Functional bluetooth keyboards for Eris? Failed experiment: Freedom Pro Keyboard

[RMB]

I recently tried pairing the Freedom Pro bluetooth keyboard with an Eris, it's what brought me to these forums; subsequent searches didn't show conclusive answers so I thought I would share some trial and error:

-They don't pair. (Edit, 5/13/10: They might pair, scroll to bottom for updated info)

As of the date of this posting, the Eris (Both Android 1.5 and the leaked 2.1, v3) will not connect to the device using: The manufacturer's Android driver, the Keypro bluetooth driver, or the BlueInput Android driver.

I've read where other Android phones have had some success with the keyboard through whatever available drivers, the Eris does not share this success. It executes to the manufacturer's directions until the "connect" step is available; a connection never occurs although the device is recognized.

I could be wrong. There could be a missed and critical step to the process, but then, it wasn't listed in any available instructions. My impression, confirmed by a very few scattered comments elsewhere on the internet: It doesn't work.

(sic)

1. Can anyone suggest a keyboard proven to pair with the Eris? Are there any usable arrangements for full keyboards/external keyboards known to work with this phone?

2. Has anyone else attempted to use this keyboard with an Eris or other device? Confirm my disappointment or blatant omissions?


Thanks,

(And thanks for establishing a dedicated Eris forum--- useful site)

-R

 

[RMB]

These are the manufacturer's instructions; they work as stated through the last step listed here, "Connect", and then nothing, there is no change to "disconnect".


Installation and connection
Allowing non Android Market Application installation:

1) From the Home Screen press the menu button and select

 

[RMB]

Directions here indicate a trick that might work:

{If you can’t see your keyboard, flip from HID to SPP and back to HID. Additionally, try turning the keyboard off and back on to get it to rediscover. Once it finds your MAC address, try to connect and it will fail (because it is in HID mode). Now switch to SPP and connect again- voila! It should be working now.}


This is for the Droid though.


Also:
Has anyone else found a matchable keyboard????

 

[shante1012]

you have to purchase the driver from a third party. go to the listing on amazon and read the reviews.another buyer of an android phone stated this.

 

[RMB]

you have to purchase the driver from a third party. go to the listing on amazon and read the reviews.another buyer of an android phone stated this.

They're referencing the Keypro driver and the Motorola Droid. It appears to work for that combo, but not the Eris. Comments on a separate page also attest to this-- I attempted to use the Keypro and the Blue Input to no success.

Are there any other bluetooth drivers that have been used successfully?

Are there any other bluetooth keyboards that have been matched with the Eris?

 

[RMB]

...

 

[RMB]

...

 

[RMB]

I asked Verizon about keyboards supported by the Eris and they directed me to HTC. The HTC site seems fairly muted in regards to the specific info I want so I guess I'll call them later today for assistance.

I understand your concern with wanting to find out if the HTC Eris Droid has an external or bluetooth keyboard for it. It would make it a lot easier to access the different features on the phone.

I can give you general information on the HTC Droid Eris phone. You will want to contact HTC through their toll-free number at 866-449-8358.

 

[RMB]

...

 

[RMB]

I talked to HTC about this and was told that bluetooth keyboard support is currently out of the question for the Eris. (It's possible that with third party drivers, yet developed, and the official 2.1 release that a work around could be created, but the answer is no for now.)

The interesting part is that I asked about a using mini-USB connection and he said that I should try it out. I don't really think the rep I spoke too was 100% certain of anything he told me and this was more of a "why not" kind of answer.

Has anyone tried to connect anything through their mini-USB port with any success? I have to say, I'm doubtful that this is workable solution without 3rd party software.

 

[RMB]

...

 

[RMB]

...

 

[byteware]

My understanding is that, with the KeyPro bluetooth driver, you do not actually pair the keyboard to the phone. You connect to the keyboard via the KeyPro program. The keyboard will not indicate that it is connected, because it is not paired, but it will work.

That's what was determined with the Moto Droid, and I assume it would be the same for the Eris.

 

[RMB]

My understanding is that, with the KeyPro bluetooth driver, you do not actually pair the keyboard to the phone. You connect to the keyboard via the KeyPro program. The keyboard will not indicate that it is connected, because it is not paired, but it will work.

That's what was determined with the Moto Droid, and I assume it would be the same for the Eris.

Thanks, you're right it doesn't need to formally pair to work with Android, but I think the issue is that the Eris doesn't really "do" bluetooth as compared to other Android phones so the process doesn't get that far: It just won't connect.

I was going to sit down again with Keypro and try some combination of functions and switches because following the manufacturer and driver instructions explicitly didn't work at all and other phones have had success by changing their settings randomly. I'm not optimistic. Otherwise I'm returning the keyboard.


(Also I haven't tried plugging in a Keyboard through a mini-USB adapter, but that's stupid, it can't be that easy)

 

[byteware]

I have this keyboard coming (hopefully tomorrow) to work with my wife's Moto Droid. I'll see what I can do about getting it to work with my Eris...

 

[RMB]

I have this keyboard coming (hopefully tomorrow) to work with my wife's Moto Droid. I'll see what I can do about getting it to work with my Eris...

That would be awesome! Also, if you have trouble with the Droid, there's some information here that might help you out (Also some info at the bottom under 'related posts' links).

 

[byteware]

The keypro developer was on this forum awhile back and helped them work through getting it setup on the droid. A couple of users posted what they did to get it to work on this forum...

 

[RMB]

Really? That's great, I've only searched the Eris sub-forum so I must have overlooked that information.


FWIW, I just received the following response from the Freedom Pro manufacturer. At the very least it's good to know they're also developing drivers, just nothing concrete and nothing yet:

Sorry you are having issues with our product.
At the moment our software development team are working flat out to produce drivers to work with the 2.0 / 2.1 Android OS.
these should be available in a couple of weeks.

 

[RMB]

USB Support Native to Android?
I found this blog where it looks like the DROID supports low-power USB devices, namely external keyboards. For a $2 adapter and a USB keyboard I already own, I'm going to try this route on the Eris.

 

[RMB]

Found this posted (link) today. As luck would have it, I haven't returned the keyboard yet for procrastination related reasons. I'll un-package the pre-ship and give it another shot this weekend. The developers involved in making drivers for this device, both 3rd party and manufacturer, have inspired some amount of confidence in me as to the eventual usability of the Freedom Pro and the Eris. Maybe this will pan out?

Paul Bowles - Freedom Input May 13, 2010 at 10:10 am

Hi all,


Nice write up. I

 

[RMB]

Same poster referenced above, added this today. (Also a bit about support for Scandinavian languages on the keyboard; none available yet, but in the future, kanske)

@all
The 2.0/2.1 drivers are available from http://www.otadrivers.com (go to the website directly from your Droids web browser). I have not had chance to update the installation instructions yet so there is no official announcement on our website about these drivers. If you install the drivers the instructions are the same as in the updated user manual (available from http://freedom.helpserve.com) except that when you connect the keyboard you may have to click on the notification in the notification tab to finish the connection.
Updated instructions will be put up on Monday and hopefully will get the installation video up Monday as well.

 

[brisath]

Thanks RMB for your continued persistence with this. I also have a Freedom Pro Keyboard and a HTC Droid Eris. I've tried a number of the solutions you've mentioned before reading all the posts here. Nothing is working right now. Today I tried updating to the latest driver using OTAdrivers.com and nothing has changed. I'll continue to follow this forum and post any news I may have.

 

[RMB]

Hey Brisath,

Any luck? I wasn't able to get the drivers functioning last time around, but after surfing some other threads regarding 2.1 V3, I'm curious as to what a factory reset might do-- my next tact is to try a reset followed by a fresh install of the drivers. Minus that, I think all we can do is petition the manufacturer for support.

Also, I've got all of the pieces to do the USB hack. If I can find a soldering iron, I'll give it a shot.

 

[brisath]

RMB-
Since my last post, I have installed Android 2.1. I then installed the Freedom Pro Keyboard Driver from the link that says "2.0 and 2.1" on the OTAdrivers.com website. Still no luck. Keyboard will not connect using the bluetooth pairing, nor will it function when chosen as the input method. I also tried the KeyPro app after the upgrade with no luck there either.

 

[TambourineMan]

I have an EVO 4G. It pairs with my son's Freedom Pro and I can select it as the KB input, but it will not connect. I am using the Freedom Pro OTA 2.0 - 2.1 drivers. I have tried changing it from SPP to HID and back and tried turning it off and on to get it to repair - no joy. Selecting "connect' seems to do nothing.

If I can get it to work, I will buy one also.

Any ideas?