Do bluetooth devices go bad?

Question

Level 1

50 points

Do bluetooth devices go bad?

There seems to be so many messages about Apple Wireless Keyboards that will no longer pair and no posted solutions. What's up with this?

Also references to updating to 10.4.7 or 10.4.8 and then having it not work.

Connection just dropped out in mid message. How does one isolate the problem? Is it the keyboard/mouse? or the built-in bluetooth/airport module?

Mine worked fine until recently. I think I was still at 10.4.7 and hoped that 10.4.8 would solve the problem. I've got updated firmware, downloaded and ran combo update, repaired permissions and verified disk. What next?

G4 450 DP, Mac Mini (PPC), 2 Networked Tivos, Mac OS X (10.4.8), Apple bluetooth keyboard and mouse

Posted on Oct 18, 2006 4:03 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Oct 18, 2006 9:43 PM in response to terrie_808

Hello mauigirl:

If you are near an Apple store, I suggest you take your KB in to have them check it on another iMac. The "genius bar" can also help you with suggestions.

Barry

Reply

Answer 2

terrie_808 Author

Level 1

50 points

Oct 29, 2006 7:12 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

No Apple Stores on Maui and just one in the whole state. We've always had to do it ourselves which is why I'm posting here.

We have one authorized reseller on Maui (very nice people), but because I hardly every buy from them (they charge a 10% premium on everything), don't think it fair to bring my problems to them. If I have to buy a new keyboard, it won't be from them.

I'm just annoyed because the bluetooth keyboard that I've used for over a year now only consistently works when I pick it up off the coffee table it has sat on from day one and use it about two feet away (and in direct sight) of my Mac Mini. Makes me crazy.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 29, 2006 7:29 PM in response to terrie_808

Hi,

A couple of things to possibly look at for troubleshooting:

- If you go into the Bluetooth preferences pane and look under the "Bluetooth" tab, how does your battery level look for the keyboard? Were the batteries changed recently (maybe bad ones, or rechargable ones)?
- Are you using or a wireless router or any other devices (e.g., portable phones) that work on the 2.4 GHz frequency and might be generating interference?
- How far away is the coffee table from the Mini (how far away were you able to use it before)?
- Do you have bluetooth in both computers (I'm assuming from your sig you have a G4 tower and a Mini) - if so can can you try it out on the other one and duplicate the problem?
- Is your bluetooth mouse behaving OK or does it also have range problems?

This may not be the greatest help but perhaps can rule out a few things, at least.

Intel Mini 1.66 GHz, Mac Pro 2.66 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8)
Vista RC2 and XP running under Parallels

Reply

Answer 4

terrie_808 Author

Level 1

50 points

Nov 1, 2006 4:53 AM in response to Robert DuBose

My bluetooth mouse worked fine and as long as I left the mini powered up, the keyboard was working albeit inconsistently. (No, the G4 does not have a bluetooth dongel.) But yesterday I decided to restart the mini and once done, it would no longer pair at all. Nada. Zilch. No keyboard anywhere as far as it was concerned.

So today I went to the local reseller. While I could not get them to admit it, let me tell all of you who might be following this thread, YES, bluetooth devices can go bad. There, I said it. Can't get anyone else to admit it but it is so. I purchased a new keyboard (at a premium price), took it home, and the mini discovered it without any problem.

I am still going to get the insanely small torx screwdriver and open up the old keyboard. They say that just dust might cause it to short out. I'll see if a cleaning will improve it.

Thanks for the help.
Terrie

G4 450 DP, Mac Mini, 2 Networked Tivos Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Reply