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User profile for user: castelletta
castelletta Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

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 8:05 AM

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357 replies
User profile for user: tgd85
tgd85
User level: Level 1
5 points

Aug 20, 2013 10:44 PM in response to castelletta

I'm experiencing this same problem on an early 2011 MBP, so I'm almost certain this issue isn't specific to just the MP. I have tried many of the solutions listed here, and still am experiencing same "jerky / laggy magic mouse issue.


My setup is: early 2011 MBP connected to a Thunderbolt display in close proximity to each other. I am using an Apple Magic Mouse, and am also using Apple's bluetooth keyboard. The keyboard and mouse are no more than a foot away from each other, the display and the MBP itself. Computer is fully charged and plugged into a power source. The batteries in both the keyboard and mouse are brand new Duracell AA batteries. My computer is positioned upright with the back part facing downwards. I've upgraded the machine to have 16 GBs of 1600 mhz DDR3 memory and a solid state drive. I'm running the most up-to-date version of Mountain Lion.


Here is a list of the solutions I have tried for comparative purposes. I have also included my thoughts re. each solution:


  1. Make each bluetooth device a "favorite" - I don't believe this works and for those who claim otherwise, I think they are experiencing something of a placebo effect. After researching this issue extensively, I have not read any conclusive reason why this solution would have any effect on a connectivity issue.
  2. I've cleared away all other bluetooth devices...no iPads, iPhones, etc. around that would otherwise cause this to interfere. - This may have offered a slight improvement.
  3. I've tried using aluminum foil on the negative ends of the battery. Be careful with this one. After a minute or so of turning my mouse on, the batteries became very hot very quickly. Clearly this can't be a good thing.
  4. I have tried taking off the battery cover and have had some success with this. Maybe another placebo effect type solution,
  5. Currently, I have placed a Q-Tip to keep the batteries in place, in the event that is truely is a battery contact issue. Of course, I have become so frustrated by this that I am willing to try anything, but I'm still not sure if this has helped or not.


I'm convinced the problem is not a power issue, but rather a bandwidth issue. I have made every reasonable change to my network configurations, but unfortunately I'm stuck using Verizon's Fios router, which is only capable of a single bandwidth 2.4 ghz "N" connection. My wifi connectivity readings are: RSSI -54, transfer rate of 130 mb/s (out of a possible 130), and my MCS rate is 15. These stats aren't terrible, and I typically do not have any wifi connection issues.


The RSSI range for the mouse is anywhere from -60 to -80, and that can change frequently depending on what I'm doing on the computer. As another user has suggested, a strong RSSI connection is considered anything below -54. The mouse performs decently well between the range of -55 to -70, but anything below those numbers is deadly.


I've included a screenshot of my RSSI readings while I am typing up this post. As you can see, there are huge fluctuations in the connection, and I can't seem to come up with any other solutions for this. Maybe the Apple keyboard uses less bandwidth on the 2.4 ghz band, but its RSSI readings are much more consistent than the Mighty Mouse. Also note that I'm not doing anything on my machine that would otherwise cause these spikes. There are no other applications running except for Safari and this little RSSI reader.


User uploaded file


I've noticed that when I am streaming video or intensively using my wifi, the mouse seems to become extra jerky. This supports the bandwidth issue. Unfortunately, I'm not about to hardwire my apartment just because my Mighty Mouse *****.


What kills me the most, however, is that products in the Apple ecosystem should be designed to work flawlessly together. This is the reason why I am willing to pay a premium to buy other Apple products, because I don't feel like dealing with this nonsense. But I've really had enough dealing with this issue. At this point, it looks like I might just have to switch back to a good ol' fashioned USB keyboard and mouse.


And Apple, if you are reading this, you guys need to actually DEAL with the issues that people talk about on these forums. I feel like most of the time these posts are just filled with people commiserating about their lousy experiences, yet Apple refuses to come up with any type of fix. It's a complete and total joke. DO SOMETHING and LISTEN to your customers. Pretty soon you won't have many left....


Also, would love to hear from some other MBA and rMBP users or those with newer machines. Maybe this will help clear up the real underlying issue here and whether Apple has done anything to fix this.

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User profile for user: CKoepf
CKoepf
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 12, 2010 8:58 AM in response to Community User

I have not read through all of the "zillion" pages of this thread, but I have read plenty to know that my Mac Pro has the exact same bluetooth issues. I have a magic mouse and a bluetooth headset, both which do not function correctly on the internal bluetooth adapter.
I do have a Linksys USBBT100 adapter that I had from an old PC. This dongle has phenomenal reception capability. I started using it on my Mac Pro when I realized what the problem was with the Magic Mouse. It was working fine, even after reboot, until about mid-april of this year. I wasn't able to pin down what changed exactly, because this Mac stays on all the time and only gets rebooted when a software update requires it. Any, after mid-april, I started to have the classic problem with the external dongle not working after reboot. Fighting and fighting with numerous different combinations, I could get it to work.
Today, I stumbled across this thread, which I may have been at before, but didn't read quite enough. I found this post by "sixgunaz": http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10740694#10740694
I had tried everything listed in the past, except for "5> DELETE Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist from the hard disk".
So, I started over with disabling everything, disconnecting the internal BT adapter, rebooting, then installed my Linksys USBBT100, paired my magic mouse, rebooted again...... And YES, my mouse was still working.

I am willing to settle for this fix until Apple finally admits there is a real issue here and decides to offer a fix for it.
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User profile for user: John Birchfield
John Birchfield
User level: 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.
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User profile for user: Anonymoustache
Anonymoustache
User level: Level 1
100 points

Nov 13, 2009 11:38 PM in response to castelletta

This issue has been discussed many times. It's usually because the Mac Pro is wired wrong. Nobody seems to know why it was done like that or why Apple haven't changed it, but changing it yourself fixes bluetooth issues.

Here's how to do it: http://www.thelocale.org/files/howtos/mac-pro-bluetooth-howto.pdf

Very simple, fixes everything, and means you don't need to use a dongle...
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User profile for user: Mad Appler Fan
Mad Appler Fan
User level: Level 1
0 points

Nov 29, 2009 7:56 PM in response to castelletta

Hello Castelletta, I would like to share my findings as well.
I have a 2009 8 Core Mac Pro, brand new and less than 30 days old (bought from apple.com)

I have a bluetooth magic mouse and bluetooth mac keyboard that came shortly after my purchase of the mac pro.

Both devices work great on my Macbook Pro and Dell Laptop, which both are on the same surface and same room as my Mac Pro.

The Mac Pro is on top of my desk (within a foot range) and at no angle or distance does the magic mouse and keyboard work within a inch of pulling my hair out. Stuttering, connection lost, etc..

I have tried turning off my Airport Extreme and Macbook Pro to see if there was interference with no noticeable results.

Apple sent a tech to my house to replace the bluetooth module on the logic board and this did not fix the problem. It was also determined not to be software related, at least with my current firmware and OSX 10.6.2.

I have seen where older models mislabeled the wire, this does not seem to be the case with the 2009 Mac Pro.

It seems to me the reception is too weak and unreliable to use something that requires precise movements such as a mouse.

I am currently waiting on a return label to receive a full refund, I feel exchanging for another Mac Pro will more than likely not fix the problem. Other than this, the Mac Pro is one awesome machine.
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User profile for user: castelletta
castelletta Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Nov 30, 2009 1:35 AM in response to Mad Appler Fan

I'm really sorry that you too are experiencing this real problem. But it's not really surprising.
Unfortunately it seems a widespread issue.

Reading your post I was sure that changing an hardware component wouldn't end up with a fix.

I'm quite disappointed that Apple still doesn't recognize the problem as a structural one and still try to fix it swapping singular parts.

The problem is at 99,9% a poor bluetooth signal due to the metallic enclosure of the Mac Pro.
It's for this precise reason that Apple has to provide us a solution or a workaround at minimum.

It would be a solution to give us an external BT module that fully support all the functions supported natively by other machines.

So please Apple, make a move recognizing this serious problem on a very expensive machine and taking care of us!
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User profile for user: Jörg Pyrlik
Jörg Pyrlik
User level: Level 1
25 points

Nov 30, 2009 2:27 AM in response to castelletta

I have exactly the same problem (2009 MacPro, Magic Mouse) -- also solved by using a D-Link DBT-120 dongle in one of the front USB ports.

Interestingly, my old bluetooth Mighty Mouse did not have these reception problems. I also noticed, that Apple supplied an external BT-antenna plug on the former G5 top models that utilized an almost identical, all aluminum outer case design.

Apple should supply an external BT-antenna that can be threaded through the holes in the case to the outside.
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User profile for user: hoot.hoot
hoot.hoot
User level: Level 1
5 points

Nov 30, 2009 8:23 AM in response to castelletta

I am an owner of a 2009 Mac Pro and am experiencing the exact same issues. I use an Apple bluetooth keyboard (aluminum model) and experience very frequent disconnections and stuttery performance. My keyboard and Mac Pro are only a few feet away.

Some observations I have made:

- Bluetooth was almost entirely unusable until I got the Apple Wireless Kit (Wi-Fi module) installed. Since this was installed bluetooth now holds a connection for more than a few seconds but is still poor compared to my other Macs (old G5, various MacBook Pros)...I haven't researched why this would be the case.

- This may be circumstantial as bluetooth is always going in and out on my system but bluetooth seems to be effected by intense video card use (in my case rendering using Apple Motion)

- in about one out of ten restarts the internal bluetooth module is not recognized by the machine. This seems to be always fixed by a restart again.

Since I use a wired mouse I think I will invest in a D-LINK DBT-120 module for my keyboard in the hope that at least the mouse should be able to wake the machine from sleep.
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User profile for user: castelletta
castelletta Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Nov 30, 2009 9:34 AM in response to hoot.hoot

I understand that we are all trying to workaround this problem but....for what we've paid I'm waiting a more robust and definitive solution form Apple; an external one is acceptable for me.

I can imagine how many MacPro users have bought Magic Mouses to find very difficult to use them and how many exchanged it or had it replaced for a new one without knowing the root of this issue and not ending up with a solution.

Can you imagine?

So let's tell to Apple that we have a problem here...and that we are waiting a fix soon.
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Poor Bluetooth reception and jerky mouse

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