Bluetooth is not supported on openbsd. On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM Divan Santana <di...@santanas.co.za> wrote:
> Trying to get a bluetooth keyboard on OpenBSD working, here is the > results. > > Getting bluetooth audio working has a useable workaround which many > know about already. > > In summary, my attempt fails but below is the info which may be helpful to > others who attempt this. > > Options to get a bluetooth keyboard working on OpenBSD? > > - [X] Someone writes code to support bluetooth in OpenBSD. Yeah, > that's likely not going to happen (understandably it's not supported). > > - [X] Search the mailing list for others having tried this. > > I only found this article [1], which looks useful to me. > [1]: https://www.mail-archive.com/misc@openbsd.org/msg175271.html > > The author Zé Loff suggests that the Belkin adapter F8T016 can pair > to the keyboard via bluetooth and present the keyboard as a USB > device. Perfect. Sadly, one can't find or buy this anymore anyway > and I can't find a similar replacement. :( > > - [X] Try searching the net for a USB device that could do this. > > A LLM suggests it's called a "Bluetooth Host-to-USB HID converter". > We need a USB device, which can pair to a bluetooth keyboard and > present the keyboard as a USB keyboard device. > > It further suggests the Handheld Scientific BT-500 > http://handheldsci.com/kb/ > Contacting the company they say this only makes wired keyboards work > over bluetooth, not the other way around! Fail. > > Another suggestion online is to buy a Bluetooth keyboard Emulator > from https://shop.intelletto.com/products/bk100. Contacting the > company they say the "BK100 is a slave device and will not connect > to another slave like a keyboard." - so it won't work. > > Another suggestion is the Logi bolt > > https://www.tumfatig.net/2021/logitech-mx-keys-and-mx-master-on-openbsd-using-logi-bolt/ > > LLM says:: > > #+begin_example > ### what is logi bolt? > > Logi Bolt is Logitech's proprietary wireless USB receiver technology, > introduced in 2021. It's designed for business/enterprise use with > enhanced security and better wireless performance compared to their > standard receivers. It offers: > > 1. More secure connections (Security Mode 1 compliant) > 2. Better resistance to interference > 3. Greater wireless range > 4. Support for multiple devices per receiver > 5. Bluetooth compatibility > > It's commonly found in Logitech's business-focused mice and keyboards. > > ### can it pair to any bluetooth keyboard? > > No, Logi Bolt can only pair with Logi Bolt-compatible devices > (specifically Logitech devices marked with Bolt compatibility). While > Logi Bolt receivers do support Bluetooth protocol, they are designed > to work exclusively with Logitech's own Bolt-enabled peripherals. You > cannot use them with standard Bluetooth keyboards from other > manufacturers. > #+end_example > > Reading the website > > https://www.logitech.com/en-za/business/work-setups/logi-bolt-wireless-technology.html > it says: > > #+begin_quote > Our Logi Bolt wireless devices are Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 or > higher. We actively use all the security mechanisms introduced in > Bluetooth Low Energy Core Specification 4.2. > > From a backward compatibility standpoint, Logi Bolt wireless devices > are able to communicate with Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 hosts or higher > when in direct Bluetooth connection. > #+end_quote > > so according to the LLM it won't work. According to it's website > it sounds like it may work. I tried to pair it using solaar on a > Linux PC, but when I try pair it to a bluetooth keyboard (not a > logitech bolt keyboard) it doesn't see it. Fail. > >
