8bitdo not found on Rpi3

lightthief

I am having zero luck getting my 8bitdo SFC30 to be seen by my Rpi3s built in Bluetooth.

So far I've:

installed Bluetooth
updated the firmware on the SFC30
set the pi to scan for Bluetooth devices
made sure to start the pairing mode with start and the right trigger

No other Bluetooth drivers are installed.
I've upgraded to version 3.7 of retropie.

I've followed all the troubleshooting steps in the Bluetooth guide and in the you tube videos but had no luck.

The controllers are found and pair easily with other devices.

The Rpi3 just doesn't see them to even try and pair no matter what method of scanning I use.

Would love any advice.

Thanks.

KZL

Hi ! Could you try this :

sudo systemctl bluetooth status
sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth start

ThatClassyGaz

It does work. Keep trying! I had the same issue with my FC30 Pro. As annoying as it sounds, just keep going through the 'back' and 'search' loop. Eventually it WILL find it. I had to try maybe 10 to 15 times before mine would pop up. :)

lightthief

@ThatClassyGaz What the behavior after it finds and pairs by the way?
I read you have to repair it every time, but i'm unclear if that means you have to go into that menu and pair.
Will it pair itself when you start it up on the future?
Does it power off on it's own if untouched?

ThatClassyGaz

For mine, as long as its off when EmulationStation starts, and I wait until the 'No GamePads Detected Screen'. I just turn mine on and it instantly connects. The screen goes to the emulator select screen and all is well.

As for powering off, I genuinely dont know. I know it turns itself off if you dont pair it in a certain amount of time but as for just a timeout I have no idea. I leave my Pi on so to save battery I always turn the 8BitDo off.

KryPtAlIvIaN

Like everyone else, I had the same issue with the 8bitdo zero, and after like 5 minutes of constantly searching, it was found.

lightthief

@KryPtAlIvIaN Do you mean setting it to constantly scan?
Or just going through the pairing process over and over?

Rion

@ThatClassyGaz said in 8bitdo not found on Rpi3:

It does work. Keep trying! I had the same issue with my FC30 Pro. As annoying as it sounds, just keep going through the 'back' and 'search' loop. Eventually it WILL find it. I had to try maybe 10 to 15 times before mine would pop up. :)

A more easy route to take is to first start bluetoothctl.

sudo bluetoothctl
power on
agent on
scan on
devices

Start the controllers with start+r.
Keep pressing the different buttons until it shows up and don't shut down.

Takes a minute or less.

You can also type devices a couple of times if you don't want to wait for bluetoothctl scanning to update.

After the controllers are recognized quit bluetoothctl and start Retropie-Setup now they will show from the start and you don't have to try 10-15 times.