Sharing text brailled in on the bTSpeak with other devices
BTSpeak Firmware release used: 3/20/2024
BTSpeak basic.

At this time, you may nnot control your smart phone or other devices from the BTSpeak pirkins style Braille keyboard.
We can now, however, easily share text Brailled in on the bTSpeak with other devices and there apps.
This guide is written, assuming you will be using an iOS device. With this assumption in mind we will be using an iOS Shortcut developed for this task. If you are using Android, or a Windows PC, for example, you can still cary out all the long steps to grab your text over the network.
Things you will need

BTSpeak Basic or Pro.
iPhone.
Wireless network, (IPhone hotspot unfortunately will not due.)
stock iOS Files app.
BTSpeakMessage iOS shortcut shared within this guide.

Things you may want:

GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Gigabit Travel Router
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2J7WSDK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This router is powered via UsB C, configurable over Ethernet, and it’s config quite accessible via JAWS screen reader under Windows. There are cheeper options out there, but we know this one works. I have this router configured, without an internet connection but this allows me the WiFi network I need between the BTSpeak and IPhone to cary out this task from anywhere I might be. Note, If you are using an internetless network, you may still send IMessages and or, text messages. Your data connection will be used.

setup:

bTSpeak:

verify the bTSpeak is connected to the WiFi network of choice.
To do this.
Enter the Options menu with O chord, (dots 1,3,5 and space).
Braille S, (dots 2,3,4) to navigate to the System submenu.
Braille S, (dots 2,3,4) to navigate to the System Administration subMenu.
Braille W, (Dots 2,4,5,6) to navigate into the “WiFi Administration menu”
braille down arrow, (Dot 4 Chord), to navigate to “Add network”
Braille Enter (Dot 8), to start the process of adding a network.
The BTSpeak will report, ‘Discovering visible WiFi networks”
You will feel several vibrations as network discovery is taking place. You will land in a list of available networks that you may move down (Dot 4 chord) through.
Once you have found your network braille enter, (dot 8.)
You will feel Vibrations and when pressing c Chord, (dots 1,4) the BTspeak will report, “Password”
Braille in your network key and press enter.
The BTSpeak will report “Password”
You may feel several more vibrations as the bTSpeak finalises connecting to the network.
The bTSpeak should report the SSID, Network name and announce, “Connected”
Braille, Enter, (Dot 8) to acknowledge this message and cary on.
You may Braille Z Chord, (1,3,5,6,space) until the BTSpeak reports, “System” and then press T Chord, (2,3,4,5 space) to verify the title of the menu you are now in, “Options Menu”
Enable both File Sharing, and Network File system.
To do this.
If not already there, Enter the Options menu with O chord, (dots 1,3,5 and space).
Braille S, (dots 2,3,4) to navigate to the System submenu.
Braille S, (dots 2,3,4) to navigate to the System Administration subMenu.
Braille (A, Dot 1), to navigate to Advance System Administration submenu.
Braille S, (dots 2,3,4) to navigate to the system services submenu.
braille down arrow, (Dot 4 Chord), to navigate to File Sharing. You will hear the bTSpeak report, “file Sharing is disabled.
Braille Enter (Dot 8), to start the process of enabling File sharing.
The BTSpeak will report, “Enabling File Sharing”
File Shareing will now be started when the device is booted.
Braille Enter (Dot 8), to proceed with the process of enabling File sharing.
The BTSpeak will report, “Shal File Sharing be started right now? default is no.”
Braille, Y, (Dots 1,3,4,5,6) for yes.
Braille, enter (Dot 8)
The BTSpeak will report, “File Sharing has been started.”
Braille, Enter, (Dot 8) to acknowledge this message and cary on.
You will land back in the system services menu, on the option, “File sharing Is Enabled.”
braille down arrow, (Dot 4 Chord), to move to “Network File System is disabled.”
Braille Enter (Dot 8), to proceed with the process of enabling Network file System.
The BTSpeak will report, “Enabling Network File System”.
The BTSpeak will report, “Network File System will now be started when the device is booted”
Braille, Enter, (Dot 8) to acknowledge this message and cary on.
The BTSpeak will report, “Shal Network File System be started right now? default is no.”
Braille, Y, (Dots 1,3,4,5,6) for yes.
Braille, enter (Dot 8)
The BTSpeak will report, “Network File System has been started.”
Braille, Enter, (Dot 8) to acknowledge this message and cary on.
You will land back in the system services menu, on the option, “Network file System Is Enabled.”
I have found that with this current version of software in the bTSpeak it may be best to disable both, File Sharing, and Network file System previous to powering down the unit, as they don’t always load appropriately on future system boot up.
To disable these services, follow the previous steps outlined above. They will take reverse effect, of disabling these services. You will receive one extra prompt, for example:
“File Shairng is running,shal it be stopped? Default is no”.
It is your choice how you choose to proceed, as services will of course be stopped when powering down the unit.
IPhone Setup: Note, we are assuming you hav Voiceover enabled while performing the below steps.
Navigate to the Files app, by either invoking Siri and saying “Open files”, or by a three finger pull down, under the status bar on your home screen to invoke the Spotlite search,type “Files”, find the files app, and double tap on the result to open the app.
Once the files app opens,
Place a finger on the bottom of your phones screen on the right side to set focus to the “Brows” tab.
Double tap to invoke.
The IPhone should now report that the “Brows” tab is selected.
verify that close to the top of the screen you have a “brows” heading, and you don’t have a “back” button at the top left.
If you do see a back button double tap it until you see the Browse heading.
Now flick right to land on the “More” button and double tap this button.
You will now land in a context menu. Your focus should be set so that you may flick right until you reach the, “Connect To server” button. If you don’t and are stuck on “Dismiss button scroll around the screen with your finger instead of flicking to find the button.
Double tap on the “Connect To server” button.
You will land in the “Server address” edit field. You want to type:
smb://hostname.local
To find your bTSpeak Host name, navigate to Options, (O, Dots 1,3,5 space Chord),>
System, (S, dots, 2,3,4),>
About This device, (D, dots 1,4,5).
Down arrow (Dot 4 Chord), until you reach HostName and take note of it.
An example hostname may be:
bTSpeak123
the above URL using this example would be: smb://bTspeak123.local
Once you have typed the Address, double tap the connect button, at the top of your screen.
You will be on a “Connect as, screen, Connect as will show as a heading.
you have edit fields for Username and Password on this screen, if you are connecting as a registered user, along with a “Guest” option. Double tap guest, as we will not be entering a username or password at this time.
Double tap the next button, at the top right.
after a moment you should be taken to the BTSpeak as shared storage.
If you can navigate to the “Public” folder and it launches, though it may be empty you should be set to go.
You may not navigate to the Home directory as a guest.
we may not login as a registered user as we do not have credentials for the BTSpeak for sMB sharing.
You may now exit File Browser

You may now want to instal the iOS Shortcut provided, linked to below:
This Shortcut will perform these steps in the background, without you thinking about performing them: Open the AMSG.TXT file over the network from the BTSpeak
copy all text from the AMsG.txt file to your iOS pasteboard.

Installing the iOS Shortcut

If you have never downloaded a shortcut from a third party before, You may have to enable some permissions in iOS settings to add untrusted shortcuts.
I have performed this some time ago, and the below instructions for doing so may or not be accurate. Google may be your friend here.
Navigate to the settings app on your home screen.
Type in, “Shortcuts” into the search field.
Find the Shortcuts option and double tap to open the options.
Double tap, “Enable Allow Untrusted Shortcuts”.
double Tap Allow.
Enter your iPhone passcode to confirm.
Once you have enabled untrusted shortcuts, On your iOS Device, doubletap the below link
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/25a53644a6634878bbff047d8008c185
to start the process of installing BTSpeakMessage.

The shortcuts app should open. at the bottom of the screen, should be an “Add” button. Double tap this.
Adding the shortcut to your home screen for eas of use:
The BTSpeakMessage shortcut should be added. and it should contain two actions. The shortcut may be open. If you find a, bTSpeakMessage, Actions Menu, double tap here to open it’s options.
Double tap on, “Add to home screen.”
You will drop into the Name edit field. bTspeakMessage may be already in this field.
The rest of the screen will contain various colors for icons. don’t worry about this.
Find the “add” button and double tap this to add the shortcut to your home screen. You will be taken to your home screen.
BTSpeak Message will appear on an empty spot on an empty page of the home screen, you may have to search through your apps to find it if focus is not set to the icon.

creating your file
We will use a file called AMSG, to braille into and transport the text between your bTspeak and your iOS device.
The AMSG file name, allows the file to be at, or near the top of your file list.
This file needs to be created in your public directory.
Ultimately, this will need to be a text file, so, we may use the built in braille translater to achieve this.
The ultimate file name will be:
amsg.txt
You may create amsg.brl if you desire to braille in in your chosen translation.
Enter the Options menu with O chord, (dots 1,3,5 and space).
braille, F, (1,2,4) to navigate to your files.
Navigate down the list with (dot4 chord) until you find the, Public, directory and press enter, (dot 8) to navigate to the directory.
press c, (dots 1,4) to create the file.
Enter the file name, for example,
amsg.brl
press enter (dot 8) to create and launch the file in the Editor.
Braille in some text.
Though we may expect the BTSpeak to autosave the file, we need to save it. either with Control S, (Control,dots 1,2,4,6. S, Dots, 2,3,4. or Z chord to save and exit the file, (dots 1,3,5,6 and space).
Now navigate to the options menu, (dots 1,3,5 chord)
F for files, (dots, 1,2,4).
Down arrow, (Dot 4 Chord).
You should land on amsg.brl
Braille T, (dots 2,3,4,5), to enter the translater. The BTSpeak will report,
“Which format would you like to translate the file too”.
Braille T, (Dots, 2,3,4,5) to choose text.
The BTSpeak will report,
“File amsg.txt has been created.”
Press enter to navigate back to files. Note, you must press enter for the file to be created or updated.
When you translate this file in the future, as it will already exist in text format you will recieve the message,
“File ams.txt exists, Overwrite it? default is yes”.
Braill Enter (dot 8), to confirm.
The bTSpeak will report,
“File amsg.txt has been created.
Press enter (dot 8) to accept and cary on. Note: you must press enter for the file to be created or updated.
Now doubletap the BTSpeak Message shortcut to grab the text.
Navigate to the app you want to use the text in on your IPhone.
Spin the rotor to navigate to “edit”, flick down until you reach “Paste” and doubletap.
Check the edit field which has been set to verify the text copied from the iOS Pasteboard.