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Sidereal
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Q: How to connect a mechanical keyboard to iPad

I am thinking of purchasing a Rosewill mechanical keyboard for my iPad. Does anyone know if it's possible to connect the two and, if so, how do I go about doing this? Thanks!

iPad 2, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jun 7, 2012 4:07 AM

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Sidereal

Q: How to connect a mechanical keyboard to iPad

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Skydiver119,Helpful

    Skydiver119 Skydiver119 Jun 7, 2012 4:10 AM in response to Sidereal
    Level 7 (28,500 points)
    iPad
    Jun 7, 2012 4:10 AM in response to Sidereal

    I don't think you can. The iPad supports bluetooth keyboards, but not plug in ones. It used to accept some USB keyboards, but sometime in 2011 the power output to the 30 pin port was changed rendering most USB devices unworkable.

  • by Sidereal,

    Sidereal Sidereal Jun 7, 2012 4:22 AM in response to Skydiver119
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    Jun 7, 2012 4:22 AM in response to Skydiver119

    ****, that *****. I actually saw a YouTube video of a guy apparently typing on his iPad using a DAS keyboard. I think he said you use the iPad's camera kit. Not sure, though.

  • by Skydiver119,Helpful

    Skydiver119 Skydiver119 Jun 7, 2012 6:04 AM in response to Sidereal
    Level 7 (28,500 points)
    iPad
    Jun 7, 2012 6:04 AM in response to Sidereal

    ANd he may have been able to. There's a lot of pages out there with things you used to be able to hook up via the USB part of the camera connection kit. But that OS tweak last year altered the amount of battery power allotted to the 30 pin port - which the USB plugs into - and rendered many of those devices now unworkable.

     

    You can try it of course, and some have reported success if they plug those devices first into a powered USB hub then into the iPad (use the powered hub to overcome the lack of output power from the iPad).

     

    The old reports of things that no longer work are very frustrating.

  • by Sidereal,

    Sidereal Sidereal Jun 7, 2012 12:53 PM in response to Skydiver119
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2012 12:53 PM in response to Skydiver119

    I'd rather not risk it then. Thanks anyway. Yeah, it must be frustrating. I'm so used to my desktop mechanical keyboard that I can't stand going back to a bluetooth (membrane) keyboard when I take out my iPad. Oh well.