WiFi keyboard use with smart TV

Jeff,

Have you first tried plugging in a standard USB keyboard? Does that work in
the way that you want? Also, there is often some TV input setting (on the
TV not your keyboard) that you select either from the TV menu or perhaps
with a 'hot key' that toggles the input method. Often it might say 'text'
or 'SMS' because you can either 'actually type' or use a form of predictive
text like a phone.

Paul DS.

Jeff Layman

2016-11-03 16:09:23 UTC

Post by Paul D Smith
Jeff,
Have you first tried plugging in a standard USB keyboard? Does that work in
the way that you want? Also, there is often some TV input setting (on the
TV not your keyboard) that you select either from the TV menu or perhaps
with a 'hot key' that toggles the input method. Often it might say 'text'
or 'SMS' because you can either 'actually type' or use a form of predictive
text like a phone.
Paul DS.

Unfortunately I don't have a standard USB keyboard. I could try
connecting the wireless keyboard directly to the TV by cable via the
micro-USB socket on the keyboard. The only reference to this socket,
however, is to using it to charge the battery in the keyboard.

The only references to a USB keyboard in the Panasonic manual are to
choosing a particular language for it, and ensuring it is a driverless
keyboard.

--
Jeff

Jeff Layman

2016-11-04 07:53:09 UTC

I just tried it in my laptop by cable. Mint 17.3 can't detect it, so I
doubt the TV could. It seems the dongle is essential.

--
Jeff

Adrian Caspersz

2016-11-03 10:46:32 UTC

<snip>

I have one. Found the wireless radio dongle output clashes with Sony
bluetooth used for 3D glasses, so have deployed it somewhere else
currently out of reach. Great value though.

Post by Jeff Layman
Anyone know why numbers work but not letters?

Try the USB keyboard for further diagnostics, but I reckon the writers
of the catchup apps have either slipped up, or have purposely sandboxed
themselves into the lowest common denominator of supported keypad
features to ensure their released code works across all devices.

Maybe pen an email to them?

--
Adrian C

Jeff Layman

2016-11-03 12:53:51 UTC

<snip>
I have one. Found the wireless radio dongle output clashes with Sony
bluetooth used for 3D glasses, so have deployed it somewhere else
currently out of reach. Great value though.

That is disappointing, but with these dedicated devices there seems to
be no possibility of changing channels to avoid interference.

Post by Jeff Layman
Anyone know why numbers work but not letters?

Not a lot of info in the Panasonic eHelp for the TV, but what I did
find, in relation to using a USB keyboard stated:

● Characters may not be displayed correctly on the TV screen depending on
the connected keyboard or the keyboard layout setting.
● Some of the keys of keyboards may correspond to the operation of the
remote control.

With regard to that second bullet point, all the functions I found did
correspond to those on the remote (more or less - there are no F11 and
F12 function keys on the keyboard, and F9 - F12 are the red, green,
yellow, and blue buttons on the remote).

Post by Adrian Caspersz
Maybe pen an email to them?

That would make sense, but to who? There are the app writers (did the
BBC write the iPlayer app, and ITV, etc write their apps?). Is it
Panasonic's tv system firmware? Is it Firefox OS, which Panasonic use
for the smart TVs? Or is it the DTG?

I guess it isn't too important for the catch-up apps, as I use them
rarely. And when I need to use YouView or the built-in Firefox browser,
that little keyboard works pretty well.

--
Jeff

Adrian Caspersz

2016-11-03 12:59:22 UTC

Post by Jeff Layman
I guess it isn't too important for the catch-up apps, as I use them
rarely. And when I need to use YouView or the built-in Firefox browser,
that little keyboard works pretty well.

Ok, another tack.

Does your smart TV support Chromecast or DIAL?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1krkaz/found_out_today_that_many_tvs_have_chromecast/

--
Adrian C

Jeff Layman

2016-11-03 16:45:51 UTC

Ok, another tack.
Does your smart TV support Chromecast or DIAL?
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1krkaz/found_out_today_that_many_tvs_have_chromecast/

Not using those particular terms. However the TV (Panasonic TX-55CX680B)
has what it refers to as a "mirroring" function:

"You can watch display images of other devices (smartphone, etc.) on the TV
screen using a mirroring function.
1. Display Home Screen with HOME.
2. Select Devices and press OK to access.
3. Select Mirroring and press OK.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
● Pairing information of the device (smartphone, etc.) is registered
once you
use this function."

It also has:
" VIERA Link “HDAVI Control” is a unique function that we have developed
and added based on the control functions provided by HDMI which is an
industry standard known as HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).
As such, its operation with other manufacturers’ product that supports
HDMI CEC cannot be guaranteed."

I can't see any particular use for smartphone apps via chromecast on
this TV. There are quite a few apps included (as well as those mentioned
previously it has Netflix and Amazon video), and there are vast numbers
in its "Apps Market".

--
Jeff

Adrian Caspersz

2016-11-03 19:16:42 UTC

Post by Jeff Layman
I can't see any particular use for smartphone apps via chromecast on
this TV. There are quite a few apps included (as well as those mentioned
previously it has Netflix and Amazon video), and there are vast numbers
in its "Apps Market".

The test is if you have a smart phone paired, that you can find
something on YouTube and "cast/fling/throw" it on to the TV, the LAN
connection continues between the TV and the internet, and the phone is
redundant. That's Chromecast or DIAL http://www.dial-multiscreen.org/

There is another DIAL'ish thing that may work just for the YouTube app
inside your TV. Have a look in the app settings for "LINK TV AND PHONE"

If it's just mirroring your TV screen that's all that's available, then
the TV receives a copy of the phone screen, which is different, often
slower, and battery draining for the phone.

The reason I'm mentioning all this twaddle is that it's sometimes easier
to find stuff on a phone touch screen app (say youtube) than driving the
limited buttons on a remote.

Of course, you have your keyboard :)

--
Adrian C

Martin

2016-11-03 13:42:45 UTC

<snip>
I have one. Found the wireless radio dongle output clashes with Sony
bluetooth used for 3D glasses, so have deployed it somewhere else
currently out of reach. Great value though.

That is disappointing, but with these dedicated devices there seems to
be no possibility of changing channels to avoid interference.

Post by Jeff Layman
Anyone know why numbers work but not letters?

Not a lot of info in the Panasonic eHelp for the TV, but what I did
? Characters may not be displayed correctly on the TV screen depending on
the connected keyboard or the keyboard layout setting.
? Some of the keys of keyboards may correspond to the operation of the
remote control.
With regard to that second bullet point, all the functions I found did
correspond to those on the remote (more or less - there are no F11 and
F12 function keys on the keyboard, and F9 - F12 are the red, green,
yellow, and blue buttons on the remote).

Post by Adrian Caspersz
Maybe pen an email to them?

There's a contact e-mail address for iPlayer here
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/troubleshooting_tv_games

--
Martin in Zuid Holland

R. Mark Clayton

2016-11-03 14:56:51 UTC

Post by Jeff Layman
I have a Panasonic "smart" TV. It has proved particularly useful for
keeping my grandson entertained with Thomas the Tank Engine videos and
the like on YouTube.
However, using the remote to select videos by keying in the name using
the navigation arrows was a nuisance. So I decided to get a mini
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/SUMVISION-NICO-Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad/dp/B016OMDBC6/ref=sr_1_61?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1475240758&sr=1-61>
I was a bit dubious as it was so cheap, but it works very well, and even
in normal TV mode you can navigate around the screen and use some of its
many buttons for obscure purposes.
But what it can't do (and that is no fault of its own) is search around
BBC iPlayer and the other catch-up apps. The only way a name can be
typed in the "search" box is by using the on-screen keypad to go from
letter to letter with the navigation arrows, which is just like the old
YouTube problem. But here's the odd thing - If I press a letter button
on the keypad, nothing appears in the "search" box, but if I press a
number key, those do appear. I've now realised that is true of the TV
remote as well; to enter letters in the search box you have to use the
navigation keys, select the letter, and press "ok". There are numbers
available in the same way, but I just tried using the remote's channel
numbers and those enter the number directly without the faff of using
the navigation arrows.
Anyone know why numbers work but not letters?
--
Jeff

It depends a bit on the TV.

You can usually use a USB keyboard and [separate] USB mouse.

A wireless keyboard (with dongle) may or may not work.

If the TV supports Bluetooth then a Blueooth keyboard and mouse should work.

OTOH they normally won't recognise a Bluetooth dongle unless full Android (so our Samsung doesn't :-( and the browser is weak)

Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

Adrian Caspersz

2016-11-03 17:01:08 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

Yup, though seen loads of things misadvertised as such, or again wrongly
bluetooth.

The thing that Jeff and I have is the breed that is neither. To the TV /
computer / washing machine*, it looks like a USB hub with USB mouse and
USB keyboard attached. The RF and protocol use is proprietary, and
probably opens a few garage doors down the street on a good day.

* yes, a washing machine with a USB interface. I can dream ;-)

--
Adrian C

R. Mark Clayton

2016-11-03 20:07:11 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

Yup, though seen loads of things misadvertised as such, or again wrongly
bluetooth.

Indeed, I sadly bought one from a PC shop in Glasgow. Fortunately they admitted their mistake and I got my money back after a while.

Post by Adrian Caspersz
The thing that Jeff and I have is the breed that is neither. To the TV /
computer / washing machine*, it looks like a USB hub with USB mouse and
USB keyboard attached. The RF and protocol use is proprietary, and
probably opens a few garage doors down the street on a good day.
* yes, a washing machine with a USB interface. I can dream ;-)
--
Adrian C

Jeff Layman

2016-11-04 08:15:55 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

Adrian, how did your computer show what device the keyboard was? I tried
"sudo lshw" in a terminal on my Mint 17.3 laptop and looked for anything
"usb" or "keyboard", but didn't see anything relevant. There was
nothing found at all under "mouse" (I was using the touchpad). I got a
similar result running Hardinfo.

--
Jeff

Jeff Layman

2016-11-04 09:14:34 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

I should have made it clear that I connected it by cable to a USB
socket; the wireless dongle was not used

--
Jeff

Adrian Caspersz

2016-11-04 10:35:16 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

I should have made it clear that I connected it by cable to a USB
socket; the wireless dongle was not used

I'm using the wireless adaptor.

From dmesg,

[ 2.769538] usb 4-4: new low-speed USB device number 4 using ohci-pci
[ 2.939600] usb 4-4: New USB device found, idVendor=0c40, idProduct=8000
[ 2.939605] usb 4-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2,
SerialNumber=0
[ 2.939608] usb 4-4: Product: 2.4GHz receiver
[ 2.939609] usb 4-4: Manufacturer: ELMCU

That's Bus 4 Device 4, so ....

$ lsusb -s 4:4 -v

Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 1.10
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 8
idVendor 0x0c40
idProduct 0x8000
bcdDevice 0.01
iManufacturer 1
iProduct 2
iSerial 0
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 59
bNumInterfaces 2
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xa0
(Bus Powered)
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 100mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 1
bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Device
bInterfaceSubClass 1 Boot Interface Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 1 Keyboard
iInterface 0
HID Device Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 33
bcdHID 1.11
bCountryCode 0 Not supported
bNumDescriptors 1
bDescriptorType 34 Report
wDescriptorLength 77
Report Descriptors:
** UNAVAILABLE **
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0008 1x 8 bytes
bInterval 10
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 1
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 1
bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Device
bInterfaceSubClass 1 Boot Interface Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 2 Mouse
iInterface 0
HID Device Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 33
bcdHID 1.11
bCountryCode 0 Not supported
bNumDescriptors 1
bDescriptorType 34 Report
wDescriptorLength 104
Report Descriptors:
** UNAVAILABLE **
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0007 1x 7 bytes
bInterval 10

You can also use 'lsusb -t' to show a pretty picture of all USB ports.

--
Adrian C

Jeff Layman

2016-11-03 17:06:07 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton

It depends a bit on the TV.
You can usually use a USB keyboard and [separate] USB mouse.
A wireless keyboard (with dongle) may or may not work.

I tried it with another app (Accuweather) and it worked well with that,
too. I can only assume it's the catch-up apps which don't like letter input.

Post by R. Mark Clayton
If the TV supports Bluetooth then a Blueooth keyboard and mouse should work.

There's nothing in the manual about bluetooth.

Post by R. Mark Clayton
OTOH they normally won't recognise a Bluetooth dongle unless full Android (so our Samsung doesn't :-( and the browser is weak)
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

That may be me extrapolating too much! I had assumed that "wireless" and
mention of 2.4GHz meant "wifi", but checking through the keyboard info
and other similar keyboards all just mention "wireless".

--
Jeff

Ian Jackson

2016-11-03 17:22:00 UTC

Post by R. Mark Clayton
Never seen or heard of a wi-fi keyboard.

That may be me extrapolating too much! I had assumed that "wireless"
and mention of 2.4GHz meant "wifi", but checking through the keyboard
info and other similar keyboards all just mention "wireless".

I have/had a wireless mouse that operates on 27MHz - and on one of the
FCC/CEPT CB frequencies. [It only cost a pound at an amateur radio boot
sale.] One day, I found the cursor was 'doing its own thing' - and it
continued to do so spasmodically over the next few weeks. I guess there
was co-channel interference (but didn't have the immediate means to
check). In the end, I got fed up with it, and bought a modern new one
(£5?) on around 2.4GHz.

--
Ian

Brian Gaff

2016-11-05 10:49:26 UTC