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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    2 8bitdo controllers won't connect at same time

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    bluetooth contr8bitdo
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    • cnotoC
      cnoto @cnoto
      last edited by

      Perhaps a pi zero w cannot handle two bluetooth controllers at the same time. Can anyone confirm that they have this successfully setup? I have used 2 8bitdo controllers on numerous pi3 and pi4 setups, but never on the zero w.

      mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mituM
        mitu Global Moderator @cnoto
        last edited by

        @cnoto Maybe it doesn't have enough power or the BT is not strong enough to maintain a constant connection to 2 controllers. Did you try to disable the Wi-Fi during gameplay (with sudo rfkill block wlan) ?

        cnotoC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • cnotoC
          cnoto @mitu
          last edited by

          @mitu I have narrowed the issue. Both controllers work fine right after I configure them. The issue is occurring after I restart the system and turn on both controllers. Controller 1 and 2 works for about 10 seconds then controller 1 loses connection.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • cnotoC
            cnoto @mitu
            last edited by

            @mitu I have confirmed the pi0w can handle both controllers as they work fine before I restart and connect through the udev rule. I even removed both controllers from the ES, reinstalled the controllers firmware, and erased the udev rule to reconnect everything and am still experiencing the same issue.

            Something about the connection after a fresh start is causing issues. It almost seems as if controller 2 is taking over for controller 1. They each have their own Mac address so I dont know why that would be the case. Are there other places to check for issues?

            Many thanks

            mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • ?
              A Former User
              last edited by

              The only time I've experienced issues with one of these controllers is with the RetroPie menu, but in the games themselves they worked fine. Your situation is a little different though because you tried connecting 2 controllers onto the same device, not one, which appears that it caused some sort of conflict. It shouldn't though, theoretically there should be no limit to the number of bluetooth devices that can be paired.

              cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • mituM
                mitu Global Moderator @cnoto
                last edited by

                @cnoto said in 2 8bitdo controllers won't connect at same time:

                Are there other places to check for issues?

                Look in the system log (/var/log/messages), the connect/disconnect operations should be logged there.

                cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • cnotoC
                  cnoto @A Former User
                  last edited by

                  @agtrigormortis thanks. Did you fix your issue?

                  ? cnotoC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • cnotoC
                    cnoto @mitu
                    last edited by

                    @mitu thanks. I am in the logs but not sure what to look for.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • ?
                      A Former User @cnoto
                      last edited by

                      @cnoto The only work around I found, for navigating file explorers and configuration menu was to use a mouse/keyboard combo. For some strange reason my 8BitDo doesn't let me back out when I select some things in it and I end up having to restart the Pi4.

                      with the mouse and keyboard I can back out of the configuration settings and use the machine as normal. It's not a huge issue, the 8bitDo Genesis controllers still work when playing Sega Genesis games and that's good enough for me. I can't speak for everybody else, but I do understand that the Raspberry Pi is still a mini desktop PC so keyboard and mice will inevitably be used on them anyway.

                      cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • cnotoC
                        cnoto @A Former User
                        last edited by

                        @agtrigormortis thanks. For as pretty as the 8bitdo controllers are, they certainly come with their challenges.

                        I am working to build something that feels as much like a console as possible and is very easy to use.

                        ? 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • ?
                          A Former User @cnoto
                          last edited by

                          @cnoto You're welcome, there's so many uses for the Pi. Like in terms of retro gaming you may want to look into getting Dosbian too, as that will let you install Windows 95 and 98, and run DOS/9x games.

                          I know you're trying to make a pseudo game console, but this is worth a consideration.
                          And with a Vesa mount you can screw your Pi onto the back of your monitor.

                          cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • cnotoC
                            cnoto @A Former User
                            last edited by

                            @agtrigormortis good suggestion! Ill give it a try. Would love to get homm3 going!

                            ? 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • ?
                              A Former User @cnoto
                              last edited by

                              @cnoto I'm gonna try to have Dosbian installed on my Pi4 with its RetroPie software. :)
                              hopefully it's a success. It would be the retro console/PC gaming machine if it works.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • cnotoC
                                cnoto @cnoto
                                last edited by

                                @mitu

                                O.K. I think this is the log for my specific issue. I connected controller 1 by turning the pi on then the controller. Then I connected controller 2. Then controller 1 lost connection and turned off. The logs are below.

                                ...
                                Jan 28 16:25:04 retropie kernel: [ 235.142772] hid-generic 0005:2DC8:5101.0001: unknown main item tag 0x0
                                Jan 28 16:25:04 retropie kernel: [ 235.143377] input: 8BitDo M30 Modkit as /devices/platform/soc/20201000.serial/tty/ttyAMA0/hci0/hci0:11/0005:2DC8:5101.0001/input/input0
                                Jan 28 16:25:04 retropie kernel: [ 235.154467] hid-generic 0005:2DC8:5101.0001: input,hidraw0: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [8BitDo M30 Modkit] on b8:27:eb:35:c7:85
                                Jan 28 16:25:14 retropie kernel: [ 245.099711] hid-generic 0005:2DC8:5101.0002: unknown main item tag 0x0
                                Jan 28 16:25:14 retropie kernel: [ 245.100822] input: 8BitDo M30 Modkit as /devices/platform/soc/20201000.serial/tty/ttyAMA0/hci0/hci0:12/0005:2DC8:5101.0002/input/input1
                                Jan 28 16:25:14 retropie kernel: [ 245.116986] hid-generic 0005:2DC8:5101.0002: input,hidraw1: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [8BitDo M30 Modkit] on b8:27:eb:35:c7:85

                                ...

                                mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • mituM
                                  mitu Global Moderator @cnoto
                                  last edited by

                                  The log shows only the connection messages, but there's nothing about disconnecting.

                                  cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • cnotoC
                                    cnoto @mitu
                                    last edited by

                                    @mitu ok thanks. Any other ideas? Im stumped on this one.

                                    mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • mituM
                                      mitu Global Moderator @cnoto
                                      last edited by

                                      @cnoto Do you have the Pi in a case ? Is there anything around it that may cause interference ?

                                      cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • cnotoC
                                        cnoto @mitu
                                        last edited by

                                        @mitu The pi is not currently in a case. I haven’t had an issue like this before and built quite a few setups using bluetooth controllers in this location. The controllers both work fine on their own. The issue arrises when they are used at the same time.

                                        cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • cnotoC
                                          cnoto @cnoto
                                          last edited by

                                          @mitu Is the processing for adding controllers different when connects the first time via the Bluetooth menu vs connecting via a udev rule? The first works fine and the second is where the issues are coming.

                                          mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • mituM
                                            mitu Global Moderator @cnoto
                                            last edited by

                                            @cnoto The udev rule kicks into place after a connection to the device is made and the device is added to the system, it doesn't have any influence on the quality or establishment of the connection.

                                            cnotoC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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