castelletta
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Poor Bluetooth reception and jerky mouse

I want to share my findings upon the poor reception of the internal Bluetooth module on my 2009 Mac Pro. The mouse in particular seems to suffer the most from the low BT signal.

It has to be said that if you succeed to place your Mac Pro in a particular position you can obtain optimal mouse reception. It seems that the field covered by BT signal is very irregular (due to the aluminum case?) and I think also altered by other metal objects that can exist on your desk (or inside/under you desk and his structure).

This can explain why some users tell of fantastic BT reception with their Mac Pro and others (majority) complain about awful Magic Mouse tracking.

In my situation I've been forced to plug-in a D-LINK DBT-120 dongle. It performs very well and maintain always connection with mouse and keyboard upon restart......unfortunately the same peripherals can't awake my Mac Pro during the sleep mode. A little uncomfortable (because you have to press the power button) and I thing very strange since this dongle is considered the only BT dongle fully supported from Apple.

I tried other dongles but all seem to lose connection. Some after restart, others after sleep mode.

For sure it's a shame that the most powerful and most expensive machine that Apple is selling right now is so badly performing in the BT compartment and it's more unforgivable since Apple seems to push very much their wireless peripherals.

Ok Apple, it's not easy to grant a powerful BT antenna in the metal case of the Mac Pro? Well please provide or support an external module that fully support all Mac OS functions (key selection on startup, wake on sleep ... etc) and consistently. I don't think it's a science fiction task.

I'm waiting your experimentation in placing your Mac Pro differently.

Please share your experiences....thank you

MacPro 2009 - 8 core, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Nov 12, 2009 8:24 AM

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castelletta

Q: Poor Bluetooth reception and jerky mouse

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  • by Mark Delgrosso,

    Mark Delgrosso Mark Delgrosso Feb 5, 2010 4:56 AM in response to skullcat
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 5, 2010 4:56 AM in response to skullcat
    I finally gave up and returned mine. I notice too that my hand was starting to cramp. It's not really designed for the palm of your hand. Your arch in your hand needs to be raised not flat. I used it for nearly three months. Be warned...it will start to hurt. It's a shame since it looks so cool.

  • by Thor Legvold,

    Thor Legvold Thor Legvold Feb 7, 2010 3:12 PM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 7, 2010 3:12 PM in response to castelletta
    I bought a Mac Pro 8 core machine about 6 months ago, and still have not been able to use it.

    It's planned for use in a sound production studio, and needs to live in a machine room, with wireless BT mouse/keyboard (using the older clear plastic Apple one) due to noise levels.

    However, it won't work with either at 3m through a (light) wall. No steel, bricks or stucco, just a layer of drywall and some insulation.

    The kicker is that the old G4 mini it was supposed to replace, works perfectly at the same (or even twice) the distance, wall and all. Not a single problem.

    Placed 2.5m behind me in an open doorway, the Mac Pro barely works - the mouse is jerky and the keyboard as well, and both give "Connection Lost" error messages continuously.

    So far the service center has said there is no problem (although even right under a desk it will eventually lose the connection, it just takes 30-40 minutes to do so and they didn't bother letting it run), then replaced the BT card, and now the problem is in Apple's hands, so they wait for more info about what to do.

    When I ran the hardware diagnostic test, I did get an error, but haven't found the meaning of the resulting code anywhere on the net:

    Diagnostic Check error number: 4SNS/1/40000000: TMA1-128.000

    I would assume that a company of Apple's size actually tests new products prior to release, to ensure that they meet specs, as well as to measure EMI, acoustic noise and other performance aspects. It's not clear to me how the flagship model was released without passing spec on BT connectivity. Surely it was tested?

    My machine is back in the shop after another round with Apple, this time I do hope that they manage to fix it. I'm getting closer and closer to requesting a refund.

  • by Mosaica,

    Mosaica Mosaica Feb 8, 2010 1:16 PM in response to Thor Legvold
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2010 1:16 PM in response to Thor Legvold
    UPDATE:

    I understand. You know, it is "only" a mouse. So some might say. It is in reality a main interface device to your Mac! So it is a big deal.

    I just got off the phone with Apple again. Some news.

    They are admiting to a glitch that they say will be resovled with a Firmware update in the near future! So, yes, they now have said that they have a problem and just as important a fix. They did not say how long this fix would take, but should come out as an Update. I must say they have certainly been bas*ards to deal with. I may post a summary of my troubles....grrrrrr.

  • by skullcat,

    skullcat skullcat Feb 8, 2010 1:25 PM in response to Mosaica
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2010 1:25 PM in response to Mosaica
    Well I am trying the "MagicPrefs" (instead of the MouseZoom) and I have to say it is working better already. Not quite all there yet, but definitely better. I am looking forward to seeing how the update will improve things.

    (I am also trying out the 'tap' instead of clicks, which is a nice addition....and which is how I had envisioned being able to use the mouse in the first place....).

  • by castelletta,

    castelletta castelletta Feb 10, 2010 1:41 AM in response to Mosaica
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 10, 2010 1:41 AM in response to Mosaica
    "It is in reality a main interface device to your Mac! So it is a big deal."

    I quote you because it's precisely so.

    I'm happy for the idea of the Firmware upgrade but I don't think that it will solve a poor BT transmission. But if it'll do, i'll be super happy.

  • by Josh Bear,

    Josh Bear Josh Bear Feb 14, 2010 2:06 AM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 14, 2010 2:06 AM in response to castelletta
    Hi all,

    Mac pro with magic mouse, same problems as many have posted. Jerky movement etc. I have gone back to the mouse that came with the pro and no issues. However want to use the magic mouse!

    Will this help

    http://www.johnlewis.com/230606357/Product.aspx

    Thanks
    Josh

  • by magic.metz,

    magic.metz magic.metz Feb 15, 2010 9:08 AM in response to Josh Bear
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2010 9:08 AM in response to Josh Bear
    Have the same probs here with my Mac Pro early 2009 and the new magic mouse.
    Put the D'Link DBT-120 to my wired keyboard and the mouse works like a wired one.
    But when I boot up my Mac it takes a very, very long time until my MM is connected again. Is there any fix for that? I just plugged in the stick, did not install any driver or software. Should I've done that or do something to the built-in Bluetooth stuff.

  • by castelletta,

    castelletta castelletta Feb 15, 2010 10:02 AM in response to magic.metz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2010 10:02 AM in response to magic.metz
    I had the same problem.

    SOLUTION:
    Trash the com.apple.bluetooth.plist of the main Library.
    Restart you Mac.
    Re-pair the mouse and the keyboard.

  • by carwizard,

    carwizard carwizard Feb 15, 2010 6:01 PM in response to sixgunaz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2010 6:01 PM in response to sixgunaz
    Does this external fix work if you do NOT have wifi card. My bluetooth board is model BCM92046MD and only has one micro coax plug and wire that appears to be going to the case. Also, I could not find where to buy this antenna. I can not find "matashardware" on ebay. Thanks

  • by carwizard,

    carwizard carwizard Feb 15, 2010 6:10 PM in response to sixgunaz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2010 6:10 PM in response to sixgunaz
    Does anyone know who else has an antenna like this. Matashardware does not to be on ebay anymore.

  • by magic.metz,

    magic.metz magic.metz Feb 16, 2010 1:52 AM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2010 1:52 AM in response to castelletta
    Thanks a lot.
    This really helped. The mouse is there right after startup.

  • by castelletta,

    castelletta castelletta Feb 16, 2010 2:03 AM in response to magic.metz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2010 2:03 AM in response to magic.metz
    I'm glad it was a useful tip for you

    Now let's really hope that Apple will soon fix this bluetooth problem with the internal module.

  • by Holger_S,

    Holger_S Holger_S Feb 18, 2010 12:53 PM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2010 12:53 PM in response to castelletta
    Hello dear all,

    I am sorry, I am not a native speaker - on my MP Quadcore 2,66 '09er I have same problem with Apple's Magic Mouse.

    This mouse does not works fine with my MacPro - it seems if there is a distance of more than 60 cm, this mouse is really bad, the connection looses many times, the degree of accuracy in use (to hit and to click without error) is total worse. If there is a distance less than 60 cm, than this Magic Mouse works fine.

    I have no words for this - after the audio bug in MP 09 this is the next big thing...

    Best regards

    Holger_S

  • by Chris Marquardt,

    Chris Marquardt Chris Marquardt Feb 19, 2010 11:30 AM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2010 11:30 AM in response to castelletta
    2007 Mac Pro
    Magic Mouse

    I'm seeing the exact same issue. Jerky mouse, frequent disconnects, no precision, sluggish reaction. Sometimes. Sometimes it's just fine. Distance between mouse and Mac Pro about 5-10 inches, only separated by a wooden desk.

    I already called Apple, and we went through some system cleanup including a complete reset of the bluetooth system, but no luck. After that they replaced my Magic Mouse, but the replacement acts exactly the same way.

    Now I have bought the small 2009 bluetooth keyboard and even that is showing erratic keypresses.

    I'm not in a good mood.

  • by Holger_S,

    Holger_S Holger_S Feb 19, 2010 4:21 PM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2010 4:21 PM in response to castelletta
    Hello dear all,

    my apple wireless alu keyboard still works fine - only my magic mouse is not working correctly.

    I can verify this problem Magic Mouse with MP '09 models in our local Apple traders store. The problem still exist. In fact, distance is not long, than Magic Mouse works...

    Today I openend an Apple case id. Apple Support informed me, that I need to bring my MP '09 to a Apple service provider... Apple want to change my Airport/ BT modul. On my point of view this make no sense. I think, the replace will not work and so I aksed them for other solutions. There was no option offered.

    On my point of view it is a sad story. I decided today after the call with Apple - this Magic Mouse is my last Apple desktop hardware product for the moment. I am not happy with this, but my next machine will not an Apple desktop. I do not need an iPad or something other, I only expected a fine working MP '09.

    I am sorry, I am not a native speaker - but today I was really angry about this. Now I will buy in next days a USB dongle, hope that will helps. In this, which USB Bluetooth dongle is really fine?

    Thank you
    & best regards

    Holger_S
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