Downsize my USB receiver?

December 17, 2007 7:45 PM

Can I use a Logitech VX Nano wireless receiver with my MX Revolution mouse? If so, where can I buy just the receiver.

So, I own a Logitech MX Revolution, which I love - except for the receiver. The receiver sticks out of the USB port on the side of my laptop, and I'm completely nervous all the time that it'll break off.

Logitech has another mouse, the VX Nano, meant for notebooks, which I dislike because it doesn't have a gazillion buttons (all of which I actually use), but it has a very cool receiver - tiny, doesn't stick out, etc.

Can anyone confirm or deny that I could use the VX Nano receiver with my MX Revolution mouse? If not, is there somewhere online where I could purchase *just* the receiver, so I could try myself? I've checked eBay and pricewatch.com and well, where else can I look?

(Alternatively, I imagine it's possible to create a USB Mouse to Bluetooth bridge device, but I doubt these even exist...)

posted by bkudria to technology (5 comments total)

I've read at least one report that says the VX Nano receiver is NOT compatible with the VX Revolution mouse, so I doubt things will look much better for the MX Revolution. It might just be a driver issue, though, since it appears both mice use 2.4GhZ RF wireless signals for communication.

I don't know if the VX Revolution's receiver is smaller than the MX, but that might be worth a look as a compromise between the Nano's tiny receiver and the MX's functionality.
posted by chrominance at 8:17 PM on December 17, 2007

Have you tried calling Logitech? BTW I do love my VX Nano
posted by nathan_teske at 8:26 PM on December 17, 2007

The different design goals probably dictated a larger antennae for the revolution's adapter, which you may not actually need. I would be surprised if the different adapter worked out of the box but I imagine a 'case mod' type setup where you cut away unneeded antennae (wire coils) would be ok.

Seconding calling Logitech, though often companies will say "no" because they don't market or support your idea when technically it is possible. Try to get the right person on the phone.
posted by oblio_one at 8:50 PM on December 17, 2007

When I'm home I put my mouse's receiver in a USB hub. I've never worried about the thing breaking off but it seems like it would be a lot less likely to be broken in the hub. I suppose on the road you put the thing at the end of a short USB extension cord. Maybe you could build a little dock for the receiver on the bottom of the laptop?
posted by rdr at 1:43 AM on December 18, 2007

chrominance: it looks to be exactly the same. :(

Good idea, oblio_one, except my receiver looks like it won't snap back together, if I snap it open. I'll try calling Logitech, but how would go about finding the right person? Ask for Engineering, or what?

rdr: Yeah, but I take my laptop off my desk a lot, for example, almost every day for work. I've been considering getting a hub for my desk at home, but I'd still have to worry about connecting, disconnecting, and losing the receiver. With the Nano's, you can just leave it in and forget about it.
posted by bkudria at 8:06 PM on December 18, 2007