PS3 Controller - Bluetooth Woes

THRobinson · 18 Oct 2016, 03:30

So, just setup my RetroPie for the first time, and although no games yet, was able to config the PS3 via USB.

Tried Bluetooth, found a video online and followed it but no luck. Tried deleting the config and trying again, just won't detect. Formatted the SD card since directions said to make sure PS3 controller was totally off/unplugged so figured that was the issue, but same deal.

I first setup my keyboard as a controller for navigation, PS3 controller unplugged, and first run of the RetroPie after I reimaged the SDCard with the most current version. I then went into RetroPie and setup WiFi which is fine. Then RetroPie Setup, goes to a blue screen, version 4.0.2 on it, old DOS looking screen. Anyways, from there I click P to Manage Packages, the D for Driver, then 812 for PS3Controller, then the first option to install from source which it did, when done I went down to Config/Options, then 1 for install/pair ps3 controller. As per the video I saw, I plugged in the controller via USB and wait about 15sec, then I unplugged it, pressed the PS button, and nothing happens... no vibrate, all 4 lights on the controller flashing, if I back out to the main screen of RetroPie to setup a controller, none are found.

PS3 controller is new, never used before, not one of the $15 generics off eBay, it's supposed to be an official Sony controller. I was worried I'd have these issues if I bought the $15 ones so, spent extra on an Official one... bitter irony.

Anyways... any ideas? I'd like to get it sorted out before I start adding games.

BuZz · 18 Oct 2016, 04:10

@THRobinson please update RetroPie-Setup script and remove/reinstall ps3 controller

THRobinson · 18 Oct 2016, 13:50

Can't try until I am at home, but, if it fails, are there any other things to try?

Also, may be a factor... it's not an official PS3 controller. Flipped it over and sticker on the back had a few spelling issues.

digital - digigic
entertainment - ectertainment
apparatus - alapparatus

Upside is I already got a refund because photo/box said "official" and well, obviously questionable.

I have a Nexus10 Android tablet, not rooted... but it has bluetooth. Any way of using it to see if the PS3 controller's bluetooth even works? When I turned it on I checked on my tablet for bluetooth devices but none showed. No idea if needs a driver first or how that works.

njt1982 · 18 Oct 2016, 13:56

Which hardware are you using? I had issues with my Pi1 and an unbranded cheap bluetooth dongle. The Linux OS saw the device but wouldn't pair up with the contorller.

I tried with my new Pi3 (onboard bluetooth) and 4.0.4 of RetroPie and it pair up with my Sony controller pretty trivially (saw it and connected). BUT my controller sat there buzzing for a few seconds then all the lights went out on it. I gave up as it was late and, since then, my 8Bitdo FC30 has turned up, so my focus has changed ;)

THRobinson · 18 Oct 2016, 16:18

I just got the Pi and controller... it's a RaspberryPi 3 vB with an 'official' PS3 controller.

Put a couple of heat sinks on the board, popped it into the case. Has a Sandisk 16GB MicroSD card (UHS-I/Class10) which had NOOBS but I did a full (not quick) format to FAT32 then downloaded the RetroPie img file (4.0.2) and went from there.

Plugged into the TV (Sony) via HDMI, has a 5v 2.5A power supply, um... basic USB keyboard/mouse plugged in for setup.

PS3 controller with USB works fine. Trying to pair, I plug in the USB, wait 15sec (1 light on) unplug and all 4 lights blink. Doesn't connect, no vibrate/buzz, lights blink until eventually controller shuts off.

I'll run the update... just looking for a few ideas so if one fails I can immediately jump to the next.

I never used bluetooth so, have no idea how to tell if it's working on the controller or the RaspPi. My tablet has bluetooth, I enabled it and searched for devices but didn't show anything at all.

njt1982 · 18 Oct 2016, 16:43

I don't know about the Pi, but my PS3 controllers on my PS3 keep the numbered light lit depending on which controller it thinks it is (so player 1 gets the "1" light lit up). That's how you know its connected.

Have you read through https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Setting-up-a-PS3-controller ?

THRobinson · 18 Oct 2016, 17:15

Didn't see that one... more a visual person so hopped onto YouTube.

njt1982 · 18 Oct 2016, 20:59

Got it working, then?

THRobinson · 19 Oct 2016, 02:15

@njt1982 not yet... finally sat down and running the updates... been watching all sorts of text scrolling on my screen for about 10min so far. Ran the update all packages, and when asked about updating the underlaying whatever, click yes... so I think anything/everything is updating by the looks of it.

EDIT - So, all updated, restarted the unit, went into drivers and uninstall PS3Controller, it shifts the screen up a few inches, black bar along the bottom says removing driver/pair via sixad... and thats all. Not sure how to get out of that apart from alt+ctrl+del. When I go back, says it's still installed.

THRobinson · 19 Oct 2016, 03:29

Nope... no change.

Had this yesterday as well trying to uninstall, goes to a black bar on the bottom saying uninstalling and does nothing. Reboot and says still installed.

So, formatted and reimaged the SD card again. Followed the directions here using the shell install method hoping it would make a difference. Enabled WiFi, then ran a full update of everything to 4.0.4. I found instructions to install bluetooth thinking maybe it needs installed first and was simply not in the directions, so ran sudo apt-get install pi-bluetooth which said already current version, nothing was updated. Then tried adding the controller again and same deal... plug it in, the light above #1 goes on, count to 20, unplug, all 4 lights flash before I even press the PS button, I press the button and wait and nothing.

So, raises 2 questions....

Why won't it pair
Why does the ps3controller uninstall not work

I've tried the uninstall before posting here, tried when got home, and tried again just now. That's after 3 format/reimages of the card under 4.0.2 and 4.0.4, seems odd the uninstall works for everyone but me.

Paholainen · 19 Oct 2016, 08:15

I noticed that the uninstall takes quite a while. Does the light go on directly on the controller? Mine doesn't light up at all.

THRobinson · 19 Oct 2016, 12:28

I let it sit a while and no activity, I can type stuff but doesn't do anything and if I hit enter the bar just gets bigger as the screen scrolls up.

Controller wise, as mentioned "...plug it in, the light above #1 goes on, count to 20, unplug, all 4 lights flash before I even press the PS button"

I press the PS button, the 4 lights don't change, they continue to flash. Eventually they go out when the controller shuts off. When off (trying now) if I press the PS button the lights all start flashing again, so, the PS button is working, or at least it does something.

Only person I know with a PS3 is about 3 hours from here else I'd just bring it over and see if it works at all.

THRobinson · 19 Oct 2016, 20:22

So, before I spend another evening on the controller... is there a way to use my tablet to detect the bluetooth signal from the PS3 controller and the RaspberryPi?

I'm rooting it tonight, and I think doing that at least will allow me to use a few apps that will detect the PS3 controller, but I also want to make sure that the bluetooth on the RaspberryPi isn't defective.

I may be trying to solve a controller issue when it's a Pi issue.

THRobinson · 21 Oct 2016, 14:24

I guess update and try again was about it for support/suggestions? :)

Well, I rooted my tablet, installed an app for PS3 to see if compatible, and instantly said 'fake controller detected' and didn't seem to want to bring up any bluetooth info, only worked when plugged in with usb, so, since I got my refund already, I'm going to the store for one. Place here in Canada called EB Games, sells video game stuff, and has new and refurbished PS3 controllers which they said are guaranteed legit/real.

When I get home, I will format the SD card again, install the img for RetroPie, run a full update and try pairing again.

If it fails again... I'll assume it's either the RaspberryPi board or RetroPie that's the issue.

THRobinson · 21 Oct 2016, 14:53

Flip the controller over and spell check it....

When I looked at the back on mine, I noticed that the below words were spelled incorrectly, and the SONY font was incorrect. That's what clued me in that something wasn't right. eBay seller, and the box said 'official' and box was very well done. When I Googled how to tell if a fake, one thing was to check spelling on the bottom of the box which is what had me read the controller's sticker.

digital - digigi
apparatus - alapparatus
entertainment - ectertainment

Have had 0 luck connecting, but not out any money because again, got a refund from the seller without any issues. Just said bluetooth not working, box was in bad shape when arrived, missing the manual as well, and obviously not real. Told me to keep the controller and refund within a day.

Just wish I had access to a PS3 to see if the bluetooth worked at all. If works on a PS3 I'd find someone who needs one.

Annoyingly, I was going to buy a $15CAD generic PS3 controller off eBay (China) , but instead spent $35CAD buying from a USA seller to get a 'real' controller to avoid these issues. New ones are about $55CAD here, but the refurb ones with warranty are about $35CAD so, still on budget.

THRobinson · 23 Oct 2016, 02:36

This post is deleted!

BuZz · 24 Oct 2016, 18:59

@THRobinson Is this resolved ? I see in your other post you mention you have another controller working ? Please can you update this topic and marked as solved (if it is).

THRobinson · 24 Oct 2016, 19:35

Weird... I thought I added a post and did mark it.

But yes... I went to a local video game store (well, an hour away) and bought a refurbished PS3 controller.

Looked identical to that fake one in every way, except the spelling errors.

The uninstall for the PS3 Controller, sits for almost a full 5 minutes before finally uninstalling. Makes me wish it had a progress bar, after 2-3minutes of nothing I assumed hung.

After the uninstall, I did the exact same steps as before and installed without any issues.

Fake controller may work fine on a PS3, I have no idea, but for RetroPie, I couldn't get it to work at all. Again, full refund from the seller once I called him on it being fake, no dispute just a full refund which was nice.

@taschrant - Any luck on your end? Did you check the box/controller for spelling errors? If it's a fake like mine, there's a good chance it just won't work.

edmaul69 · 24 Oct 2016, 21:13

@THRobinson the biggest telltales usually for bootleg ps3 controllers is this. The sticker on the back on a real one is a foil sticker with black printed on it. Bootlegs should have white or grey instead of metal especially the big strip on the bottom of the sticker. The next way is the four lights. Official ones are nice and flush. Bootleg ones usually either stick out or look crappy.

THRobinson · 22 Feb 2018, 14:10

@zmirli13 said in PS3 Controller - Bluetooth Woes:

Il y a des postes qui servent à tester, d'autre à jouer pendant les pauses....
Les postes que l'équipe se sert pour tester les jeux sont relié à des PC avec une carte d'acquisition HD ou non-HD.
Donc, la personne ayant était en charge du test du jeux vidéo que montre ton lien soit le jeu Top Spin 3, a était tester par Renaud qui à, après avoir rédigé son article, pris place devant le poste de test qui est techniquement équipé d'un écran Full-HD et d'une console Xbox360 et a mis à enregistrer avec un programme d'acquisition se trouvant sur le PC. Il a donc tout simplement faite une vidéo HD avec ce même programme.
Par la suite, ShowBox

I think you posted to the wrong thread... this is over a year old, and after translating what you wrote, it didn't apply to the OP... something about xbox testing and hd screens....