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

Close
castelletta

Q: Poor Bluetooth reception and jerky mouse

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 17 of 24 last Next

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Jul 24, 2010 7:14 PM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 24, 2010 7:14 PM in response to castelletta
    I have the exact same issue with the Bluetooth. It has a weak signal. I found this out recently when I bought Bluetooth headphones and decided to use them with the Bluetooth feature on my Mac Pro. Three feet away from the MP the headphones don't receive a strong enough signal from the Bluetooth antenna to work well. I didn't know this problem even existed until I started using the Bluetooth feature and my MP is almost a year old.

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Jul 25, 2010 6:15 AM in response to nobblynoel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2010 6:15 AM in response to nobblynoel
    nobblynoel wrote:
    Read this
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11537534
    and this
    http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/09/30/1534202/Using-Aluminum-Oxide-Paint-To-Se cure-Wi-Fi?from=rss
    As the the case design is the same it could be the answer...


    Well, based upon nobblynoel's findings and the above posts I think we have our answer. The Bluetooth problem is more than likely caused by the case since the antenna is grounded to the PCI slots at the back of the case. This combined with the weird location of the antenna at the back of the case just adds to the signal problems.

    I have received better reception though by switch the orientation of the case so the back is now the front. However, the reception still isn't that great but it is better. I don't consider this a solution by any means. Also, I don't think I should have to drop another $10-$40 to solve a manufacturing problem that is causing the Bluetooth signal problem. I hope Apple gives us a fix for this whether we're in warranty or not.

  • by EricC99,

    EricC99 EricC99 Jul 25, 2010 8:31 PM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2010 8:31 PM in response to castelletta
    Hi Guys, I made my own solution to the Magic Mouse/Mac Pro 8 core problem. It is a little jerry rigged, but it didn't cost me a cent and works 100% Perfect. I stopped down the Mac including removing the logicboard. Located and pulled out the BT antenna which is installed in a ******** place. Then taped the BT antenna to the outside of the case and put it all back together. Unfortunately I knocked off a component from the bottom side of the logic board (PCB), I think it's a small capacitor. I resoldered it back on the board and so far everything is working, including my magic mouse for the first time in months. Here's a link to the pictures, comments welcome.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/10550957@N05/sets/72157624458133127/detail/

    -Eric

  • by nobblynoel,

    nobblynoel nobblynoel Jul 26, 2010 12:47 PM in response to EricC99
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2010 12:47 PM in response to EricC99
    Well Eric your a brave man or a little insane.
    I wouldn't recommend that
    1. your take your logic board out and
    2. remove your bluetooth antenna.
    What you have done is way too drastic for the average user including you by the looks of what happened to your board.
    .
    Not forgetting that your warranty, if any left, is now void.
    For those who want to sort the BT problem out themselves read back a few pages and you will find a much easier way on my blog.
    All the best..

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Jul 26, 2010 5:23 PM in response to EricC99
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2010 5:23 PM in response to EricC99
    EricC99 wrote:
    Hi Guys, I made my own solution to the Magic Mouse/Mac Pro 8 core problem. It is a little jerry rigged, but it didn't cost me a cent and works 100% Perfect. I stopped down the Mac including removing the logicboard. Located and pulled out the BT antenna which is installed in a ******** place. Then taped the BT antenna to the outside of the case and put it all back together. Unfortunately I knocked off a component from the bottom side of the logic board (PCB), I think it's a small capacitor. I resoldered it back on the board and so far everything is working, including my magic mouse for the first time in months. Here's a link to the pictures, comments welcome.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/10550957@N05/sets/72157624458133127/detail/

    -Eric


    I just wonder how good the signal would be if it was taped to the wire mesh inside the case? All I can say is WOW!! How long can Apple ignore this?? We just want what we paid for when we bought our Mac Pros.

  • by EricC99,

    EricC99 EricC99 Jul 26, 2010 6:01 PM in response to John Birchfield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2010 6:01 PM in response to John Birchfield
    I would imagine the signal would be too weak if one tapes the antenna inside of the case or wire mesh. Any metal between the antenna and the BT device (mouse) will shield the signal away. I know my method was very risky and jerry rigged, but this shows that the antenna itself works. The defect is in the Mac Pro's design in where the antenna is placed.

    -Eric

  • by CaptSaltyJack,

    CaptSaltyJack CaptSaltyJack Jul 26, 2010 7:57 PM in response to nobblynoel
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 26, 2010 7:57 PM in response to nobblynoel
    I have just one challenge to the theory that it's the case/enclosure: why did my Mac Pro 8-core work perfectly fine with a Magic Mouse for a good month or so, and now suddenly, the mouse is sluggish/jerky? That doesn't support the theory that it's the case... it's not like the case has changed in composition over time, right?

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Jul 27, 2010 3:08 PM in response to CaptSaltyJack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2010 3:08 PM in response to CaptSaltyJack
    CaptSaltyJack wrote:
    I have just one challenge to the theory that it's the case/enclosure: why did my Mac Pro 8-core work perfectly fine with a Magic Mouse for a good month or so, and now suddenly, the mouse is sluggish/jerky? That doesn't support the theory that it's the case... it's not like the case has changed in composition over time, right?


    I assume you have a Mac Pro (early 2009). Did you do any updates to it before it started acting sluggish/jerky?? By the way my iPod Touch has a more reliable Bluetooth connection than my Mac Pro. I can put the iPod in my dresser drawer and walk 20-30 feet in the house and the signal will go through 2 walls and I can hear the music on my headphones!! The Bluetooth in my Mac Pro can't even make it that far....

  • by CaptSaltyJack,

    CaptSaltyJack CaptSaltyJack Jul 28, 2010 10:55 AM in response to John Birchfield
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 28, 2010 10:55 AM in response to John Birchfield
    Not sure if it's early 2009.. maybe. The model is MacPro4,1. I haven't made any major updates or changes.. it just kinda happened randomly. But oddly enough, I brought the mouse closer to the case, moved the mouse around a bit, then put the mouse back on my desk, and it works fine now. Very very odd.

  • by wrdouglas,

    wrdouglas wrdouglas Jul 28, 2010 12:37 PM in response to castelletta
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 28, 2010 12:37 PM in response to castelletta
    I have one of the older Mac Pro's and did the antenna swap as suggested. Worked perfectly! I am a happy Magic Mouse user.

    Thanks,

    William

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Aug 1, 2010 8:58 AM in response to CaptSaltyJack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2010 8:58 AM in response to CaptSaltyJack
    CaptSaltyJack,

    I tried the same thing that you did and it doesn't work for me. My Bluetooth still cuts out if I'm not within 2 feet of the Mac Pro. My understanding is that the Bluetooth antenna is supposed to have a signal that reaches roughly 30 feet. Even when I turn my head perpendicular to the MP the signal cuts out and my headphones are audioless.

  • by robkath,

    robkath robkath Aug 2, 2010 8:10 AM in response to John Birchfield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2010 8:10 AM in response to John Birchfield
    If you look in /Developer/Applications/Utilities/Bluetooth you will find some utilities that will allow you to look at reception and communications of bluetooth devices.. Might be interesting to compare info between someone having the issue, and someone not...

    rob

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Aug 3, 2010 4:52 PM in response to robkath
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2010 4:52 PM in response to robkath
    Here's what the reception looks like under the conditions listed.
    1) turned head perpendicular to MP
    2) walked 3-4 feet away from MP

    signal

  • by nobblynoel,

    nobblynoel nobblynoel Aug 5, 2010 10:33 PM in response to John Birchfield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2010 10:33 PM in response to John Birchfield
    John the Mac Pro Bluetooth is known to have a very week signal with some users. You have proved it yourself with just 3-4 feet and we can clearly see the signal strength drop. I see the drop in the middle but whats going on at the end of the graph ?
    This graph is from my MP my signal drops off around the 30 feet mark although I have modded my antenna which you can read about in my blog.
    http://nobblynoel.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/mac-pro-2009-bluetooth-fix/
    Why don't you try a BT usb and compare the results?



    image: !http://nobblynoel.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/connection-quality-window.png!

  • by John Birchfield,

    John Birchfield John Birchfield Aug 7, 2010 7:48 PM in response to nobblynoel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 7, 2010 7:48 PM in response to nobblynoel
    What's going on at the end of the graph is that the signal was cutting in and out at about 4 feet. I would like to try a BT usb adapter. It is frustrating since I paid $2000+ for this MP and the Bluetooth on it doesn't work correctly.
first Previous Page 17 of 24 last Next