5 ms·

Anecdotal, but my new 16 inch MBP drops BT connections all the time. I had to give up the keyboard and mouse I've used for years across at least 5 computers, mo

Anecdotal, but my new 16 inch MBP drops BT connections all the time. I had to give up the keyboard and mouse I've used for years across at least 5 computers, mostly Mac's because they disconnected so much. Even the Apple keyboard and mouse I switched to drop occasionally.

coob 6y ago
Honestly sounds like faulty hardware or interference.
- oriolid 6y ago
  There's something odd about the 2019 MBP Bluetooth hardware. The most interesting part is that just plugging in a Cambridge Silicon -based USB dongle can kill it permanently: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250944058 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250944058
  - 05 6y ago
    Doesn't kill it permanently; there's a fix involving connecting a CSR 2.0 dongle. There's also a workaround that sets an nvram var. Overall it's an absolute clusterfuck, though, because Apple still haven't fixed the problem.
    - oriolid 6y ago
      The workaround with nvram doesn't work if you already made the mistake of plugging in the CSR dongle. I don't know about the fix with CSR 2.0 dongle, it seems that nobody's selling them any more. Could work, could be an urban legend like all the reported fixes with nvram and pram resets and restoring various files.
      - 05 6y ago
        I can confirm the 2.0 BT dongle fix works because I had that exact issue and that's how I fixed it. Of course, I still made Apple replace the laptop (was less than 2 weeks old), but doesn't really seem like they've noticed seeing how it's still not patched almost a year later.
com2kid 6y ago
This HN thread from yesterday may help! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26625356 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26625356 tl;dr Using USB3 ports can cause Bluetooth dropouts on Macs (and lots of other machines).
merb 6y ago
the 16 inch mbp is full of bugs, so it's probably a problem with the device (typing with one and still crying because of https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/16-is-hot-noisy-with-an-external-monitor.2211747 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/16-is-hot-noisy-with-an...)
cmyr 6y ago
I think there might be some issue on that hardware where 2.4ghz wifi and bluetooth share an antenna, and can interfere with each other? If you're using 2.4ghz and can use 5, give that a try.
- PostThisTooFast 6y ago
  In that case he's probably holding it wrong.
bww 6y ago
FWIW, I also have a 16" MBP and I've also had a ton of problems with Bluetooth on this thing. I've noticed that Bluetooth connectivity is significantly worse when the laptop is closed. You might see if keeping it open helps. Resetting the Bluetooth module also helped resolve some persistent connectivity problems I was having (shift+option+click on the Bluetooth menubar item; choose "reset" from the menu). Eventually this thing started having kernel panics every time I plugged something into a USB-C port and I had to send it back for replacement. Not a great experience.
- lifty 6y ago
  Wow, never knew about that combination of keys and the fact that it brings extended options in the drop down menu. Thank you!

coob 6y ago

Honestly sounds like faulty hardware or interference.

oriolid 6y ago
There's something odd about the 2019 MBP Bluetooth hardware. The most interesting part is that just plugging in a Cambridge Silicon -based USB dongle can kill it permanently: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250944058 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250944058
- 05 6y ago
  Doesn't kill it permanently; there's a fix involving connecting a CSR 2.0 dongle. There's also a workaround that sets an nvram var. Overall it's an absolute clusterfuck, though, because Apple still haven't fixed the problem.
  - oriolid 6y ago
    The workaround with nvram doesn't work if you already made the mistake of plugging in the CSR dongle. I don't know about the fix with CSR 2.0 dongle, it seems that nobody's selling them any more. Could work, could be an urban legend like all the reported fixes with nvram and pram resets and restoring various files.
    - 05 6y ago
      I can confirm the 2.0 BT dongle fix works because I had that exact issue and that's how I fixed it. Of course, I still made Apple replace the laptop (was less than 2 weeks old), but doesn't really seem like they've noticed seeing how it's still not patched almost a year later.

com2kid 6y ago

This HN thread from yesterday may help! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26625356 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26625356 tl;dr Using USB3 ports can cause Bluetooth dropouts on Macs (and lots of other machines).

merb 6y ago

the 16 inch mbp is full of bugs, so it's probably a problem with the device (typing with one and still crying because of https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/16-is-hot-noisy-with-an-external-monitor.2211747 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/16-is-hot-noisy-with-an...)

cmyr 6y ago

I think there might be some issue on that hardware where 2.4ghz wifi and bluetooth share an antenna, and can interfere with each other? If you're using 2.4ghz and can use 5, give that a try.

PostThisTooFast 6y ago
In that case he's probably holding it wrong.

bww 6y ago

FWIW, I also have a 16" MBP and I've also had a ton of problems with Bluetooth on this thing. I've noticed that Bluetooth connectivity is significantly worse when the laptop is closed. You might see if keeping it open helps. Resetting the Bluetooth module also helped resolve some persistent connectivity problems I was having (shift+option+click on the Bluetooth menubar item; choose "reset" from the menu). Eventually this thing started having kernel panics every time I plugged something into a USB-C port and I had to send it back for replacement. Not a great experience.

lifty 6y ago
Wow, never knew about that combination of keys and the fact that it brings extended options in the drop down menu. Thank you!