Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–119 of 119 posts

Re: Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

#111

Post by g1sm »

mtucker502 wrote: post #28
trklausss wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you need a frame converter that sends it to an IP address/DNS server, and on the receiving side something that receives that packet on a specific port and translates it to a BT command. I would say the most complicated part would be the TCP/IP stack, and binding/publishing your address, but if you are running something with Embedded Linux it is doable :)

ESPHome has this feature (called btproxy). It works well with BTLE devices. I use it for remote temperature sensors and a few other IoT btle devices. https://esphome.io/components/bluetooth_proxy.html

This seems to be specific to Home Assistant:

> Note that while this component is named bluetooth_proxy, only BLE devices (and their Home Assistant integrations) are supported.

One specific use-case I have in mind is controlling a Chromecast over the internet. So a smartphone should have its bluetooth signal relayed over an IP network. I haven’t found anything that would allow me to do that yet.

Re: Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

#112

Post by mschuster91 »

bashtian wrote: post #105
mschuster91 wrote: post #51

I'd love to see something like this but the other way around - a native implementation of a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard in either Android, an iPhone or a RPi with a touchscreen. It would make life in a server rack so much easier if I didn't have to lug around a physical keyboard and mouse...

For Android there is an app that does this. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.appground.b...

This right here is why I love HN. I've searched for years for this. Thanks so much.

Re: Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

#113

Post by Nexxxeh »

bashtian wrote: post #105
mschuster91 wrote: post #51

I'd love to see something like this but the other way around - a native implementation of a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard in either Android, an iPhone or a RPi with a touchscreen. It would make life in a server rack so much easier if I didn't have to lug around a physical keyboard and mouse...

For Android there is an app that does this. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.appground.b...

Excuse the dumb question, but could I then pair this with OP's project, to give myself a USB wireless keyboard and mouse while only carrying my phone and a Pi Zero 2 W?

Re: Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

#116

Post by redleader55 »

clort wrote: post #97
reeddavid wrote: post #78

This solves a huge annoyance I've had: swap a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse between multiple laptops, without manually un0paring / re-pairing. I have a personal "hot desk" at home. I want to be able to plug in any laptop to the large monitor, and have the wireless keyboard/mouse on that desk instantly work. And when I leave the desk with my laptop, I don't want that keyboard/mouse connected anymore. This has been impossib…

many Bluetooth USB dongles have NVRAM, you can write the link key for a device (eg the keyboard or mouse) into the NVRAM and then when connecting, the dongle doesn't ask the Host computer for the key. I have used this to dual boot with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse in the past. I think the technique would be: pair in machine A (A has a link key). Then, pair again in machine B with the same dongle. Write that key int…

This sounds extremely interesting. Do you have a link for such a USB dongle and how to write the key in the NVRAM?

Re: Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

#117

Post by bahaaador »

lamnguyenx wrote: post #115

Does this work with Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W? Unfortunately I don't have Pi Zero W lying around :(

Any SbC with OTG support should work, so both Zero W and Zero 2 W should be compatible (I tested it with RPi Zero 2 W—I will update the docs).

https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w/ https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/

I can't find definitive information for RPi 4 though, I see some references to using it online but the spec here does not seem to mention USB host or OTG

https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/...

Re: Show HN: Bluetooth USB Peripheral Relay – Bridge Bluetooth Devices to USB

#119

Post by clort »

redleader55 wrote: post #116
clort wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

many Bluetooth USB dongles have NVRAM, you can write the link key for a device (eg the keyboard or mouse) into the NVRAM and then when connecting, the dongle doesn't ask the Host computer for the key. I have used this to dual boot with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse in the past. I think the technique would be: pair in machine A (A has a link key). Then, pair again in machine B with the same dongle. Write that key int…

This sounds extremely interesting. Do you have a link for such a USB dongle and how to write the key in the NVRAM?

I have never a seen a Bluetooth adaptor without the capability. Currently this laptop has an "Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265" device which reports it can store 16 keys in the NVRAM. I have used the btkey(1) program on NetBSD to read and write keys, but it is basically speaking directly directly to the adaptor so should be possible under any OS where that is possible.

https://man.netbsd.org/btkey.1

https://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/src/usr.bin/btkey/

Post reply on HN