Guide: Use QtSixA on Ubuntu 16.04 (and derivatives)

johnodon

I take no credit...just pieced the information together from these two sites:

https://gist.github.com/diegogslomp/412eb36f8451f8a13ccc5dacd2cd7561
http://askubuntu.com/questions/694686/how-to-connect-sixaxis-on-15-10

I have had a LOT of problems trying to get my genuine PS3 controllers to behave nicely on Ubuntu 16.04. As a result, I have been installing RP on Ubuntu 15.10 (Lubuntu specifically) since my controllers act normally on that distro. However, still not perfect. I wanted to use QtSixA as it is far better suited but support on the PPA stopped at 15.04.

TLDR...if you want to get QtSixA working on Ubuntu 16.04...

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install git dialog build-essential pyqt4-dev-tools libusb-dev libjack-dev libbluetooth-dev python-dbus -y
git clone https://github.com/falkTX/qtsixa.git
cd qtsixa

***If you do not want to use JACK:

sudo nano ~/Downloads/qtsixa/utils/Makefile   (and set "WANT_JACK" to "false" and save)

make
sudo make install

After that it should be installed, and you can use the qtsixa program to connect to your device via bluetooth. TO do so, first connect your six axis controller to your computer via usb, and then enter the command below:

sudo sixpair

After that unplug the usb from the controller and run the next command to connect to your six axis controller via bluetooth:

sixad --start

You will be prompted to press the Playstation button on your controller, which you actually need to hold down for a few seconds.

To start sixad on reboot...

sudo nano /etc/rc.local

Add the following before the 'end' statement and save:

sixad --start

EDIT: If you have issues with the controller acting as a mouse in the background, perform the following:

sudo echo 'enable_accel 0' >> /var/lib/sixad/profiles/default

Hope this helps!

John

mediamogul

@johnodon

I've been wanting to look into QtSixA for a while now. Thanks for the guide. By the way, some guy named John Allen Hill says you're late with the rent on his pool room and washrooms.

johnodon

@mediamogul Lance Manyon baby! :D

johnodon

Quick update and fix...

I was having issues with the controller acting as a mouse (accelerometer). For example, if I went into the RetroPie menu item in ES and launched RetroPie Setup and moved the controller, it would knock me back to the RetroPie menu. If I left the controller still on a flat surface, everything was good.

The fix was to add the following to /var/lib/sixad/profiles/default:

enable_accel 0

I have added these steps to the guide above.

@BuZz This is why were having issues before in 16.04 with the PS3 controller. You nailed it when you said that it may have been related to the accelerometer.

John

BuZz

@johnodon Shame it can't be disabled when using the kernel driver (at least I don't know how to do it currently - at least not without disabling by making the entire range a deadzone via jscal-gtk)

ankkax

Hi, I tried both ubuntu 16.04 BT drivers and also installed qtsixa. When connected with usb cable PS3 controller works fine, but when I connect with bluetooth only left analog stick works. Can anyone help me with that?
Ps. How can I uninstall qtsixa after I installed it with that method?

Thank You in advance ;)