Can wireless keyboard / mouse be recycled without receiver?

[ppanickk]

Hello everyone,

As the title suggests, I lost the receiver for a cheap Chinese keyboard and mouse combo that I own. I was wondering if there’s any way to recycle or repurpose these items instead of simply discarding them.

Honestly, I was considering tossing them in the bin since they take up space, but I’d like to explore more environmentally friendly options first.

I’ve already tried locating the manufacturer’s contact information, but they don’t seem to have a website or any means of communication, so that’s a dead end.

If anyone has ideas or suggestions, I’d greatly appreciate your input!

Thanks,
Ppanickk

 

[Bill_Bright]

Since you said the manufacturer has no contact method so you could maybe buy a new dongle, it seems you have no choice but to hang on to them forever, or recycle them.

But that depends on what you mean by recycle. Since you specifically mentioned a concern for the environment (a good thing ), then absolutely the materials (or most of them, anyway) can be recycled - assuming you have a recycling facility in your area that will take them. Here where I live, we do and they recycle the plastics, and most of the metals too. In fact, they pay you for the salvage value (weight) of the steel, aluminum and any precious metals in the parts. Any materials that cannot be recycled, are disposed of in environmentally safe ways. This is a great way to ensure hazardous materials stay out of our landfills, drinking waters, and oceans.

As far as repurposing, not sure what use anyone can get out of a keyboard and mouse that don't work except as some form of abstract art I surely would not understand, or as a paperweight that I surely would not want. So hopefully there is an electronics recycling center in your area as that would be the best bet.

 

[dirtyferret]

I’ve already tried locating the manufacturer’s contact information, but they don’t seem to have a website or any means of communication

what's the name of the manufacturer?

 

[Harlow]

Some generic dongles operate at 2.4GHz but you probably won't get your keyboard to work with a standard Bluetooth dongle operating at the same frequency.

Here is an example of an Arteck keyboard dongle which will not operate with normal Bluetooth devices.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arteck-Rec...gle&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1737454279&sr=8-5

You'll probably find much cheaper dongles on AliExpress but there's no telling if any of them will resurrect your keyboard.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Some generic dongles operate at 2.4GHz

Kinda, sorta.

First, while Bluetooth (BT) is a wireless technology that uses radio frequencies (RF), it is a different technology than what is commonly referred to as "RF" devices. They are not compatible, or interchangeable.

Typical "RF" devices found in the home use frequencies from 900MHz up to 3.2GHz. There are other frequencies but those are the most common for things like RF keyboards and mice, TV remote controls, cordless phones, cordless headsets, and more.

Some may indeed use 2.4GHz too (like BT), but those typically are already "paired" in the firmware at the factory for the device they came with. This is to ensure if a customer buys 5 keyboards at once that each are on a unique frequency and channel so they don't interfere with each other. Can you imagine the chaos if one person in the room typed a letter and that same letter appeared on everyone's screen? Or they moved their mouse and everyone's pointer shot across the screen?

While interference is possible, it is not very common because the 2.4GHz band is divided up into different "channels". Bluetooth has 79 different channels, each with 1MHz bandwidth. When pairing, the devices look for unused channels. One of the major differences (and advantage) with Bluetooth is the user, with most BT devices, can manually pair the device with the receiver - just about any BT receiver. Not so with RF.

All these wireless devices "pair" using unique identifiers too to ensure they can work in the same proximity with other devices without interfering. "RF" has about 65,000 different unique IDs to use.

Technically, considering there are 100s of millions of computers out there (and even more wireless devices), it is possible two devices will use the exact same frequency, channel and ID. This is rarely a problem because the effective range of these devices is so small - 100 feet would be a stretch. But if it happens with BT, the user can typically re-pair and come up on a different channel.

Automobile keyless entry systems (key fobs) work in similar ways, most commonly using either 315MHz or 433MHz frequency bands. Can you imagine stepping out of Walmart and pressing your key fob button to find your car and EVERY car in the lot honked?

I note the OP said this was a "cheap" keyboard and mouse set. Factory set "RF" pairing is less expensive to produce than BT so odds are it is RF and not BT. Therefore, it cannot be re-paired with a different dongle.

 

[eidairaman1]

You can try amazon or ebay, etsy, ali express to find the adapter

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hello everyone,

As the title suggests, I lost the receiver for a cheap Chinese keyboard and mouse combo that I own. I was wondering if there’s any way to recycle or repurpose these items instead of simply discarding them.

Honestly, I was considering tossing them in the bin since they take up space, but I’d like to explore more environmentally friendly options first.

I’ve already tried locating the manufacturer’s contact information, but they don’t seem to have a website or any means of communication, so that’s a dead end.

If anyone has ideas or suggestions, I’d greatly appreciate your input!

Thanks,
Ppanickk

Sadly, you're left with only two options, buy a new set or try to find a dongle for identical set in the used market.

 

[Ruru]

Some may indeed use 2.4GHz too (like BT), but those typically are already "paired" in the firmware at the factory for the device they came with. This is to ensure if a customer buys 5 keyboards at once that each are on a unique frequency and channel so they don't interfere with each other. Can you imagine the chaos if one person in the room typed a letter and that same letter appeared on everyone's screen? Or they moved their mouse and everyone's pointer shot across the screen?

That's what I was afraid of since I have one wireless keyboard without a dongle, so I guess to the e-waste it goes.

 

[Bill_Bright]

On the back of the keyboard, if you are lucky, you will find the ID code that uniquely identifies the RF frequency and channel used. That can then be used to reprogram a new dongle - but this likely will need to be done by the keyboard maker. And that may, or may not be the same as the keyboard brand.

This unique ID is how car dealers can replace a lost key fob. But it is not cheap. I suspect it would cost considerably more than a new keyboard.

 

[ppanickk]

Thank you for your responses. I will post a picture of the set in the next couple of days in case anyone is interested. I see them being deposited in the blue bin soon enough though.

 

[ppanickk]

Pictures attached.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Pictures attached.

Yeah, just recycle that lot and get something new.

 

[ppanickk]

It's funny I listed these for free on Facebook Marketplace provided buyer collects and a random dude messaged me asking me to drive 15 minutes away (i.e. 30 minute round trip) to get them delivered!

 

[lexluthermiester]

It's funny I listed these for free on Facebook Marketplace provided buyer collects and a random dude messaged me asking me to drive 15 minutes away (i.e. 30 minute round trip) to get them delivered!

Fair deal if it's worth your time.