Connecting an external keyboard to Kindle 3

[KindleMeAndrey]

Greetings,

I have a Kindle Keyboard and would like to connect an external keyboard to it, replacing the build-in one. The idea is to have terminal running vim (or another text editor), so I can comfortably write on it.

The keyboard connector (on the bottom right of the picture below) seems like other netbook keyboard connectors I've seen and I was wondering if it would be possible to simply connect it in place of the build-in one.

[Image violates Posting Guidelines for size - MODERATOR]

Has anyone tried this?

Will kindle give enough juice?

Any thoughts and reflections?

Many thanks,
Andrey

[Dr. Drib]

Moved to the Kindle Forum, where posts on the Kindle.....belong.


Don
(Moderator)

[Dr. Drib]

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[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by KindleMeAndrey

The keyboard connector (on the bottom right of the picture below) seems like other netbook keyboard connectors I've seen and I was wondering if it would be possible to simply connect it in place of the build-in one.

Welcome to Mobileread.

Re what Dr. Drib wrote, he is of course correct. Violating the image limit is a mistake even experienced posters here make, so don't feel bad about it

Regarding your question, the answer is no. There is more to it than just plugging in a micro USB keyboard. I myself do not have the needed expertise.

I still use my Kindle Keyboard a lot, but I'm an exception, so you may not get as much help with your question as you would have a few years ago.

I did find, on Google, this relevant older thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=162240

[KindleMeAndrey]

Thanks, Steve. Sorry for the extra large image. I'll repost a version less than 600x600 below.

What I meant about the keyboard was something different than a micro USB. In the picture below, you'll see there's the default kindle keyboard port on the bottom right. It's a 20-pin 0.5mm pitch adapter that can be connected into using this cable: https://www.amazon.com/0-5mm-Pitch-F.../dp/B016CVXWHS


What if instead of the standard kindle mini-keyboard we could plug in a keyboard commonly found in netbooks, bypassing kindle's own keyboard?

Dell Mini keyboard connector:


We would just need an adapter from whatever the netbook keyboard uses (24-pin 1mm pitch I believe) to the 20-pin 0.5mm:



The mapping of keys would probably be different, but with having root access on linux, the keys can be indentified with "xev" and remapped with "xmodmap".

What do you think?

[KindleMeAndrey]

Frankenkindle uses this approach, albeit for a different purpose:

https://hackaday.com/2011/07/28/fran...ndle-keyboard/