Mac Mini 2018 BT Bluetooth Issues - Incompatible with Apple Magic Trackpad/keyboard

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Level 1

77 points

Mac Mini 2018 BT Bluetooth Issues - Incompatible with Apple Magic Trackpad/keyboard

I am seeing significant issues when using a new Mac Mini 3.2GHz i7 Hex core with 16GB ram running 10.14.1

On boot, which is more often now that the Mac mini crashes overnight in sleep mode, the Apple Magic Keyboard connects but only 50% of the keystrokes get to the computer and the login password fails.

Also the Apple Magic Trackpad often drops the connection, first of making tracking erratic then finally dropping altogether requiring the Trackpad to poser cycled to re-establish connection.

Posted on Dec 10, 2018 2:14 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

KwiatekCh

Level 1

8 points

Jan 27, 2019 11:15 AM in response to Busta999

`I was furious about it!! read somewhere that some USA hubs create electromagnetic pulse whatever if within close range so I Disconnected my (ebay 1 to 4 USB 3.0 HUB) and that solved my problems !!!! im extreamly happy about it on bright side im using another hub (amazonBasics 1 firewire to 10USB) amd that doesnt seem to create any problems !! I was using the 1-4 ebay hub just because my apple keyboard extension was too short but ended up runing a cable from mac to monitor to have the keyboard closer to keyboard and works just fine !! at this point im pretty sure I could reconnect my apple wireless keyboard but that remains to be seen and ill keep you guys updated BTW Ill attach picture of the USB hub that gave me so much trouble

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Answer 2

ryan_vdz

Level 1

4 points

Dec 10, 2018 7:13 AM in response to Busta999

I've also experienced some weird bluetooth issues. Question: do you happen to have a portable drive connected to one of the two USB-A ports? I recently discovered that when my portable drive is connected that a lot of things behave erratically. Bluetooth keyboard/trackpad stutter or stop intermittently, wifi connection halts up, etc. If you've also got a portable drive (if like mine, it's a spinning hard drive, not an SSD) it could be causing you similar issues.

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Answer 3

dwb

Level 7

33,214 points

Dec 10, 2018 8:18 AM in response to Busta999

The problem is that USB devices are "noisy" and that is especially true of USB 3 devices. A couple years ago I discovered the same kind of problem you are experiencing and it turned out to be the cables not the two USB 3 drives themselves. Keep this in mind for the future if/when you replace your hub or add another USB device. Since I don't yet have any USB C devices I don't know if the problem carries over to them but it wouldn't surprise me.

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Answer 4

Busta999 Author

Level 1

77 points

Dec 24, 2018 4:12 AM in response to ryan_vdz

OK issue continued after moving USB3 HDDs three feet from Mac mini.

I am currently trying wrapping the first 9inches of the three USB C and one USB A cables in copper sticky tape.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DJ4X83C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So far, early days, this appears to work so far about 1 day in.

The cables coming out of my Mac mini look like they are plumbing now :-)

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Answer 5

dwb

Level 7

33,214 points

Dec 24, 2018 4:23 AM in response to Busta999

If you don’t like the steam punk look you can search out USB cables with braided shielding. My mini arrived A week ago and after getting it migrated etc set it up in my office A couple days later. I discovered over the weekend that one of my external drives puts out too much interference to be placed under the mini. I can move it to the other side but I’m hoping just putting it on top will fix it.

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