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Help Huge Pairing problem with Android head unit.

R

Rexii

Lurker
Hi all! New to the forums. I recently purchased an Android Head unit using KitKat. Great unit - has some flaws but overall usable and fun.

I do have one issue though. I just purchased a Microsoft Wedge Keyboard which works via BT. Lol, don't laugh but I Velcro'd it to my Dashboard. Love the tech look, but mostly cannot stand typing via screen when parked. This is especially for answering emails via gmail or chatting on facebook messenger.

Sadly this unit is not simple to pair. It requires a pairing request with a randomly generated passkey. However my Head unit only asks for the passkey, and does not list the details of the generated key.

I have tried the usual, 0 x4 x5 and x6. And the consecutive 1234 up to 6. No go.

I do want to get this paired because I find the unit to be so unbelievably beautiful & it matches my dash!

I would appreciate any helpful response or follow up question. Thanks in advance and thank you for having me on your forum.
 
Found this on the MS website ...

By default, the Bluetooth® Wedge Mobile Keyboard pairs with most tablet PCs through secure simple pairing (SSP) with a passkey. Some tablets, however, may not support SSP well with a passkey.
In order to successfully pair your Wedge Mobile Keyboard to such a tablet, use the following alternative pairing mode.

Pair your keyboard through SSP without a passkey
  1. Press and hold the Fn key at the same time as you press and hold the Connect button located under the keyboard. After 3 to 5 seconds, a small light on the top of the keyboard will blink green and red alternately. This means that your keyboard is discoverable to your tablet within 6 minutes
Click to expand...
 
Does not work. This was in the instruction manual. It still required a passkey. I cannot access any control panel either to add the device which is required and is step two of that step you listed.
 
BT Radio? It does have Bluetooth - I pair my phone and my OBD2 Diagnostic dongle to it. Both of those just require the typical 0000 or 1234 passkey. The only settings available in that BT section of the unit is basically what is available and what is paired. I don't see any other menu for settings or to add an item.

the above instructions mainly relate to a Tablet PC running windows.
 
Bluetooth is simply another wireless protocol and requires a discrete radio/antenna to work. Your phone has several radios including BT, WiFi, Mobile (GSM/LTE) and even NFC is a type of radio. In any case a BT connection has two components, a host role and a device role. The host is generally a phone or a tablet and the device would be keyboard, headset, etc. You can connect two host devices like two phones or a phone and a laptop to transfer files, or share a network connection, but one will always assume the host role and the other a device role.

Your keyboard is a BT device and therefore will only broadcast in pairing mode and needs a connection from a host.
Rexii said:
The only settings available in that BT section of the unit is basically what is available and what is paired. I don't see any other menu for settings or to add an item.

the above instructions mainly relate to a Tablet PC running windows.
Click to expand...

When you put the keyboard into broadcast mode, there should be something on your head unit that allows it to scan for nearby devices. I can't believe it scans continuously. (It may be programmed to scan every time it's powered on, but that would be only temporary ... maybe 30 seconds or so?

The instructions do refer to PC's or tablets, but any BT host should see it if it's broadcasting and the host is scanning. By pressing the Fn key along with the connect button should eliminate the need for a passkey. It is highly possible that the implementation of SSP in the keyboard isn't compatible with the head unit you have. Would it be possible to borrow a more generic BT keyboard and try and pair that? If you know someone who has an iPad with a keyboard cover, for example.
 
I will do my best to find another unit to try it with but I do have an update. the head unit did accept the pairing of the Wedge Keyboard, however the Keyboard still stays in pairing mode. Nothing registers on the device. When I go to Language and Input settings I don't see the device. Many Apps that are third party bluetooth managers do see the device also.

This is very strange. I am under the assumption that I either have a lackluster firmware or an incompatible keyboard. The keyboard is indeed compatible though - so perhaps my firmware is what is hindering my usage of the keyboard.

I love the KB by the way. It sits on my dash board :)
 
I have one of those folding BT keyboards for my tablet. I don't recall it being listed anywhere but BT devices as paired. When I get the chance, I'll take a look to see if it's supposed to be.
 
On my android tv stick, to pair a keyboard , I had to hold in a couple of buttons on the keyboard for 3 seconds until a light starts blinking to make it discoverable, then in "Bluetooth" on the TV (your head unit) , scan for devices, when it finds the keyboard, it gives a random 6 numbers that I have to enter into the keyboard and press "enter" (android 4.2).
The keyboard doesn't function until the lights stop blinking.

Not sure if this helps but that's what works for me (have to pair the bloody thing every day it seems)
 
funkylogik said:
On my android tv stick, to pair a keyboard , I had to hold in a couple of buttons on the keyboard for 3 seconds until a light starts blinking to make it discoverable, then in "Bluetooth" on the TV (your head unit) , scan for devices, when it finds the keyboard, it gives a random 6 numbers that I have to enter into the keyboard and press "enter" (android 4.2).
The keyboard doesn't function until the lights stop blinking.

Not sure if this helps but that's what works for me (have to pair the bloody thing every day it seems)
Click to expand...

Is there any reason why it won't give me that random code? I do pair it without a code and it accepts the pair but the lights just keep on blinking and it won't function.
 
No idea brother. I'd email the keyboard manufacturer.
Does the head unit pair with other devices like your phone ok?
 
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