RF mini-keyboard?

[kalkin]

I'm building a cab with a retractable keyboard shelf and now I'm looking for a suitable small cordless keyboard. I'm guessing an IR keyboard won't work since I want to be able to put it ontop the control panel without any IR receivers sticking out of the cab. Does anyone know if there are any RF mini-keyboards around? The only ones I found are IR.

[Amra]

You know, if you had a smoke monitor cover, you could have an IR reciever and noone would be able to tell...

Of however you can accept no less then RF then try this Logitech solution...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=products/details&CRID=1&CONTENTID=5057&countryid=19&languageid=1

[Lilwolf]

You are looking for RF (RadioFrequency).  This doesn't require any Line of Site.  So perfect for a closed cabinet.

I bought one at big lots for 20 bucks.  It also came with a RF mouse.  But realized something... it SUCKED!  I had to return it 3 times to get one that didn't work... I took it apart and fixed it myself.  

Now, there is also nice RF keyboards and mice.  They go for around 50 - 100 bucks.  I hear these are REAL nice.  If you plan on using them daily, I would recommend spending the extra cash.

[Smittydc]

I've been happy with logitech's wireless keyboard and mouse -- I wouldn't call it "mini", but it's not huge.

[Carsten Carlos]

bought one at big lots for 20 bucks.  It also came with a RF mouse.  But realized something... it SUCKED!  I had to return it 3 times to get one that didn't work...

I had one of these also. No more RF-controlled devices in my cab!  

Anyway, when I'm done with my frontend keyboard should only be needed for service issues.

[shmokes]

If money is no object check out this one:

http://www.gyration.com/suite.htm

It's the perfect size and works brilliantly.  The mouse is pretty unbelievable.  It's got gyroscopes in it or something but allows you to control the cursor by moving it through the air like a laser pointer.  Again, works very well and is about as small as it could possibly be without sacrificing typing speed.

[anthony691]

The keyboard I use is not wireless at all; I use the tiny keyboard from the Daulphin DTR-1.

[_Iz-]

I'm building a cab with a retractable keyboard shelf and now I'm looking for a suitable small cordless keyboard. I'm guessing an IR keyboard won't work since I want to be able to put it ontop the control panel without any IR receivers sticking out of the cab. Does anyone know if there are any RF mini-keyboards around? The only ones I found are IR.

Why can't you just use a wired one?

[pragma]

How much is that Gyration keyboard?

I'd like to get my hands on this one.



I believe it's available in black. But I can't find anyone who sells it to Canada.

http://www.cgcl.com.tw/product/keyboard/cgkk11rf/cgkk11rf.asp. Here it is in black http://www.regularprice.com/rfminkeywmou.html. These guys won't ship to Canada.

Any ideas?

Paul

[pragma]

Hmm... check this one out:

.

It has the "handles" feature I like. I intend to make a holster of sorts on the top of the cabinet, invisible, and keep it there when not in use.

$20.55 at https://www.teknoplanet.com/product.asp?prodid=7943.

Paul

[shmokes]

The Gyration units are really expensive.  They are geared toward corporate users doing powerpoint presentations that want to be anywhere in a large room.  They run about $300 for the set (a little less at retailers, I suppose) with a keyboard and mouse.  There are two types of mice.  One can be used like a regular mouse and the other is a more fully functional presentation remote.  I'm not sure what they run separately, but I would guess around $100 for the keyboard and $150-$200 for the mouse/remote.  

At any rate, I've got a set and they really are fantastic.  Just a bit on the expensive side.

[Brax]

Hmm... check this one out:

.

It has the "handles" feature I like. I intend to make a holster of sorts on the top of the cabinet, invisible, and keep it there when not in use.

$20.55 at https://www.teknoplanet.com/product.asp?prodid=7943.

Paul

It looks like they only sell to US businesses. They require a company cheque and a State issued resellers license.

This site is intended for use by wholesalers and resellers -- Minimum order of $50

[pragma]

I guess I could buy three and try to resell a couple on ebay or something.

Anyone in the USA want to do this for me? I'm in for one and I'm willing to cover losses on the ebay sale.

Paul

[anthony691]

If someone buys in bul they could just sell them off here. I would be in for one.

[pragma]

Let's see if one more person wants one, Anthony161 - if you're willing to buy three and reship'em, I'll send my money order right away. Aren't I trusting? :-) lol

Paul

[Brax]

Well I sure want one. i'm in if someone can pull it off!

[kalkin]

Why can't you just use a wired one?

Good question. I guess the wire would have to be quite long to reach from the bottom of the cabinet where the computer is, through the keyboard shelf just below the control panel and occasionally ontop the control panel itself. I guess this will be my solution if I can't find a decent cordless one. Is there a maximum recommended length to a keyboard cable

This one seems promising. I don't care much for the handles but it still doesn't look as wide as a standard keyboard with keypad. Modest price aswell. Now to find a company who sells it and are shipping overseas.

[2slk]

Carsten Carlos,

 You say no more RF in your cab. I'm interested in hearing about your experience. I'm about to work a RF keyboard/mouse (Microsoft optical desktop) into my cab. It hasn't arrived yet and you have me a little a little scared that I'm about to head down the dreaded path of frustration.

[MannyTC]

I'll buy a bunch of them if you guys really want 'em badly. I would prefer to do it in one order so let me know how many I should get. I am not looking to make a profit from the BYOAC'ers but I am sure you will all be fair to add a small amount handle the minor work for the company to set this up. My company is a reseller but we don't deal in such small stuff normally. Let me know.

[Carsten Carlos]

You say no more RF in your cab. I'm interested in hearing about your experience. I'm about to work a RF keyboard/mouse (Microsoft optical desktop) into my cab.

@2slk

I wouldn't expect any problems with a good RF keyboard/mouse-combination, as the Microsoft one surely is!

Myself got a cheap MBO-combi and I had only problems with it. Sometimes the mouse didn't move - you had to press reset on the sending unit (argh, we don't wanted to access the cab, want we?) AND on the mouse, so this wasn't what I liked a wireless control to do!

Batteries were brandnew and I tried several ones.

Additional the keyboard sometimes did hang up when it was connected on the keyboard-pass-thru of my I-PAC. I haven't verified it yet, but I guess this is also the keyboards fault.

When connecting the I-PAC with USB, I also had programming issues -don't know if this has anything to do with the MBO-keyboad, but I wouldn't wonder if so!

In addition, I tried another very cheap mouse - it even didn't react very smoothly 'cause the wood of the cab was to much for the little sending unit - this one was sitting directly in the PS2-port.


Again, I'm sure it would work with a good Microsoft/Logitech or whatever combination, but these $20 on Ebay gave me only junk.
There must be a reson why the real ones are so expensive!

Maybe you should ask around if the Microsoft ones also have reset switches, and more interesting, if you need them regular on their devices?

[2slk]

Carsten Carlos,

 Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I'll let you know how things work out in a few weeks.

[pragma]

All,

MannyTC is willing to order some for us if enough of us would like some. So far, I'm the only one on his list. Please IM him with your intentions if you like the keyboard in my post above, the second one with the handles, I believe at 21$ or so.

Thanks,
Paul