I love my trackball. There’s not another model like it. I don’t want to change, but I want wireless. So…
Can I turn it into a wireless device? I looked at all the wireless gear for robots and it seems possible?
Maybe the SFE Maxstream 1mW XBee Transceiver Module (chip antennae)?
I’m on the fringe of my knowledge here and could use a hand. It appears most wireless likes to get signals to/from the computer via serial. But the trackball of course is USB. Can I use a USB to serial adapter, then go wireless to the device?
I’m ready for suggestions. Can this be done? In any way?
Wireless USB hub doesn’t get rid of wires. It just moves them. To me wireless means no wires. I want my trackball to set free on my desk without it’s tail.
Why do I need to bypass the USB circuitry? Why can’t I just send the USB data wirelessly just like the USB hub does?
Not that I know how to do it, but it SEEMS logical.
I can relate to your love for your trackball, I got my Logitech on clearance at Staples many years ago, just because I always wanted to try one. Never really got the hang of it until my favorite IBM Mini-Mouse quit working on me and I had to use the trackball; now I can't stand to use a mouse at all.
I found this thread, searching for ideas on doing exactly the same thing; I use a large display and normally sit on the couch with my feet up, so wireless is creeping in due to the “neatness” factor. What I may end up doing is just taking a cheap wireless optical mouse apart and hacking it into the trackball case; my USB cable and dongle can run along the wall and under the couch - out of site. Since they are both optical devices it should not be too difficult to figure out where to make the connections and what parts to keep; as far as orientation, there are plenty of windows options plus 3rd party software packages to get it rolling the right direction if there are issues. I might even hack the scroll wheel into it as well… who knows?
Just thought I would share the path my curiosity is on; Good Luck!
Usb cable extander (mother & father plug ins)* http://www.usbgear.com/images/AA-UF-05B.jpg
Steps:
**1. Cut your usb cable extender in 2 piaces,. **
You need only one “exit”, which allows you to plug in any usb device.
{Nex thing will be tough, but if you have mechanical friends they can do this in about ~5-30 min.}
Unscrew O’click mouse,. Dismantle “mother board” of mouse from wirless adaptor,
Connect wirless adaptor to power supply unit {YOU NEED TO SOLID IT With Copper or iron}( x2 aaa bataries pack holder)
(same pack that was already in the mouse, or connect to your own) (I choes O’click coz you dont need to dismantle this, at all, just take whole wireless adaptor with bataries pack.
You need to take Usb Extender cable that we previously cuted, Take cable in your hands.
And cut it again. but this time very carefully, and ALong. BUT ONLY cable SHell.
Inside you will see 4 cables. Usually colors - RED BLACK GREEN WHITE
RED & black - Power
Green & white - DATA
Take them along to wireless adaptor, on place that was mouse motherboard “holdings”
SOLID IT AGAIN
DONT MESS WITH WIRESS!! - if you miss Green & white with places - nothing wrong just do the whole thing again.
If you miss place Red & black, - Pluging Will instantly kill your ANY USB device
When you finsihed, You need just to plug in o’click External usb wirless adaptor to your PC.
The “mouse” adaptor will transfer Any data.
You dont need to install Cores Or Drivers and etc.
Only drivers that requered by your USB device ( as ussual)
This instruction could be Strong Difficlut to understand and even more tough to achiv, for most “ussual” & uncompitient people.
But any IT Engeneer can Assamble this device in moments, i can asure you.
AND cost, again, is only 1 cable + 1 old/cheap wirless mouse.
I found the answer about Wireless USB cable in the article described both the hardware and the software solution. Basically, you on’t need any cables if you have the software - any device may become wireless.
The wireless USB hub approach is probably the simplest. If you however really want to do this, you may require a microcontroller to bypass the USB circuitry inside the trackball to get raw sensor data off the trackball encoders and the buttons. Then the microcontroller could easily transmit this to your PC (using IR, RF, WiFi, etc.). Of course you may need to develop a driver on the PC side to take the signals sent from the microcontroller and let the PC know what to do with them.
There are of course no guarantees that it will work properly and provide the same resolution and problem-free operation you would get by conserving the existing trackball’s electronics.
This is very experimental and not many people except for the manufacturer of the device have the knowledge on how to hack this.
If you were to use bluetooth, by intercepting the data signals before they go through the USB converter IC, then what do you do with the data on the PC side? You would probably need to develop a driver to read the data from the COM port and make the cursor move, etc.
You will need to experiment, firstly by determining what sort of data is output and decode it. You can try this by using a Bluetooth module on the trackball mouse and a USB dongle on the PC, to get the data to the PC. Then develop an application that reads the data and changes the mouse position.
If you can find one, a Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (sells for about $65) seems to be exactly what you are loking for.
For whatever reason, Logitech seems to have discontinued their wireless line of trackball mice from their website. In parts alone, you may find that modifying your existing trackball mouse would come to more than $65, let alone the cost in time spent programming, debugging and troubleshooting.
However, if you would like to make your own for the sake of education and knowledge, we are here for you and happy to help. Understanding the various components involved will be key: a trackball uses two encoders for position feedback (unless it’s laser), the a circuit to measure these pulses and send the appropriate signal to the computer. You may want to instead look to creating a USB RF interface (i.e. one device connects to the USB cable of the devide and provides it with regulated 5V power) while the other connects to your computer. Regular drivers may or may not work. If we find such a product, we will certainly evaluate stocking it.
"Wirelessly connect your notebook to scanners, printers, iPod devices, hard drives, and more! Belkin unleashes USB. The Cable-Free USB Hub lets you wirelessly connect all your USB devices to your computer. Now you can print, play music, scan, download photos, and burn CDs from anywhere in the room, from up to 30 feet away, without the hassle of connecting cables. The Hub is easy to use and gives you the freedom to roam–and stay connected. "
So, you plug your trackball mouse to the usb hub (without wires) and it’s connected to the computer with a bluethooth connection. I think it’s a good an simple answer to your need.
Well… the only way I see is to ‘hack’ your trackball mouse. Don’t forget about energy… A wire means also ‘energy’ to the mouse. If your trackball mouse is USB, it means there is no place to put batteries right ? If you want batterie, you can’t put them below. The best approach is to put the batteries aside using… hm hm, wire !
And, if you want to use batteries, you’ll have to send the signal like a bluethooth signal… and it means also using wires because there is no place on your mouse. I’m sure RobotShop can help you to use the best objects for your goal.
I understand now. Making the trackball wireless is possible, I’m sure of it. But I don’t have enough expertise to answer what best fits for the making. An expert from robotshop will answer that question.
The hardest parts of it will be :
connect the parts on the trackball (how, on which place). If you have talked to the authors, maybe they sent details about the electrical parts. For that question, I don’t have that knowledge.
intercept the signals and decodes it. The software to intercept the signal maybe exists and can be provide with the USB interceptor. The decoder via a software, to be able to use your trackball with the cursor, will have to be made. For that parts, I have the knowledge. If you understand the ‘COM’ structure and a langages like VB, C++ or Delphi, I think you can make it.
With my project, I made a software to decode wireless signals in the two ways : input, output. I can modify it to control the cursor with your trackball. I need to know on which port to read the signals and the Baud connection. I need to know more about the signification of the signals : trackball going up, going down, left, right, a click, etc.
