HP 430 keypad on Ubuntu 24

[myrde]

I can't get the HP 430 Programmable Wireless Keypad working with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The keypad is simply not found from the list of available bluetooth devices.

I first used the Ubuntu built-in GUI and didn't find the device there. Then I installed blueman-manager but no luck using that either. Then I went to terminal and used "bluetoothctl devices" command but that doesn't list the keypad either.

I have a dual boot setup and I booted my computer to Windows 11. There bluetooth pairing worked nicely and I had no problems using the keypad.

I have a desktop computer with MSI MPG X670E CARBON WIFI motherboard and I'm using the built-in bluetooth receiver. I don't think that the bluetooth receiver is the problem as the keypad works flawlessly in Windows 11 and in Ubuntu I've had no problems pairing my Sony WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM3 headphones. But I'm a bit clueless what the problem is so might be a problem in the bluetooth receiver as well.

Is there anything I can do to make the 430 keypad work on Ubuntu? Can I install any proprietary drivers or buy some 3rd party bluetooth dongle that could solve the problem?

Of course I could just buy some other keypad, but the build quality of 430 is so nice that I would really like to get it working with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS which is my daily software development environment.

I followed these instructions but no luck so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FomPUvv0tSw

[myrde]

I tested the keypad also on my laptop which is currently running on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and has a different (Intel manufactured) bluetooth adapter. And to my surprise it works flawlessly. So either this is a specific problem between the keypad and my motherboard's bluetooth adapter (MediaTek manufactured) or then some Ubuntu 24.04 LTS problem (which I doubt a bit, but can verify later by upgrading the laptop to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS).

I'll buy some bluetooth USB dongle for my desktop computer and see if it fixes the problem. I want one anyways as the bluetooth signal from the motherboard's bluetooth adapter is quite bad.

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @myrde,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It seems like you're having trouble getting your HP 430 Programmable Wireless Keypad to connect to your desktop running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Since the keypad works well on Windows 11 and with a different laptop running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, this could be related to the specific Bluetooth adapter in your MSI MPG X670E CARBON WIFI motherboard or a compatibility issue with Ubuntu 24.04.

Here are some steps and considerations to troubleshoot the issue.
 

Make Sure the Keypad is in Pairing Mode: Ensure the keypad is discoverable. This usually involves pressing a specific button or combination on the device.

Check Bluetooth Settings: In Ubuntu, navigate to the Bluetooth settings from the Activities overview, and ensure Bluetooth is enabled. Also, verify that the keypad is within range (5-10 meters) and is not already paired with another device.

Use bluetoothctl:

• Open a terminal and run bluetoothctl.
• Use the scan on command to initiate scanning for devices. After a few seconds, check if the keypad appears.
• If it does appear, you can attempt to pair it using the pair <MAC Address> command, followed by connect <MAC Address>.

Updating Drivers and Firmware: Ensure your system and Bluetooth drivers are up to date. Sometimes, newer kernels or driver updates can resolve hardware compatibility issues. You can check for updates using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Try a USB Bluetooth Dongle: Since you've noted the built-in Bluetooth adapter's range and connectivity issues, using a USB Bluetooth dongle could indeed improve your experience. Look for a dongle that supports Bluetooth 5.0 or higher for better compatibility.

Test on Another Version: Since the keypad worked well on Ubuntu 22.04, it could be worth testing it on your laptop after upgrading to Ubuntu 24.04 to see if the issue persists there.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[myrde]

I got the Asus USB-BT500 bluetooth dongle and the keypad started working right out of the box with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. I read a lot of feedback from other Linux users that in general Asus BT500 "just works" whereas you might encounter various issues with many other bluetooth adapters / USB dongles.

This was a quite narrowed down problem as I didn't have bluetooth pairing issues with any other device in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS but the HP 430 keypad. And even with the built-in MediaTek bluetooth adapter pairing worked in Windows 11 so I believe this could be fixed by improving the bluetooth driver that comes with the Ubuntu 24.04 kernel.

Anyways, problem solved and now I'm happily using my HP 430 keypad in both Windows 11 and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. If you encounter the same issue as I did I can recommend to try out the Asus BT500 dongle.

[Raj_05]

Hi @myrde,

Thank you for your response, 

Is there anything else that I can help you with today?

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Take care and have a great day ahead!

Alden4

HP Support