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drice1234
Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1309 Location: Allen, Texas
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Link Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:17 pm Post subject: Wireless keyboard suggestions |
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I am known as the home theater guy hear at work and I had someone ask me to suggest a good wireless keyboard with a built in mouse to use with his HTPC. He said he had tried a couple and they have not worked correctly. He needs it to transmit about 20' direct line of site. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Dan
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:33 am Post subject: |
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Does he work in the dark?
_________________ Tech support for nothing
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HD done right!
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drice1234
Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1309 Location: Allen, Texas
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Link Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Not sure, but I think that I would want one that has a bit of a back lit keyboard. The ability to turn the back light on and off would be good.
Thanks
Dan
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:52 am Post subject: |
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There are only a few. I've been thorough a few dozen over the years.
The best back lit wireless keyboard is the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000. However it retails for $450 + you can sometimes find them used for $125-150 on eBay.
May favorite non-back lit wireless is the Grandtech Long Ranger 933MHz keyboard. The "mouse" pad is a little slow but you can pump that up in Windows. It has a 100 foot range. Best of all it's not in the overcrowded 2.4GHz spectrum.
There are also all sorts of other choices that are infa-red. A popular model for that is The BTC 9019URF Wireless Keyboard
http://www.hardwarezone.com.au/reviews/view.php?cid=79&id=1242&pg=2
I have a few of those and people take to them quite easily. The one issue is their width, if your easy chair is narrow you may notbe able to fit it between the arms comfortably. There are 4 different models. The older IR and RF with PS/2 connectors. ( I have the PS/2 IR version ) and the newer IR and RF with USB.
My older models were only $15 each. the newer ones are $40-60 each.
There's an HP keyboard 9129URF that looks like it may be OK too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-Media-Entertainment-Center-Wireless-Keyboard-9129URF-/180624298641?
pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a0e0c1291#ht_500wt_949
Keyboards are a subjective thing. I prefer an ergonomic split for day to day PC typing at my desk. No one else I know can stand the
m.
There are also many tiny bluetooth keyboards. I have the Logitech DiNovo Mini. But it's more for thumb typing if you are into that sort of thing. It's back lit though and besides it's odd mouse pad it's not too bad for limited HTPC use. I use it mostly with my PS3.
You should ask your friend what he intends to do from the couch. If he wants to surf and type then a full size will be in order. I he just wants to call up a few movies from a PVR program he may be OK with one of the sub sized keyboards.
_________________ Tech support for nothing
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HD done right!
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csurfer
Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 15
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:12 am Post subject: |
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I have one of those too. It's flaky at best trying to get it to connect. I'm sending mine back. It won't connect at all anymore.
It's also more of a thumb-board.
I forgot to recommend the best wireless keyboard ever. The IR SK-7100 make sure you get a receiver with it, if the receiver has a serial plug on it make sure you get the serial to PS2 adaptor. You can plug this into a PS2 to USB adaptor if you need it to be USB.
You can also convert it to RF wireless with a double AA battery adaptor.
http://www.weaknees.com/rf-remote-details.php
The nicest part of this keyboard is the mouse/joystick and the click and hold button so you can do a drag and drop.
IF this had a back light it would be freakin perfect.
_________________ Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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Bill in Beaumont
Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Beaumont AB Canada
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Link Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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Depending on what he wants to do with the keyboard this might work.
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/smartTV/accessories/devices/7539
I use this with my HTPC, signal works thru walls (great for controlling volume while sitting outside). Keys are small but I'm happy with it's performance.
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Elaine Benes
Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416
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Link Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:55 am Post subject: |
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AnalogRocks wrote: |
I forgot to recommend the best wireless keyboard ever. The IR SK-7100 make sure you get a receiver with it, if the receiver has a serial plug on it make sure you get the serial to PS2 adaptor. You can plug this into a PS2 to USB adaptor if you need it to be USB.
You can also convert it to RF wireless with a double AA battery adaptor.
http://www.weaknees.com/rf-remote-details.php
The nicest part of this keyboard is the mouse/joystick and the click and hold button so you can do a drag and drop.
IF this had a back light it would be freakin perfect. |
You really like this keyboard ?
I had one of these years and years ago and hated it. It didn't work worth a crap for me.
I haven't found the "perfect" keyboard/mouse combo yet, but I'm still looking.
I agree with you about the crappy little bluetooth thing, I've got one, and I had to use a MUCH better BT receiver just to get it to connect, and even with that, I had to put the receiver on a long extension and even THEN, it still drops all the time, really a crappy solution....
There's a decent Logitech one with a built in touchpad, but its not backlit, uses 2.4Ghz RF: http://cgi.ebay.com/Logitech-PS3-Silver-Media-Keyboard-w-Touchpad-/220745142107?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item33656f8f5b
I've got this one and the BT version which has direct access media keys, but the silver one works better...IMHO...
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:57 am Post subject: |
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Ohh I love the SK-7100! I've had over 30 keyboards here and that's my favorite wireless
The mini back lit one I just got now refuses to connect. Cheap ass shite!
_________________ Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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StudioJim
Joined: 05 Jul 2011 Posts: 5
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Link Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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The problem with suggesting keyboards, is that everyone prefers something different. I use the Saitek brand of keyboards and love them, but my roommate hates them. My biggest suggestion would be to go to a physical store and try them out personally. I'm sure you have some local shops as well that you can check out! A wireless keyboard would be nice for my home theater, now that I think about it...
---
The home theater construction project never ends! Any advice on seating would be appreciated. I know Family Leisure sells them. Any other ideas?
_________________ Proud owner of a Sony VPH-D50 CRT projector
Last edited by StudioJim on Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:57 am Post subject: |
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The problem with going to a physical store is I can seldom find them locally. Most of mine came from eBay.
_________________ Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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Phil Smith
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 7717
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Link Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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AnalogRocks wrote: | Ohh I love the SK-7100! I've had over 30 keyboards here and that's my favorite wireless
The mini back lit one I just got now refuses to connect. Cheap ass shite! |
When I first got into HTPCs everyone was using these. I still have one.
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Phil Smith wrote: | AnalogRocks wrote: | Ohh I love the SK-7100! I've had over 30 keyboards here and that's my favorite wireless
The mini back lit one I just got now refuses to connect. Cheap ass shite! |
When I first got into HTPCs everyone was using these. I still have one. |
Yep, it was the first one I got with an HTPC too in Jan 1997
_________________ Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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