Once paired with a host, if you would like to pair the adapter with a different one, you must first unpair it from the current host before pairing the
new one. Erasing all paired devices in the adapter itself (the device clear command) will not erase the bonding. If you pair a new host
without unpairing the old one first, and if both hosts are present at the same time, the adapter may connect to either of them.
Command mode: command mode is used to configure adapter features. To enter command mode, pair the adapter with a host. Open a text app (i.e., Notes,
Notepad, Word, or whatever that can display text). Make sure when you type on the keyboard connected to the adapter, the text appears on the app. Press and
hold the mode button until the following text is emitted (which will happen in about 2 seconds):
Bluetooth Adapter Firmware v5.0.4
2018 Handheld Scientific, Inc.
Type help or ?
>
Alternatively, you can press Ctrl-Alt-Insert keys simultaneously to enter command mode, so you don’t need to reach to the adapter to press the button. That 3-
key combination is pretty much like the well-known Ctrl-Alt-Del 3-finger solute in Windows. But instead of Del, the Insert (Ins) key is used. In the unlikely
event that this 3 key combination is used by some other application, and you don’t want the adapter to intercept it, you can disable this feature in the settings.
Now the adapter is in command mode. If you see funny characters instead of the above text, make sure the language setting of your operating system is
English. Press the mode button again to go back to normal mode. In command mode, key strokes are intercepted and interpreted by the adapter as commands.
Outputs of the commands are directed to the host. Commands are all lower cases and terminated by Return or Enter. Type “help” or “?” for a list of
commands, and “help command” for help with a specific command. Our goal is to make the help messages concise and comprehensive so one does not need
any other documentation to understand and use the commands. We appreciate any suggestion for improvements.
The keyboard must be in English layout, otherwise the adapter may not generate the right texts. Timers and key mappings features (see below) are disabled in
command mode (i.e., you have to exit command mode to see them working). To exit command mode, either press the mode button or type the command
“exit”.
The following is a summary of available commands in this firmware version. Curly brackets {} signifies a name that needs to be substituted by the actual
value. For example, {time} should be 10 or whatever value you want to set. Vertical bar means “or”. For example, [dvorak|colemak] means dvorak or
colemak as is without substation.
syntax –Display concise explanation of command syntax.
show –Display useful adapter information such as LED settings (enabled/disabled), throttle interval and interface status.
save –Save changes so they will persist across re-starts. If you don’t execute this command, all changes are lost when the adapter is turned off.
exit –Exit command mode. Same as pressing the mode button (so you don’t need to move your hand away from the keyboard to press the button)
device clear –clear paired devices in the adapter. Note you also need to unpair the adapter from the paired host.
reboot –Restart adapter so you don’t need to unplug it from power then plug it back in.
key [name] –Print out the list of key names used in key mappings, macros and timers.
set –Set system parameters.
set usb enabled|disabled –Enable or disable the USB interface. Effective upon next reboot.
set bt enabled|disabled –Enable or disable the Bluetooth interface. Effective upon next reboot. Default is enable.
set bt name {name}–Set the device name to name.
set led blue|green {n} –n=0..10. Set LED intensity. Set it to 0 to turn off the LEDs if the flashing light is annoying.
set time throttle {n} –set throttle time to n milli seconds (ms). Throttle time is the delay added between key stokes to slow down the output.
This is used when a keyboard emulating device such as a magnetic strip reader is connected which sends very fast output.
set ctrlaltins enabled|disabled –Enable/disable the Ctrl-Alt-Ins to enter command mode. Default is enable. Effective immediately.
timer –set up timers which are used to send out keys periodically. This can be useful in preventing Bluetooth communication from timing out or the host
from entering into sleep. This feature was called keep alive in previous firmware versions. You can setup up to 4 timers.
timer list –list of timers with their periods and keys. By default, all timers are disabled (period = 0)
timer {n} period {m} –set the period of timer n(n=1-4) to mseconds. Setting period to 0 disables the timer.
timer {n} key {key} –set the key of timer n to key which can be a single key or a macro.
map –manage key mappings. THIS IS EXPERIMENTAL and you are encouraged to report issues.
map list –list of all key mappings.
map add {key_1} {key_2} –add mapping from key_1 to key_2. i.e., when key_1 is pressed, the keycode of key_2 is generated, as if key_2 was pressed.
map add dvorak|colemak –this will add all mappings to turn an ANSI/ISO QWERTY keyboard into a dvorak or colemak keyboard.
map del {key} –delete the mapping of key
map del all –delete all key mappings.
map names –show all the key names that can be used in key mapping (and anywhere a key parameter is used).
macro –display and set up macros. Macros are used in key mappings and timers. A macro is a series of keys, mouse movements and delays in between.
macro list –list all macros.
Macro edit {n} –edit the nth macro where n=0-63. There is no need to delete a macro since it has no effect unless it is used in a mapping or macro.
Restore to factory defaults: press and hold the mode button for more than 10 seconds (it will enter Command Mode after 2 seconds. Ignore that and continue
to hold). The device will eventually turn itself off. Upon next reboot, all configurations will be restored to factory defaults.
We love to hear from our customers. Please send comments/suggestions to support@handheldsci.com. We appreciate your business.
