Connecting a wireless keyboard to steam deck

[Hugh Jass]

Has anyone gotten a wireless keyboard to work on steam deck? I'm envisioning playing the steam deck in bed with a wireless mouse on one side and a half keyboard on the other. My wireless mouse connects via Bluetooth just fine. But [this wireless half keyboard](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091B1PXV8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) I got does not seem to connect to the steam deck automatically. It connects to my PC just fine, it seems to need to install some software when you first plug the USB dongle in. So I'm assuming that software cannot install or doesn't know to install on the steam deck OS.

Any ideas? Or anyone get any keyboards or USB dongle devices to work for the steam deck? Likely the same method for USB dongle mouse/keyboard/etc. So this keyboard doesn't seem to be bluetooth, it seems to connect via 2.4Ghz to the USB dongle only. I'll try fooling around with the deck in desktop mode but I'm not really sure what else to do there.

[ReBoot]

I got a BT keyboard (with a built-in touchpad) & it works everdamn fine with my Deck. My "other" mouse & 3 of my gamepads need dongles & they work just fine as well.

This software isn't required, it's an additional bonus. My desk keyboard, for example, also comes with special software, the keyboard works fine without though. If this keyboard here NEEDS that software, I suggest ditching it ASAP, that really speaks against the product.

[Hugh Jass]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

I got a BT keyboard (with a built-in touchpad) & it works everdamn fine with my Deck. My "other" mouse & 3 of my gamepads need dongles & they work just fine as well.

This software isn't required, it's an additional bonus. My desk keyboard, for example, also comes with special software, the keyboard works fine without though. If this keyboard here NEEDS that software, I suggest ditching it ASAP, that really speaks against the product.

Can you share a link to the keyboard so I can look it up?

[Cathulhu]

"Equipped with 2.4Ghz wireless data transmission tech"
Yeah, that sounds like proprietary tech that is not compatible with standard hardware.
And that "fancy" 2.4GHz wireless data transmission tech? Marketing nonsense! Want to know why 2.4GHz? Because it is free to use. The same reason why Wifi and Bluetooth use the 2.4GHz band.

Unless it supports Bluetooth (LE) don't expect it to work.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by LampShade:

Originally posted by ReBoot:

I got a BT keyboard (with a built-in touchpad) & it works everdamn fine with my Deck. My "other" mouse & 3 of my gamepads need dongles & they work just fine as well.

This software isn't required, it's an additional bonus. My desk keyboard, for example, also comes with special software, the keyboard works fine without though. If this keyboard here NEEDS that software, I suggest ditching it ASAP, that really speaks against the product.

Can you share a link to the keyboard so I can look it up?

No, as I've bought it over a decade ago. It uses big-standard Bluetooth though, look for that.

[metamec]

I would avoid Logitech BT keyboards. My K380 had terrible latency with a BT 5 adapter in my PC. Good for typing, and OK for some games... but definitely not for games where low latency matters.

You might want to check out BT keyboard latency info on a site like RTings. I haven't looked for a years but the site probably still publishes that info.

[Hugh Jass]

Originally posted by metamec:

I would avoid Logitech BT keyboards. My K380 had terrible latency with a BT 5 adapter in my PC. Good for typing, and OK for some games... but definitely not for games where low latency matters

Exactly. Bluetooth is terrible for gaming because of latency. Can be up to 200ms of latency.

[Hugh Jass]

Originally posted by metamec:

You might want to check out BT keyboard latency info on a site like RTings. I haven't looked for a years but the site probably still publishes that info.

Will take a look. It’s hard because I’m specifically looking for a wireless half keyboard. There aren’t many of those.