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Bluetooth Range Problem
- Thread starter Dark Dragoon
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I have found the built-in Bluetooth to be a bit lacking in my opinion. My Mac Pro sits under my desk, and when using it to connect an Apple Wireless Keyboard, Wireless Mighty Mouse and Mobile Phone, the mobile phone caused the mouse to seriously lag.
I cracked her open, pulled the bluetooth module out and am using the DLink USB Bluetooth adapter I've been using on the old Power Mac G5. Works a treat
I cracked her open, pulled the bluetooth module out and am using the DLink USB Bluetooth adapter I've been using on the old Power Mac G5. Works a treat
The USB bluetooth adapter is the answer. If you saw how the antenna runs underneath the motherboard, you'd be amazed that any signal escapes the box at all. I'm not sure how Apple is going to fix this one. On the G5 Power Macs they had an external antenna to get the bluetooth signal out of the aluminum enclosure. If I had it to do all over again I would just forego the built in bluetooth and use the USB dongle. For $20., the problem can be solved/avoided. I can't take the bluetooth module out of my Mac Pro because it is not a user serviceable part, so messing with it would void the warranty... It's what Apple should do for everybody until they have a legitimate fix.
There are three "Discussions" going on simultaneously about this issue. plus another on the MacRumors website. There is definitely an issue. Whether Apple realizes it or not I am not sure, but I thnk they do. They do stand behind the products, and it seems that once someone at Apple are actually takes ownership of the issue the customer gets good service. I certainly have.
So far they have replaced my bluetooth module, replaced the internal antenna, and replaced my Mac Pro; none of which solved the problem. They have now set up an appointment for me at the Apple Store to have one of their technicians actually observe the problem. They are telling me that the Apple engineers are now claiming it's an "environmental" problem, i.e. interference from some external source, peripheral, etc. I'm quite sure this is not the case because I have twice disconnected the machine, brought it to a room with no electronics on the other side of the house, and the same problem persisted. Meanwhile, my iMac G5 does fine in the same place (on my desk) that I have my Mac Pro.
If we want this issue resolved sooner rather than later, the product specialists at AppleCare have to get the calls and then in turn notify engineering. Just because there are so many people posting these complaints on various bulletin boards doesn't seem to legitimize the problem as far as Apple is concerned. I am watching everybody go through the same process as I have, all with the same lack of success: new bluetoth module, new antenna, new Mac Pro. Call AppleCare, get to a product spcialist, and request they get the issue to engineering.
Interestingly, I notice that the Apple Store online has stopped selling the wireless Mighty Mouse. Maybe it works with iMacs and laptops because it is always right next to the computer, but when the computer is further away it soesn't work. Hmmmm.
So far they have replaced my bluetooth module, replaced the internal antenna, and replaced my Mac Pro; none of which solved the problem. They have now set up an appointment for me at the Apple Store to have one of their technicians actually observe the problem. They are telling me that the Apple engineers are now claiming it's an "environmental" problem, i.e. interference from some external source, peripheral, etc. I'm quite sure this is not the case because I have twice disconnected the machine, brought it to a room with no electronics on the other side of the house, and the same problem persisted. Meanwhile, my iMac G5 does fine in the same place (on my desk) that I have my Mac Pro.
If we want this issue resolved sooner rather than later, the product specialists at AppleCare have to get the calls and then in turn notify engineering. Just because there are so many people posting these complaints on various bulletin boards doesn't seem to legitimize the problem as far as Apple is concerned. I am watching everybody go through the same process as I have, all with the same lack of success: new bluetoth module, new antenna, new Mac Pro. Call AppleCare, get to a product spcialist, and request they get the issue to engineering.
Interestingly, I notice that the Apple Store online has stopped selling the wireless Mighty Mouse. Maybe it works with iMacs and laptops because it is always right next to the computer, but when the computer is further away it soesn't work. Hmmmm.
Just chimming in here, as I have a MP comming with the BT as well, and want to be able to follow what happens with the original poster, and new updates with this situation, here's hoping they get this sorted quickly for the O.P.
Wireless Mighty Mouse is again available at the Apple Store online.
Remember, if Apple's engineering area doesn't hear about it directly, the problem doesn't exist. Call AppleCare, get to a product specialist, request that he notify engineering.
Remember, if Apple's engineering area doesn't hear about it directly, the problem doesn't exist. Call AppleCare, get to a product specialist, request that he notify engineering.
Mine Works!!!!
well, I dont know about typing, I cant get far enough away. but i know mouse and keyboard work from over 10m away through 3 walls!
How did I test that, put iTunes on, hit spacebar, music starts and stops as soon as I hit it, same with mouse, double click starts song again.
I received my Mac Pro 14th sept, and I'm in Australia.
But my phone, well that is a different story, has to be within 1 metre, but thats my phones problem.
well, I dont know about typing, I cant get far enough away. but i know mouse and keyboard work from over 10m away through 3 walls!
How did I test that, put iTunes on, hit spacebar, music starts and stops as soon as I hit it, same with mouse, double click starts song again.
I received my Mac Pro 14th sept, and I'm in Australia.
But my phone, well that is a different story, has to be within 1 metre, but thats my phones problem.
Dark Dragoon said:
Just thought I would chime in on this one. I just went down to my local Apple store and picked up the Bluetooth module, Keyboard and Mouse and installed the module myself. I used wire labeled #1 on the module and range is no problem at all as others have stated at 15ft I can barely see the screen but all still works fine and installation was a snap. Both keyboard and mouse working great in Mac OSX and windows in Bootcamp.
YoYoMa said:
There is a wire with a label "BT" on it however that wire seems to be attached to the backside of the motherboard and I didn’t want to pull very hard on the wire so I used #1 as it was the only other one that would physically reach and it had the right connector on it. Since it is an antenna and there is no electricity actually powering anything it certainly wouldn’t harm anything. I haven’t got the Airport Express card in my mac so I have 2 and 3 available for that and those two wires appeared a bit shorter and would easily reach the Airport module.
I just tested the bluetooth range of my mac pro with a treo 650 cell phone and I can discover the machine from 30 ft no problem
I must have done something right.Rokem said:
On the G5 it's not as much of a problem going to an external module unless you need to hold the C key down to boot to a cd. But on the Mac Pro it's nice to be able to hold down the option key to bring up the boot menu as well as be able to hold down the C key to boot to cd. The internal modules are initialized at powerup as system devices the usb modules dont get initialized untill usb gets initialized.
Does anyone know if there are any issues with having two bluetooth modules installed at once, for example the internal Bluetooth module and a USB one?
I'd love to know if I could have an external usb adapter at the same time as the internal module. I could use the external adapter until Apple comes up with a fix. I've asked, but nobody seems to know.
I took my Mac Pro to the Apple store today. The wireless mighty mouse had much better range there, leading us top believe it's some sort of "environmental" issue in my home office. But I came home and killed every breaker in the house, unplugged phones, microwave, etc. No go, problem still persisted. Like some other folks, I also get an intermittent buzz thorugh my speakers that was never there before. I know they used a new power pack in the Mac Pros and I'm wondering if they're ultra sensitive to line noise, etc??
Anyway, as much as I love the Mac Pro and the 30" Cinema Display I bought with it, back they go. New iMac on the way. Bummer; getting a new Mac should be a blast but instead it's been a nightmare.
I took my Mac Pro to the Apple store today. The wireless mighty mouse had much better range there, leading us top believe it's some sort of "environmental" issue in my home office. But I came home and killed every breaker in the house, unplugged phones, microwave, etc. No go, problem still persisted. Like some other folks, I also get an intermittent buzz thorugh my speakers that was never there before. I know they used a new power pack in the Mac Pros and I'm wondering if they're ultra sensitive to line noise, etc??
Anyway, as much as I love the Mac Pro and the 30" Cinema Display I bought with it, back they go. New iMac on the way. Bummer; getting a new Mac should be a blast but instead it's been a nightmare.
You CAN have a USB Bluetooth Dongle plugged into your Mac as well as the internal module, I have done this with the Apple-Supported D-Link Bluetooth module and it works fine. The reason I pulled the internal module out was simply one of simplification, the keyboard and mouse worked fine with the USB one.
I'd just like to know if there's any downsides to having two bluetooth modules constantly on, but it definitely works.
I'd just like to know if there's any downsides to having two bluetooth modules constantly on, but it definitely works.
Indeed you can! I could have sworn that I tried that when I had an AppleCare tech online, but apparently I didn't... Anyway, I've plugged a D-Link USB adapter into a usb port on the back of the Apple 30" Cinema Display, re-paired the keyboard and mouse, and it seems to be working just fine. Not a particularly elegant solution, but it will do until Apple figures out why all my other Macs work with their bluetooth mouse but the Mac Pro won't. We're getting there, slowly.
Not so fast, I knew this was too good to be true... Upon restarting the Mac Pro, mouse and keyboard want to pair with the internal bluetooth module. Have to go through re-pairing with usb adapter every time. Need to get the internal module out of there before usb bluetooth will really work. Or, just not turn off the computer...
Just recieved my replacement Mac Pro, the Bluetooth range is slightly worse than on the previous one.
The Mac Pro also came with a scratched up disk in the drive labeled "Apple Computers DVD 9", anyone know what this is? The drive won't mount it.
I've called AppleCare (got through straight away), engineerings been contacted. I'm now waiting for them to call me back.
The Mac Pro also came with a scratched up disk in the drive labeled "Apple Computers DVD 9", anyone know what this is? The drive won't mount it.
I've called AppleCare (got through straight away), engineerings been contacted. I'm now waiting for them to call me back.
OK: Apple tech was here this morning and removed the internal bluetooth module. The USB adapter works "OK" when plugged into a usb port on the back of the Mac Pro, but it works 100% when it's plugged into a usb port on the back of my Cinema Display. Range is great, performance is great. I know this is not a perfect solution, but it is a good temporary fix until Apple figures this thing out. There is definitly something funky about the Mac Pro & bluetooth.
I got the new Mac Pro today. Bluetooth is slightly worse than before. Also, whichever hard drive they gave me is much louder as well. (I'll be checking on that in a minute.)
I am very disappointed and I'm not sure where to go from here. If I want the module removed then I'm gonna have to take this thing to the Apple store in the middle of the mall and trust the teenagers to do a better job than I would, not to mention another hour long phone call with Apple to get refunded for it.
I am very disappointed and I'm not sure where to go from here. If I want the module removed then I'm gonna have to take this thing to the Apple store in the middle of the mall and trust the teenagers to do a better job than I would, not to mention another hour long phone call with Apple to get refunded for it.