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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

    RetroPie automatic reconnect at all times with 8Bitdo bluetooth remotes

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    • P
      Phoenix
      last edited by

      I have been using my Wireless XBox 360 controller successfully with my Raspberry Pi 3 for a while now. I recently purchased an 8Bitdo NES30 Pro controller whitch connects via Bluetooth.

      After going through all the steps the remote now connects automatically when the RetroPie is rebooting. Yet it does not reconnect any other time.

      If I want to use the XBox remote, all I have to do is turn it on. The wireless receiver sees that it is there, it then connects, then I can use the remote.

      If my NES30 Pro remote is turned off, when I turn it back on it does not reconnect. I have to reboot the RetroPie or use the XBox remote or keyboard to manually connect it again.

      Most Bluetooth devices, like your mobile phone or tablet, are constantly trying to reconnect to previously connected devices. Yet this one does not. What I would like to find out is if there is a code that will force the RetroPie to search for bluetooth remotes if there is no Bluetooth connection just like the XBox wireless receiver does.

      Thanks for the help :)

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • BuZzB
        BuZz administrators
        last edited by

        I have added an option to connect in the retropie-setup bluetooth configuration - so you can do it manually via that. To do it in the background you would need some cron job or something that continues to try and connect if there is no connection.

        To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

        P R 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • P
          Phoenix @BuZz
          last edited by

          @BuZz Good to know, do you have a link. I checked the RetroPie setup and I'm not sure if that is where you added the info.

          But if the remote doesn't automatically connect it isn't as helpful if you plan to only use the Bluetooth remote control as your only interface lol I'm not quite sure how to create a "cron" job to accomplish this. I found this while googling but have no clue how to implement the code if this is what I need.

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          • FloobF
            Floob
            last edited by

            This may help:
            https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=150228

            Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
            RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • R
              retrododge @BuZz
              last edited by

              @BuZz I used the RetroPie-Setup script (on a blank Raspbian/Pi 3) to add Retroarch and setup the bluetooth on my 8bitdo SFC 30, and it always auto reconnects the pad whenever I turn it on. So I'm a little confused to read that it's not actually supposed to be doing that?

              I've been using it this way since launch of the Pi3, just turning on my 8bitdo pad and having it auto reconnect every time I turn it on. I never turn the Pi off.

              P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • R
                retrododge
                last edited by retrododge

                I went ahead and setup a fresh Pi . This time a Pi 1 with a bluetooth dongle. The only thing I did was download retropie-setup and pair my 8bitdo pad. It auto reconnects every time I turn it off and on this way too.

                Perhaps the original poster has outdated firmware on their 8bitdo pad?

                Edit: For reference I turn my pad on with Start + R

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                • BuZzB
                  BuZz administrators
                  last edited by

                  Could be related to firmware. On my keyboard it gets reconnected automatically also, but not on my "8Bitdo SFC30 GamePad Joystick". However I just pushed an update to the bluetooth module in RetroPie-Setup where you can now choose between default bluetooth stack behaviour, connect once on boot (will try to connect to any registered devices), or background, which will launch on boot a script into the background which will try and connect every 10 seconds to any registered devices.

                  This should solve it for devices that don't connect automatically.

                  To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

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                  • R
                    retrododge
                    last edited by

                    Odd, it's the '8Bitdo SFC30 GamePad Joystick' mode which has no problem reconnecting for me. Perhaps you're also on an older firmware? They improved auto reconnection in one update.

                    http://www.8bitdo.com/sfc30/firmware.html

                    Although the switchable stack behaviour is definitely welcome.

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                    • BuZzB
                      BuZz administrators
                      last edited by

                      I may well be - I've not updated the firmware. It affects other controllers too afaik.

                      To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

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                      • P
                        Phoenix @retrododge
                        last edited by Phoenix

                        @retrododge said in RetroPie automatic reconnect at all times with 8Bitdo bluetooth remotes:

                        @BuZz I used the RetroPie-Setup script (on a blank Raspbian/Pi 3) to add Retroarch and setup the bluetooth on my 8bitdo SFC 30, and it always auto reconnects the pad whenever I turn it on. So I'm a little confused to read that it's not actually supposed to be doing that?

                        I've been using it this way since launch of the Pi3, just turning on my 8bitdo pad and having it auto reconnect every time I turn it on. I never turn the Pi off.

                        @retrododge said in RetroPie automatic reconnect at all times with 8Bitdo bluetooth remotes:

                        I went ahead and setup a fresh Pi . This time a Pi 1 with a bluetooth dongle. The only thing I did was download retropie-setup and pair my 8bitdo pad. It auto reconnects every time I turn it off and on this way too.

                        Perhaps the original poster has outdated firmware on their 8bitdo pad?

                        Edit: For reference I turn my pad on with Start + R

                        Sorry for the delay in my response. I am using the 8Bitdo NES30 Pro with firmware 1.69. I had issues witht he remote not working but I found this post that allowed me to edit 8BitdoNES30ProJoystick.cfg and make it work.

                        This is a new remote and it is a beauty... only problem is the R1 button came broken so I am talking to the company to get a replacement. That being said I cannot attempt to try out the Start+R1 option so I have only ever paired with the simple Start option. Can you let me know what the difference is as I have read that is the correct pairing mode on many forums but it appears to be undocumented in the instructions.

                        As for the main question.
                        @Floob said in RetroPie automatic reconnect at all times with 8Bitdo bluetooth remotes:

                        This may help:
                        https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=150228

                        Thank you @Floob that basically solved it. I did have to edit it a bit. If I rebooted the system it would now take about two min before it would pair. So I usually turned it off/on to make it connect after the startup screen.

                        Here is the slightly modified code I used

                        #!/bin/bash
                        sudo bluetoothctl << EOF
                         power on
                         connect [MAC Address]
                         exit
                        EOF
                        
                        while (sleep 20)
                        do
                         sudo bluetoothctl << EOF
                          power on
                          connect [MAC Address]
                          exit
                         EOF
                        done
                        
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                        • P
                          Phoenix
                          last edited by Phoenix

                          I moved my off topic question to:
                          https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1984/questions-about-retropie-with-multiple-remotes-the-retrode

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                          • FloobF
                            Floob
                            last edited by

                            Just a note to say that RetroPie now supports automatic re-connection of Bluetooth devices:
                            https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1905/retropie-3-8-bluetooth-configure-issue/18

                            Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
                            RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

                            P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • P
                              Phoenix @Floob
                              last edited by Phoenix

                              @Floob said in RetroPie automatic reconnect at all times with 8Bitdo bluetooth remotes:

                              Just a note to say that RetroPie now supports automatic re-connection of Bluetooth devices:
                              https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1905/retropie-3-8-bluetooth-configure-issue/18

                              Wow! I'm watching it right now. I'm curious did my question help at all or was it just ironic timing on my part? I'm guessing I shouldn't follow the steps shown now that I have made everything work.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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