Hubs/splitters (& bluetooth controllers)... issues working with the Pi(4)?
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USB hubs work fine. with earlier pi models there could be issues with the extra USB devices draining too much power and causing lightning bolt/power throttling, so it was strongly recommended to use externally powered USB hubs (ie, they have a separate mains adapter). i am not sure if this is still the case with the pi4, so would play it safe and still recommend the mains adapter ones.
no idea about bluetooth.
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@dankcushions gotcha; thanks for that info... bummer though, wish I could hear from any others who may know about this supposed bluetooth shortcoming... guess worst case is I just try to find a decent bluetooth controller on Amazon or somewhere and hopefully I can return it if it doesn't work properly.
Well in the meantime, if there's anyone here who can recommend a reliable brand USB hub, ideally that run off a secondary power source (assuming we're able to name drop products on here; it looks like it's happened before), I'd certainly appreciate it.
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Iv got a noname usb hub with 4 ports connected in my PI4 (previously on PI3B+) and there is/was no problem with it.
There are 3 Logitech f710 gamepads and 1 Hori fight stick mini connected (on USB hub).
And in the Pi I have a Logitech keyboard,Logitech mouse and USB stick with roms on it.
so that makes 7 devices connected. -
@mortalwombat I have a Pi4B with a good (high current) power supply and I use it with a cheap, old, unpowered and small USB 4 port hub (a travel hub portable thing). I used to have 4 Sega Megadrive replica controllers plugged in at the same time and they worked with no problem.
I don't think you'd have any problem with simple game controllers and an unpowered hub.
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@busywait how may amps is that power supply you mentioned? Do you have the link or info on that.
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The 8BitDo Arcade Stick has 3 options to connect: 1. Bluetooth 2. 2.4g wireless dongle and 3. Wired via USB C cable. But at the moment that and my other 8bitdo controller is having a bit of latency issue with my current RPI4B build with RetroPie 4.7.1
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@emulatre71 If you want the best confidence in your power supply get the official Raspberry Pi one. For a Pi4B that is a 5V 3A supply.
I actually use a BatPower branded laptop+USB supply because it was lying around behind my TV set already :D
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@WODAK , @busywait, @Emulatre71 , I appreciate your replies.
Yeah I might try that bluetooth 8bitDo Arcade Stick that you mentioned Emulatre71. Ideally any method I can use that won't require me to use a USB dongle (or invest in a USB hub so I don't have to unplug my keyboard/anything else, for that matter, I'd be curious to hear what if any other sorts of peripherals-- besides controllers-- you may use w/ a gaming emulator...).
Busywait, I do actually have/have been using that official Pi power supply (I got one of the Raspberry Pi 4 Computer Desktop Kits and it came with it). I did however just order a power supply w/ its own on/off switch (the LABISTS model that takes up 5.1V 3A UL, which was fairly well rated on Amazon), largely because I didn't want to have to turn off the entire power strip that my Pi was plugged into in order to power it off (also got a case w/ a fan just in case to help keep the main board cool in case of any additional power drains).
So hopefully a power adapter of that strength is enough to potentially run a USB hub?? (granted, I guess I can always look into getting one w/ its own power supply like people have said... though as mentioned, not having to use a hub at all would be ideal...).
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@mortalwombat I just had that 8BitDo Arcade Stick, it did not work out the box for me as I had to Update RetroPie to 4.7.11. Mostly due to RetroPie because another 8bitdo controller was affected. You can use it wirelessly via Bluetooth or 2.4g dongle that is stored inside the arcade stick. I did use it wired a few times. You can also update the firmware which I did to a 1.03 beta version. It's nice but im too used to a controller ps2 style game controller. I did have a little interest in the mini arcade stick offered by Hori, but I went with the 8BitDo AS and eventually gave it to a cousin so they can get into emulation.
As for a pi power switch like the ones seen in CannaKit, you can get them from amazon as well. That way you dont have to disconnect it from the pi or turn of a outlet switch. I have Anker USB A outlets that has worked well for my Pi units. Anker has been my go to brand for wall chargers.
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Just a quick question, if you put a powered 4 Hub device into USB 1 slot of your Pi, would any controller plugged into that controller be designated as PLAYER 1? Or would each joystick work independently of each other - same with a Dragon Rise USB encoder board? Or would each joystick plugged in be recognised as a separate device and therefore work independently of each other?
I only ask as I am in the process of building a Single player Bartop, and want to include bot a trackball and spinner, as well as the joystick.
If I had a USB hub connected, would connecting the Joystick/Trackball/Spinner to 3 of the Hubs, with the Hub connected to port 1, mean that you could use any of the devices to control a game - (Joystick-1942, Trackball- Centipede, Spinner-Tempest say) or would it treat them as independent items, meaning having to go into Retroarch and designating each one to it's respective game/device.
If I can have a few extra ports for keyboard/additional controllers, then it would be a cracking solution.As always any help most gratefully received.
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@impman66 said in Hubs/splitters (& bluetooth controllers)... issues working with the Pi(4)?:
Just a quick question, if you put a powered 4 Hub device into USB 1 slot of your Pi, would any controller plugged into that controller be designated as PLAYER 1? Or would each joystick work independently of each other - same with a Dragon Rise USB encoder board? Or would each joystick plugged in be recognised as a separate device and therefore work independently of each other?
i can't remember what it does to player number designation (eg, if you put hub in pi slot 1, 1 controller in hub slot 1, one in hub slot 2, and one pi slot 2, which is player 2?) but each work independently as usual, assuming they are detected uniquely without a hub.
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@dankcushions Thanks for that, clears it up a little bit.
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