DESPERATE HELP NEEDED! HC-06 Bluetooth

Dinsdale

Hi guys

I asked this question last week. I've been seeking help here, Reddit, RetroPie forums, Facebook, and Twitter - and nobody seems to be able to help. It's extremely frustrating. I won't go into the background on the first post - but the issue I am having is I can't pair a Bluetooth gamepad controller to my Rasperry Pi 3B+. It is an HC-06 module.

Here's the things I've tried.

- Connected to Android device - controller works perfectly!
- Updated bluez from 5.43 to 5.48 - still same issue
- Updated bluez from 5.48 to 5.50 - still same issue
- Tried connecting via Raspi Config - (pairing works, trusting works, connecting gives error "Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.NotAvailable. Operation not available")
- Tried connecting manually via bluetoothctl - (pairing works, trusting works, connecting gives error "Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.NotAvailable")
- Tried connecting via sudo "rfcomm connect hci0 00:18:E4:34:FD:B5" - this works but doesn't allow me to use this is an input device and isn't recognised as a controller using cat /proc/bus/input/devices
- Tried following THIS THREAD - now Bluetooth won't scan at all (I can wipe my Pi image and start again which hopefully should solve it)

So, can someone PLEASE help me with this issue? It is driving me INSANE!

Dinsdale

God dammit, men. Someone please help me here. I've tried loads of forums and no one seems to reply. Is it because I'm a noob? I even went on a Linux forum and their CAPTCHA is down so I can't bloody register to even ask the question.

I am at my wits end. I've even tried reaching out to various bloggers who have used HC-06 devices with Linux.

Argh!!!!!!!

mitu

@Dinsdale said in DESPERATE HELP NEEDED! HC-06 Bluetooth:

Is it because I'm a noob?

It's because nobody has a solution in mind or knows the answer to your issue, not because you're a 'noob'.

quicksilver

@Dinsdale the language and accusations are unnecessary. If nobody has responded it's likely that nobody has an answer for you. So you will need to be patient until if/when somebody comes along with an answer for you.

cyperghost

--- READ -- ACT -- WRITE --- Sorry my bad :(

Dinsdale

lol sorry - but seriously - I’ve tried so much. There must be something so simple I am overlooking.

steptoe

Is there a specific reason that you need the HC-06 bluetooth module or are using the PI3B+ for something else other than RetroPie, so the HC-06 module has more than one purpose. Goves people a headstart as to why you NEED to use the HC-06 module

Using a decent Bluetooth USB dongle makes a MASSIVE difference between frustration and it working 1st time and everytime, BUT it MUST be Linux compatible ... this is quite important as not all Bluetooth dongles work with the PI system

I have personally tried using the cheaper bluetooth/wireless USB devices in the past and ended up buying a better quality one thaty worked out the box. I admit this was for a Windows PC system, the PI is even more picky as its a Linux system so you need a bluetooth USB dongle that works with Linux

In fact, I have a wireless joypad that works perfectly with the PI3 straight out the box. Not an XBox controller but generic PS3 controller, but a decent generic PS3 controller NOT a £2.99 Chinese clone. It is picked up by emulation station perfectly as a PS3 controller and have never caused me any issues, connecting everytime

Dinsdale

I can explain.

I contacted a guy on YouTube from Ukraine. He nods old Mega Drives. He modded an original 3 button Mega Drive controller. I contacted him and asked him if he’d do a couple for me and he agreed.

So I sent him the controllers and he sent them back (with a nice YouTube video to boot).

So, that’s why I don’t really have a choice as he put an HC-06 in them.

Now, I don’t mind getting another Bluetooth receiver if it’ll plug into my Pi, if that is what you’re suggesting could be more compatible?

mitu

@Dinsdale So why don't you ask the guy that did the mode about this problem ? He should be the one to know how to properly make this work.
You know 8BitDo have a similar modkit ?

steptoe

Maybe he didn't know, but now we know why HC-06 is being used might be able to help a bit more

Dinsdale

The guy didn’t know it wouldn’t be compatible out of the box with Retropie. The only guarantee he gave me was that it would work on Android, which it does. I’ve asked him about it and he couldn’t help unfortunately. The language barrier with Google Translate didn’t help either of us.

It’s picked up and paired no problem with Retropie; it just won’t connect.

Yes, I have the 8BitDo mod kids for the 6 button version. I need the 3 button version which is for my mothers birthday present - she has fond memories of playing the Mega Drive back in the day and she only likes the 3 button controller (I do too!)

Dinsdale

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B009ZIILLI

Just ordered that. Will try it at the weekend as I’m working away this week. Fingers crossed.

On the subject, is this just a case of plugging it in and it’ll override the onboard Bluetooth of the 3B+, or will I need to run some commands?

mitu

@Dinsdale Although I don't think this would be any help, you can disable the onboard BT by modifying the /boot/config.txt file and adding dtoverlay=pi3-disable-bt on a line.

Dinsdale

@mitu Perfect, I’ll try it anyway. Thanks!

Dinsdale

So I disabled onboard Bluetooth, rebooted, and connected the new dongle. It flashes - but no change.

Now this is most likely be because this dongle won’t be Plug n Play. How do I install it? There’s no instructions in the package for Linux.

quicksilver

@Dinsdale I might have a fix for you! It would probably be best to restore things back to default with all the changes you have probably made. This fix should allow you to sync to the built-in bluetooth. (I recently found this fix while trying to help a friend snyc a bluetooth xbox one controller. The things we do for friends and family!)

Create a new file using nano...

 sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/bluetooth.conf

Add a single line to the new file...

options bluetooth disable_ertm=Y

Exit nano, saving the file in the process

This fixed my connection issues with the xbox one bluetooth controller

Dinsdale

Thanks man! Unfortunately it didn’t work.

steptoe

@Dinsdale said in DESPERATE HELP NEEDED! HC-06 Bluetooth:

So I disabled onboard Bluetooth, rebooted, and connected the new dongle. It flashes - but no change.

Now this is most likely be because this dongle won’t be Plug n Play. How do I install it? There’s no instructions in the package for Linux.

There isn't, at least not for the PI. Some work with the PI but some don't. They auto-install or are auto -detected

Dinsdale

Yeah, I think this one is Plug and Play. I see it in lsusb and it works when I search for Bluetooth devices, though to be honest, this could still be the onboard bluetooth that I haven't successfully disabled - because when I take the bluetooth dongle out, and search for new Bluetooth devices, it just hangs on "searching" and doesn't give me an error. Does this mean the Bluetooth is disabled?

Anyway, here's the error in full when I connect via onboard or the dongle. I have typed this out manually. Hope it gives someone a clue.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/dbud/connection.py", line 604, in msg_reply_handler
reply_handler(*message.get.args_list(**get_args_opts))
File "/home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/scriptmodules/supplementary/bluetooth/bluez-simple-agent", line 118, in pair_reply dev_connect(dev_path)
File "/home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/scriptmodules/supplementary/bluetooth/bluez-simple-agent", line 38, in dev_connect dev.Connect()
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 70, in __call__
return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 145, in __call__
 **keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 651, in call_blocking
message, timeout)
dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.bluez.Error.NotAvailable: Operation currently not available

Dinsdale

I’ve been trying tonight to make some progress. I Google’d the above error and found a reply from @RadBrad87 in this thread: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1905/retropie-3-8-bluetooth-configure-issue/40

Exact same error... so I tried optimistically to remove the PS3 driver (I didn’t have it installed in the first place) and all associated packages... but still nothing.

I also noticed separately that I could enable the serial interface - and when I’ve Google’d the HC-06 a lot of references where made to this and SPP... but no dice. Same issue.

What the hell is it?!