Can you add more details about your system, as detailed in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first ?

@mijenix said in Raspberry Pi Zero W & 2 PS3 controller?:

Dear Community

I try to pair a 2nd PS3 controller to my Raspberry Pi Zero W.
But it doesn't work.

Hardware: Raspberry Pi Zero W
Bluetooth: onboad BT
RetroPie: 4.5.15
Driver: sixaxis

I was able to successfully pair 1 controller, but I cannot pair a 2nd one.
The 2nd controller works if I connect it via USB, so the controller should be fine
(I tried 3 other controllers, for all the same behavior)

How can I pair more than 1 PS3 controller, preferably with the onboad BT controller.

Thank a lot and cheers!

PS: If I missed a documentation for that specific problem I am find with a pointer to the RTFM ;)

@bc320 You only need xboxdrv for specific setups, it's kind of a virtual device driver - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Universal-Controller-Calibration-&-Mapping-Using-xboxdrv/.

@pikey

first off, its worth noting that you need to install a driver for the ps3 controller to connect, so if you havent done that yet, i sugest you try that first, via the retropie setup.
also linux is not windows, so the fact that it works in windows, dosnt automaticly mean it also works in linux.

does the bluetooth adapter work as expected with other bluetooth devices in linux?

edit:
also, are you using an original controller?

Thank you @mitu , but the problem is still present.
Ich will put my experience to the other topic.

@cyrusxvi Yes - just follow the docs and use the sixaxis helper for the P3 controllers.

Just pair the 2nd controller as you did with the 1st one and - if they're identical - that's all. When starting a game, both controllers will be available as P1 and P2, there's nothing else to do.
If they're not identical (i.e. one is a genuine, one is a clone), you'll have to configure the 2nd controller in Emulationstation, just like you configured the first one.

We have an ongoing discussion on that in the topic about a new DS3 driver:

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/15967/sony-dualshock-3-call-for-testers-sixaxis-script-module/129

You may want to give this driver a try and remap your controller in Steam Link even if it already is supported - mine was but it had digital triggers, I remapped and triggers became properly analog!

Do note that this may not work for libretro cores just because as far as I can tell, no platform emulated on RetroPie supports analog triggers (L2/R2 buttons were digital on PSX).

thanks Cyberghost. Jumped over to your suggested thread and giving that a shot.

I just followed this guide.
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/PS3-Controller

Here are the steps I did (copied from the guide)
Navigate to the "RetroPie" icon in the Home Screen and select it using whatever key you mapped "A" to on your gamepad, and go to RetroPie Setup
Once in the RetroPie GUI, choose [Manage packages] > [driver].
Select PS3 Controller Driver ("ps3controller"), and then select [Install from source].
Once installation completes, exit RetroPie setup and return to the EmulationStation Home Screen.
Press "Start" to enter the EmulationStation Menu, and select Configure Input.
Disconnect your PS3 controller from USB. Now hold the PS button on the controller down until you see the lights on it flash sequentially. The controller should now be connected via Bluetooth.
Emulation Station should now detect another gamepad connected. Hold any button down on the controller to begin configuring it.

The part that is bolded is the part that is not working. My remote was plugged in for an hour so I know it has charge. It just flashes but doesn't actually connect at all.

@steeeb I've tried that. I've actually tried all 4 possible drivers and none of them seem to work for any of the three generic controllers. For each driver, I do the same thing:

First, install the driver. I choose the "Pair" option for the respective driver. The dialog pops up to connect the controller through USB. I connect the controller for around 10s, and then disconnect it. I then press the PS button on the controller and.... The lights just flash repeatedly and none of them become solid, meaning that the controller wasn't able to connect.

I've probably tried the Shanwan driver the most but it's always the same result.

UPDATE: RESOLVED

I asked over on Reddit and got a response from a gent who really helped out with this suggestion:
"RetroPie" >
"RetroPie Setup" >
"Configuration / Tools" >
"805: configedit" >
"Configure basic libretro emulator options" > At this point, you can either:
"Configure default options for all libretro emulators" OR
"Configure configure additional options for [EMULATOR NAME HERE]" In both cases ... go to
"Choose joypad order" and set which ever connected gamepads as player 1-4

I assigned defaults to all systems, then went in and specifically assigned the PS controller to PSX as 1 through 4. Restarted. Loaded up Tony Hawk 2 and presto, everything works perfectly (with the exception of wonky button maps but that's easily resolved) Thanks everyone for your input, I think* I have it all figured out now :) Hopefully if someone has this issue in the future they can dig up this thread and the solution.

You said you use lr-pcsx-rearmed but I think that emulator uses /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg for controls not PCSX-ReARMed.rmp. Did you check that config? Do your controllers work in NES or others?

@jediknight36 https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12762/under-voltage-warnings-on-retroflag-nespi-case-best-power-supply/22#

If you get the lightning bolt popup without the case, then you also need a better power supply.

ok I found a solution.
If I use 2 ps3 DUALSHOCK3 controller (exactly the same model) everything works well.

:)
Dani

@mepster

but it's useful to have wifi on!

There is a script in this thread relating to turn wifi on/off by controller input
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/20303

@chorlton2080 Solved: I discovered the USB cable I was using did not have the data connections wired, must be for fast charging only.

It's the controllers fault. Open it up and clean the button contact pads.