Logitech PS3 Cordless Mediaboard

fdevine

Just picked up a Logitech PS3 Cordless Mediaboard. Its basically a keyboard with a laptop-like touch pad and scroll bar.

Better than trying to juggle a keyboard and mouse on the sofa. Also has a 10m range and is specifically designed to work with the PS3.

Some people will say "you can get a wireless keyboard for €20" or whatever, but any that I have checked in the last few days have a 1 or 2 metre range.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53041273#post53041273

WarZoneBrother

hmm should i got for it...a bit expensive but looks like its worth it does it work with computers or only ps3...

WarZoneBrother

damn i taught it was the diNovo edge but there way too expensive..think ill just get a usb keyboard and mouse or pay 30euro for wireless ones..

fdevine

I wouldn't pay the money for a DiNovo Edge myself.

The Mediaboard will work with PC & Mac AFAIK.

If anyone is going to go with a cheaper alternative, just be sure to check the range of the dongle.

Kevin2006

I was thinking about getting the edge for my birthday this one seems a better deal, How is the touchpad??

fdevine

I only ordered at the weekend so I doubt I will have it before next week, unfortunately.

There are some reviews around...

http://reviews.cnet.com/Logitech_Cordless_MediaBoard_for_PlayStation_3/4505-3134_7-32319140.html

From what I understand, there are some PS3 button shortcuts on the keyboard, like ESC being used to exit the internet browser.

zod

would this one be equivalent ?

review : http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/peripherals/keysonic-540rf-wireless-keyboard/1/

cost : http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14342

discussion:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-487028.html

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=457550

unklerosco

Dont have a ps3 but if i did id be waiting for Sony to allow the use of bluetooth keyboards. They're way better... had a wireless for my HTPC n it drove me mad, using a bluetooth one now.. miles better. Heck it'll work when im in the bedroom n the htpc is in the sitting room.....

Kevin2006

I have a usb keyboard atm and I was thinking of getting a wireless one in the coming weeks, but now I think I'll wait until an official one, or at least a one with ps3 buttons on it. There is no rush!

fdevine

zod wrote:

would this one be equivalent ?

review : http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/peripherals/keysonic-540rf-wireless-keyboard/1/

cost : http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14342

discussion:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-487028.html

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=457550

It does look similar, but the Logitech one is only a little more expensive and is fully compatible. I'm not saying that one wont work, but there is no guarantee.

Its is rumoured that Sony will introduce a BT keyboard but there has been no announcement on this. Probably worth the wait if you're in no hurry.

Stokolan

unklerosco wrote:

Dont have a ps3 but if i did id be waiting for Sony to allow the use of bluetooth keyboards. They're way better... had a wireless for my HTPC n it drove me mad, using a bluetooth one now.. miles better. Heck it'll work when im in the bedroom n the htpc is in the sitting room.....

It already allows it I synced my logitech MX5000 Keyboard and mouse to it a while back.

McDermotX

Yeah,
BT keyboards work great already......both the original DiNovo and DiNovo Edge work fine (and certainly look the part)..

scrapland

Was going to get one of these from Harvey Normans but they didnt have them - even though they were in the advert / flyer

trixter

fdevine wrote:

Just picked up a Logitech PS3 Cordless Mediaboard. Its basically a keyboard with a laptop-like touch pad and scroll bar.

Better than trying to juggle a keyboard and mouse on the sofa. Also has a 10m range and is specifically designed to work with the PS3.

Some people will say "you can get a wireless keyboard for €20" or whatever, but any that I have checked in the last few days have a 1 or 2 metre range.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53041273#post53041273

Any bluetooth keyboard and mouse should work with the ps3. The range is dependant upon class type, there are three. 1m, 10m, 100m. the 10m is the most common range which is also refered to as type II or class II (depending on which marketing guy wrote the ad). Keyboards however are generally designed to be near a desktop, as such in an office environment, it can get super noisy RF-wise if you have a bunch of BT going on.

Also note, bluetooth is 2.4GHz just like 802.11 b/g. Using BT will desensitize your wifi receiver, basically the two compete for the same RF space and will fight - effectively shortening the range of both. Its the same thing when you have a flatmate/sibling yelling in the room, they compete with the audio from your ps3 and generally you cant hear both clearly unless one is really loud vs the other

trixter

fdevine wrote:

Some people will say "you can get a wireless keyboard for €20" or whatever, but any that I have checked in the last few days have a 1 or 2 metre range.

Not to totally harp on a point, but have you checked stores in north america? Although a type II BT keyboard with built in mouse for $25 US (€20) seems a bit low to me. there is the €22 EUR vat exemption on commercial good and about €40 on gifts, if you know someone maybe they could ship one for ya. The electronic waste fee may also be added unless they put something odd in the customs declaration. Although my 30" monitor didnt have this and it shipped in the original box and was declared, along with the video card I got to drive it. On the monitor for example I saved about €1000 by buying it from the US.

unklerosco

AFAIK sony have the bluetooth restricted so any bluetooth keyb wont work... It will only pair with what sony tell it to pair with...

If they ever let it pair with keyboards it wont be until they release there own.. if even then

trixter

unklerosco wrote:

AFAIK sony have the bluetooth restricted so any bluetooth keyb wont work... It will only pair with what sony tell it to pair with...

If they ever let it pair with keyboards it wont be until they release there own.. if even then

It was my understanding that they opened that up. I dont have mine yet, it should arrive tomorrow so I havent played with it yet. The curse of saving money by buying from north america, but 200 eUR is a nice savings

McDermotX

trixter wrote:

Also note, bluetooth is 2.4GHz just like 802.11 b/g. Using BT will desensitize your wifi receiver, basically the two compete for the same RF space and will fight - effectively shortening the range of both. Its the same thing when you have a flatmate/sibling yelling in the room, they compete with the audio from your ps3 and generally you cant hear both clearly unless one is really loud vs the other

To be honest, any decent BT setup and Wi-Fi arrangement should not interfere with each other, as while both operate on the 2.4Ghz frequency, they each operate on a different so-called "hopping" pattern ranging from 2.4 to 2.48 GHz resulting in very little chance of conflict, especially from the BT devices point of view..
Have never encountered interference with multiple BT devices and Wi-Fi here in my own home, so you should be OK with a relatively decent setup (although I'm sure if one link in the chain is acting up, you may see small issues, but it is extremely rare)..
At the moment, I have 2 PS3s running here, both on Wi-Fi, each with a DiNovo while competing against a PC with a DiNovo Edge and a laptop with its 802.11g running in the background..........throw in a couple of BT mice as well, and all is running with no issues or conflicts..

trixter

McDermotX wrote:

To be honest, any decent BT setup and Wi-Fi arrangement should not interfere with each other, as while both operate on the 2.4Ghz frequency, they each operate on a different so-called "hopping" pattern ranging from 2.4 to 2.48 GHz resulting in very little chance of conflict, especially from the BT devices point of view..
Have never encountered interference with multiple BT devices and Wi-Fi here in my own home, so you should be OK with a relatively decent setup (although I'm sure if one link in the chain is acting up, you may see small issues, but it is extremely rare)..
At the moment, I have 2 PS3s running here, both on Wi-Fi, each with a DiNovo while competing against a PC with a DiNovo Edge and a laptop with its 802.11g running in the background..........throw in a couple of BT mice as well, and all is running with no issues or conflicts..

BT tends to be fairly noisy in the RF spectrum taking up a much wider section than wifi. As such it tends to intefere, especially when you are on the edge of range. if without BT you have -60dBm then it shouldnt be that big of a deal to add it. BT keyboard use less RF space since they arnet transmitting all the time (like audio devices do), but if you have a mouse and you are just wiggling it around while trying to download something and were originally on t he edge of range to begin with, you can have some issues.


Proximity of the various antennas to each other can also affect range, since they can try to Tx/Rx at the same time. Desensitization just means that the receiver cant pick up as faint a signal as it would otherwise be able to (due to more 'noise' which is defined as anything other than the intended signal). The frequency spread as well as power output dictates how far the antennas should be from each other to avoid this.

Polarization of the antennas can also decrease range, so if you have everything matching polarization (horizontal vs vertical), low noise from other 2.4GHz devices, and enough spread between the different devices, and its not used 100% of the time (wifi is half duplex anyway so the duty cycle cant be 100% for either Tx or Rx) then yes it should work.

If however you are like me and the accesspoint is in another apartment and shared by 5 apartments BT can cause problems

imonboards

trixter wrote:

Any bluetooth keyboard and mouse should work with the ps3.

Tell that to my Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse that will not pair up no matter what I do.

trixter

imonboards wrote:

Tell that to my Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse that will not pair up no matter what I do.

do you get an error message? I have seen some others say they do get a message, implying that it can at least see it. I wonder if its a parameter problem, I did read that the apple keyboard wants encryption (optional on BT devices) and it may be that is the problem. Encryption is a *good* idea for things like keyboards where you may enter passwords or credit card info. Dont let the short range fool you, you can listen from much further away than advertised.

If the ps3 is incapable of doing encryption on the BT layer I would have concerns about using it personally ...

There are also proxy BT devices, which emulate a HID type device, of which the controllers are, as are keyboards and mice, and that may be what sony opted for (I havent played enough with mine since it arrives tomorrow, should be able to tell once I get it unless someone else can comment first). If that is the case that may be giving you grief.

If you really want to use that keyboard, you should be able to use something like the D-Link DBT-120 (USB) which you can upgrade the firmware to make it a proxy device, so the BT keyboard will work as a usb one (this also works for your computer so you can access bios screens and all without running a BT stack in software).