hidbridge

USB dongle for a Bluetooth keyboard

• Bluetooth keyboards require a GATT stack running on a PC and most BIOS don't include that
• USB dongle that looks like a keyboard (and most BIOS do support USB keyboards)
• Pairs and connects automatically to your Bluetooth keyboard
• Forwards "Human Interface Device" (HID) messages in both directions

Build instructions

0. Install west and nrfprog if not already done so:

• https://pypi.org/project/west/
• https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-tools/nRF-Command-Line-Tools

1. Create an empty directory
   mkdir hidbridge
2. Enter the directory
   cd hidbridge
3. Initialise west project
   west init -m https://github.com/gadgetproject/hidbridge
4. Fetch subordinate repos
   west update
5. Build the software
   west build -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 gp/soft
6. Flash the software
   west flash

Test Platform

1. Using a second Nordin board (I have PCA10040)
   west build -b nrf52840dk_nrf52840 nrf/samples/bluetooth/peripheral_hids_keyboard
2. Flash the software
   west flash
3. Button 4 starts advertising; LED 1 flashes.
4. On hidbridge board, downstream scan and downstream connect.
5. Connects, displays passkey and bonds; LED 1 lit.
6. Button 1 accepts bond; LED 1 off, LED 2 lit.
7. Button 1 sends one keystroke in sequence hello\\n