Connect USB keyboard/keypad to Photon

Hardware
1

Is it possible to connect USB keyboard (or numeric keypad) to a Photon? Can a “female usb to male ps/2” adapter/converter be used? Or is there a special usb module that I don’t know yet?

So Photon is waiting for the user to enter his phone number. USB numeric keypad is preferred because it is easier/cheaper to buy and should be more reliable for heavy/public usage and if broken, it should be easier to replace in future. 4x4 membrane keypad is not preferred as the plastic buttons will not hold for public abuse. A ps/2 numeric keypad is hard to find here.

Most forum’s threads are asking the Photon working as keyboard/joystick (or USB host?). Somebody else must have asked this common question before but I just can’t find it.

Thank you

4 Likes
2

The photon as a USB host route is difficult IMHO. I looked at that for a barcode scanner project and ended up buying an RS232 barcode scanner instead of the USB scanners I had at hand which was way easier.

Perhaps a metal keypad from a security system or payphone would work:

https://www.payphone.com/Armored-Keypad.html

1 Like
3

Noted. I will try to find RS232 metal keypad from local supplier if possible. Thanks.