Hi there,
I made a remote control based on bluetooth low energy, sometimes called BLE or BT 4.0. Heart of the rc
is a bt module from Bluegiga (now Silicon labs), the BLE112. Of course the BLE113 can be used as well.
It can connect to Windows 8++, Raspbian Buster and Android Smartphones or Tablets. The remote
connects as HID over GATT and shows up as keyboard service. iOS should work but not tested yet.
As I was not able to manage keyboard and mouse at the same time I simulate the mouse by sending
"unusual" keycodes and used xdotool in the key bindings to move the mouse pointer and simulate mouse clicks.
It works really nice. I have buttons for the most common functions, map panning, zoom, center boat and can
quickly change the screen. The dashboard-button sends 'alt-tab' so I can hop from window to window.
I can switch from panning to mouse mode and have the left and right buttons on hand. This is nice to
answer pop ups or to change settings where a mouse is needed. With the right mouse you can show
the context menu. Very useful sometimes.
From my point of view OpenCPN is unusable without keyboard and mouse. My remote control gives you a
bit keyboard and a bit mouse to the helm. Better than nothing.
Oh, and I added a milled plastic eyelet and a rope to the enclosure. If you ask me my smartphone
should have one as well.
Chris
![[Image: 462dbbcfd2_album.jpg]](https://share-your-photo.com/img/462dbbcfd2_album.jpg)
I made the prototype using uv exposure and etching at home. If you are interested how this works:
https://www.segeln-forum.de/board194-boo...ndex2.html
Cheers,
Chris
I made a remote control based on bluetooth low energy, sometimes called BLE or BT 4.0. Heart of the rc
is a bt module from Bluegiga (now Silicon labs), the BLE112. Of course the BLE113 can be used as well.
It can connect to Windows 8++, Raspbian Buster and Android Smartphones or Tablets. The remote
connects as HID over GATT and shows up as keyboard service. iOS should work but not tested yet.
As I was not able to manage keyboard and mouse at the same time I simulate the mouse by sending
"unusual" keycodes and used xdotool in the key bindings to move the mouse pointer and simulate mouse clicks.
It works really nice. I have buttons for the most common functions, map panning, zoom, center boat and can
quickly change the screen. The dashboard-button sends 'alt-tab' so I can hop from window to window.
I can switch from panning to mouse mode and have the left and right buttons on hand. This is nice to
answer pop ups or to change settings where a mouse is needed. With the right mouse you can show
the context menu. Very useful sometimes.
From my point of view OpenCPN is unusable without keyboard and mouse. My remote control gives you a
bit keyboard and a bit mouse to the helm. Better than nothing.
Oh, and I added a milled plastic eyelet and a rope to the enclosure. If you ask me my smartphone
should have one as well.
Chris
I made the prototype using uv exposure and etching at home. If you are interested how this works:
https://www.segeln-forum.de/board194-boo...ndex2.html
Cheers,
Chris