phone and install a Sense-free custom ROM.

Freedom Pro does work in SIP mode, on HTC Sense ROMs, which the stock Desire ROM is.

It does not work in HID mode, which is what most other BT keyboards use.  Most keyboards don't have the option for using SIP - neither the iGo/ThinkOutside Stowaway nor the Freedom Mini work, as I have tried those too.

I am running LeeDrOiD v3, which is HTC Sense, and the Freedom Pro keyboard works fine for me in SIP mode with the Freedom Input driver (be sure to select the correct one).

Aside from the fact that the keyboard is almost twice as large as my phone, I like it a lot better than other keyboards.  It's nice to have a mostly-standard layout and spacing.  The number row is shifted over a bit, but it's still better than having to use a function key for numbers.

The core issue is that HTC Sense Eclair/Froyo/Gingerbread ROMs have an older/restricted Bluetooth stack that does not support Bluetooth HID profile.  This is a HTC Sense Eclair/Froyo/Gingerbread issue, who knows if/when HTC will change it.

Cyanogenmod 7 (CM7) supports Bluetooth HID profile, and other AOSP (non-HTC Sense) ROMs may as well.

If AOSP and Cyanogenmod don't make sense to you, likely you are using a stock Desire ROM, which is HTC Sense, and therefore you will need to find a Bluetooth keyboard that supports SIP.  Freedom Pro is the only one I know of.  Would be happy to find out about others though.

Sorry for the delay - been a bit busy...

The Broadcom BCM2042 reference is simply the Bluetooth transceiver.  It tells you the transmission power (Class 2 = 20 meters), but it doesn't really tell you much about the Bluetooth software stack that uses the chip.  The Bluetooth stack is the part that determines what communication methods are understood.  It's similar to how on the same hardware, CM7 ROMs can "speak" HID while Sense ROMs cannot - the phone's firmware determines what "languages" it understands, so the same applies to the BT keyboard's firmware.

It'll work on Android 2.2 but not HTC Sense Android 2.2 - that's the key here...  I'm sure it works fine on non-HTC Sense Android 2.2 like Motorola or Samsung.  It's the price we pay for HTC Sense.

Pretty much, if the keyboard does not explicitly say it supports Bluetooth SIP, it is very safe to assume it does not.

The usual giveaway is a hardware switch to change between HID and SIP mode, as the Freedom Pro keyboard has.

I don't know of any keyboards where SIP is the primary communication method.  HID is much more common, and that keyboard says it works with PS3 and PC/Mac, both of which use HID, so guarantee it has HID.  But again, it is highly unlikely that it supports SIP.

A pity, as it looks to be a nice form factor.  My only real gripe with the Freedom Pro is its size...

If you aren't comfortable with rooting and such, I would spend the extra money to get the Freedom Pro, or a keyboard the explicitly says it supports SIP protocol and works with HTC Sense Android phones.  As I tell people for work, "You pay either way - in time, or in cash."

Hope that helps!

Yeah, none of us knows why HTC seems to neglect the Bluetooth stack when they make the Sense builds...

Looking forward to hearing how you get along.  The Freedom Pro driver is free from Freedom Input, though I guess KeyPro might be useful to find a different SPP keyboard, or if you have Freedom and non-Freedom keyboards.

I hope someday HTC ditches their out-of-date BT stack and puts in the standard Android one... *fingers crossed - and cramped*

Great to hear!!

I agree - the process of "activating" the keyboard for use is ... annoying.  I too have to switch input method to get my keyboard to work.  Sometimes it reconnects automatically, sometimes I have to go into the Freedom settings, luckily it leaves a icon in the notification when in Freedom input mode.

Sounds like a winner!