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.
