Cannot setup 8bitdo bluetooth adapter on Pi 4

qstyler

Hi! I'm trying to set up an 8BitDo BlueTooth adapter but it doesn't seem to work for some reason.

First of all, I disabled Bluetooth in the config.txt file by adding dtoverlay=disable-bt

Then I plug my dongle and try to do bluetoothctl, but it hangs forever.

To fix the issue I tried to run the following:

$ sudo systemctl enable bluetooth
Synchronizing state of bluetooth.service with SysV service script with /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install.
Executing: /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install enable bluetooth

$ sudo systemctl start bluetooth

This command gives no output...

And this is a status of the bluetooth:

$ sudo systemctl status bluetooth
* bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: inactive (dead)
     Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)

Apr 09 11:24:42 retropie systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.

If I try to get a list of USB devices, I can see my dongle, but without a name (device 004):

$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2dc8:3107
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Here's the full dmesg output, maybe this will help.
https://pastecode.io/s/ejohjh6u

I'm using Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.2

There are no other USB devices connected to my Raspberry.

And I'm using a default usb-c power adapter that came in a box.

mitu

Seems you have a similar issue with the one reported here. Can you try updating the dongle's firmware and the xpad driver in RetroPie (it's in the drivers section of the packages) to see if it works ?

You don't need to disable the Bluetooth on the Pi, the dongle acts like an USB/wired controller and doesn't interfere with the Pi's Bluetooth.

qstyler

@mitu ok thanks for the advice.
I updated everything possible (all retropie packages, xpad driver and dongle's firmware) but still the same:

pi@retropie:~ $ sudo systemctl status bluetooth
* bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: inactive (dead)
     Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)

Apr 10 11:10:45 retropie systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.

pi@retropie:~ $ sudo systemctl enable bluetooth
Synchronizing state of bluetooth.service with SysV service script with /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install.
Executing: /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install enable Bluetooth

pi@retropie:~ $ sudo systemctl start bluetooth

pi@retropie:~ $ sudo systemctl status bluetooth
* bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: inactive (dead)
     Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)

Apr 10 11:10:45 retropie systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.

And here's the dmesg output

https://pastebin.com/iULBRncH

qstyler

I also just removed the xpad driver with the same result.

https://pastebin.com/j86fLB5f

mitu

@qstyler It doesn't seem to work either way - the default connection mode (X-Input) it's not working with the xpad driver (which handles the XBox wired controllers).
If you have the option, maybe start the controller or adapter in D-Input mode ? Otherwise, only an update to the xpad driver to make it support the adapter would solve this issue.

retropieuser555

Does the 8bitdo dongle need Bluetooth settings changed? I always just plugged mine into the USB an paired the dongle to the controller. Then the pi recognised the controller as if it were wired.

G30FF

@qstyler said in Cannot setup 8bitdo bluetooth adapter on Pi 4:

Hi! I'm trying to set up an 8BitDo BlueTooth adapter but it doesn't seem to work for some reason.

First of all, I disabled Bluetooth in the config.txt file by adding dtoverlay=disable-bt

Then I plug my dongle and try to do bluetoothctl, but it hangs forever.

To fix the issue I tried to run the following:
$ sudo systemctl enable bluetooth
Synchronizing state of bluetooth.service with SysV service script with /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install.
Executing: /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install enable bluetooth
$ sudo systemctl start bluetooth
This command gives no output...

And this is a status of the bluetooth:
$ sudo systemctl status bluetooth
* bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: inactive (dead)
     Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)

Apr 09 11:24:42 retropie systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.
If I try to get a list of USB devices, I can see my dongle, but without a name (device 004):
$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2dc8:3107
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Here's the full dmesg output, maybe this will help.
https://pastecode.io/s/ejohjh6u

I'm using Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.2

There are no other USB devices connected to my Raspberry.

And I'm using a default usb-c power adapter that came in a box.

The 8bitdo bluetooth adapter is not actually a bluetooth adapter in the traditional sense. When you plug it in, it is treated as a USB controller, not a bluetooth radio. To connect a controller to the receiver, press the pairing button on the adapter, then press the pairing button on your controller. When both lights are solid, the connection is made. It also means you can only have one controller paired to the adapter at a time, and need multiple adapters if you want to pair multiple controllers. Changing bluetooth settings in the OS will have no effect on the adapter.