xbox360 chatpad, awsome backlit mini keyboard

**ScrapMaker** · 10-26-2007, 03:48 PM

After reading this whole thread, I'm scratching my head as to why no one has DIRECTLY hooked up the chatpad to a PC, (no contoller.)

The connectors, (aside from the audio pass-through,) are plain-old USB.

All you would need to do is build an adapter. I bet Windows will pick it up as a standard keyboard.

**tbird2340** · 10-26-2007, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by ScrapMaker

After reading this whole thread, I'm scratching my head as to why no one has DIRECTLY hooked up the chatpad to a PC, (no contoller.)

The connectors, (aside from the audio pass-through,) are plain-old USB.

All you would need to do is build an adapter. I bet Windows will pick it up as a standard keyboard.

Not sure Windows would pick it up as a keyboard or not but sure should be easy to try for whoever has a chat pad and a spare USB cable... Just snip one end of the cable and strip down the four wires..

Before connecting them to the chat pad probe where the chatpad plugs in on the controller and find out which pin draws 5 volts (should be the far right or the far left). Note which pin it is and then wire up the chat pad:

Pin 1 Red VBUS (5 volts)

Pin 2 White D-

Pin 3 Green D+

Pin 4 Black Ground

**Snortonnorton** · 10-27-2007, 12:11 AM

didn't someone already try to directly connect it to a PC?

Now I don't remember anyone actually wiring up the usb connection so I could be mistaken.

**tbird2340** · 10-27-2007, 12:13 AM

I believe someone connected the controller with the chatpad plugged into it but not the chatpad alone..

**turbocad6** · 10-27-2007, 11:32 AM

those were thoughts I had, either the keyboard has a keyboard controller on board or maybe being able to use a keyboard controller from another keyboard & then tapping into the matrix of this one. I'm sure theres a way, but yeah, would be great if there is a standard usb keyboard controller in this thing already, & sure, that's very possible.

I haven't yet cause I've been still working on other things in my install, & because intially there looked like there may be hope of a driver coming that would make this unecissary, I have 2 of these so one's ok to butcher for testing...

I may be able to test this soon...

**ScrapMaker** · 10-27-2007, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by turbocad6

those were thoughts I had, either the keyboard has a keyboard controller on board or maybe being able to use a keyboard controller from another keyboard & then tapping into the matrix of this one. I'm sure theres a way, but yeah, would be great if there is a standard usb keyboard controller in this thing already, & sure, that's very possible.

I haven't yet cause I've been still working on other things in my install, & because intially there looked like there may be hope of a driver coming that would make this unecissary, I have 2 of these so one's ok to butcher for testing...

I may be able to test this soon...

I doubt you will have to butcher anything. I bet the controller is in the chatpad. It's a regular USB connection, and as soon as someone makes a rigged cable for it, you can test it.

**tbird2340** · 10-27-2007, 01:38 PM

Right, you won't be butchering the chatpad at all. Just snipping the end off a usb cable and putting the wires on the chatpad contacts.

**turbocad6** · 10-27-2007, 01:39 PM

man, I'm tempted to sit here & try this now, but it's either that, or real work... man, the temptation is there, but I gotta do real work right now

I will find the time soon

**turbocad6** · 10-27-2007, 02:27 PM

another peek at the board say's maybe this is as simple as connecting to usb directly.. I'm going to try to screw with it this weekend... I don't even have a controller here to test for 5v & ground..