Will there be an option for bluetooth or some other wireless technology? This seems like a great keyboard for use in my living room with a PC hooked up to a big screen TV if wireless. If not, then I could work around with a bluetooth adapter that I have. Currently using a Model M with bluetooth adapter, which looks a little hokey, works well, but is bulky and heavy for casual couch usage.
Here is the latest update from someone who got Bluetooth working with their new Model F keyboard, which uses Rico’s RP2040-based Leyden Jar controller:
“I was able to get this Bluetooth adapter to work on this Leyden Jar board, whereas my xwhatsit based restored IBM F122 does not register any keypresses with it. The Handheld Scientific BT-500 does not work with either controller, but does at least register double keypresses with the Leyden Jar. I don’t have their updated BT-600 to test with. According to my in-line USB meter, the BT adapter and keyboard idles at 26mA (with all LEDs on, each consuming ~1mA). With the solenoid at factory settings, I’ve seen it peak at 189mA – but the ~1s sampling rate makes this a very rough estimate.
Using an average 2000mAh 18650 Li-ion cell, I would guess we’d get ~76 hours (or as little as 10 with the solenoid and constant firing).”
In case the above link is not available, you can make an online search for “Bluetooth Hub USB 5.0 Converter Wired Keyboard Mouse to Wireless Hub Adapter Supports 8 Devices for Tablets, Laptops, Mobile Phones”
The adapter does not include a USB-C battery which is required. An AI search like this may be helpful: usb-c batteries at least 2000 mah that are cylindrical or long and narrow, with diameter or width not exceeding 1 inch
Model F bluetooth project success! Please see the below link – last year someone got the Model F working with bluetooth. I have asked the project creator to provide a tutorial and more details.
https://www.reddit.com/r/modelm/comments/yf0lpu/and_here_it_is_the_completed_bluetoothed_new/
There are also two other projects not specific to the Model F that may work but are currently not tested with the Model F:
https://handheldsci.com/kb/
https://sterling-key.com/
Yes I think a Bluetooth (BLE) wireless Model F will be in the future. I have discussed with Deskthority user DMA who has designed his CommonSense controller as an alternative to the xwhatsit controller used in this project. He was able to get the F122 to run for about 20 hours on a 500mah Lithium Ion battery using the PSoC 4 BLE module and Cyprus development board (you can use this board as is for the Model F to my knowledge).
The CommonSense controller can be designed to be a drop in replacement for the Brand New Model F Keyboards’ xwhatsit controller.
Currently the CommonSense project has working prototypes but other than that it seems to be on hold. Here is the github page in case anyone is interested in contributing. Please do check out the deskthority thread and post questions there.
https://github.com/dmaone/CommonSense
https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13988
It would be great if someone could modify DMA’s diptrace files to make it a drop in replacement for the Model F xwhatsit controller – please do let me know if you are able to help!