using multiple bluetooth controllers?

[Kraken]

I've been using an 8BitDo M30 gamepad with a 8Bitdo bluetooth receiver with Mister setup for few months without any issue.

Recently I bought an official SNES bluetooth controller (designed for Nintendo Switch) with another 8Bitdo receiver to use with SNES core,but I am having constant issue with both controllers such as syncing issues, and with SNES controller random but frequent disconnection during gameplay.

Am I doing anything wrong? is using 2 bluetooth receivers not supported? Just noticed on Wiki : Only single BT dongle is supported.
so 2 bluetooth dongles together not supported? how should I connect 2 bluetooth controllers for different cores?

[Sorgelig]

8bitdo receiver is not bluetooth receiver. It acts as generic gamepad. It may use bluetooth to gamepad or some modified protocol - it's up to that receiver. You can't treat 8bitdo receiver as generic bluetooth. It doesn't use bluetooth Linux stack.
So how many 8bitdo receivers you can use is generally not limited. How wireless gamepads handled by this receiver it's up to its receiver. MiSTer has nothing to do with that.

[Kraken]

Ok so is there a specific bluetooth receiver that is compatible & allows connection of 2 controllers? (not at the same time,but ready to use when I go to another core without having to re-sync)
if not,can I connect 2 bluetooth receivers?
as of now,I can only use one (8Bitdo receiver) at a time,and have to re-sync the other controller every time which is not a great experience.

[Sorgelig]

8bitdo receiver supports only single controller.
generic bluetooth receiver supports several controllers at the same time (in practice it's limited to 2-3 controllers), but unlimited controllers if not at the same time.

[Sigismond0]

Pretty much any generic BT receiver will do what you want. You just happened to pick the one that doesn't. I have like six or seven paired to the random receiver I had in my Raspberry Pi from years back, and can play simlutaneous 2-player no problem.

This is the first one that comes up on Amazon when searching for CSR8510:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CG94OW8

Here's a cheaper one that uses the BCM20702 chip:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J5WFPXX

Either of those, or anything with those chip numbers will work just fine.

[dukrous]

Adding more options. I have this one plugged into my MiSTer. Works fine and with multiple controllers simultaneously.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F25Z0FS

[Kraken]

Thanks guys.
I didn’t know 8Bitdo receivers are so limited and problematic.(and unnecessarily big too)
Will buy one of these generic ones.

[Sorgelig]

8bitdo controllers aren't problematic. They work well. Also they are independent from BT stack.

[ItalianGrandma]

I think part of the problem for you is that 8bitdo hasn’t added official support for the official Switch SNES pad yet, so it may be buggy if its connecting at all for you. I emailed 8bitdo about 7 months ago asking if they would update their firmware and they told me they will, but I’ve yet to see a new firmware release.

Edit: A generic bluetooth adapter will work for those SNES pads, though. You can even connect both with just one adapter. The only downside is that the lights on the bottom of the controller will continuously flash, but it’s not too big of a deal.

[Sigismond0]

The only downside is that the lights on the bottom of the controller will continuously flash, but it’s not too big of a deal.

Additionally, they're super finicky about re-syncing on later sessions. Sometimes they'll pair right up at the first button press, sometimes they'll take a few tries, sometimes you just have to re-pair entirely.

[Kraken]

I think part of the problem for you is that 8bitdo hasn’t added official support for the official Switch SNES pad yet, so it may be buggy if its connecting at all for you. I emailed 8bitdo about 7 months ago asking if they would update their firmware and they told me they will, but I’ve yet to see a new firmware release.

Edit: A generic bluetooth adapter will work for those SNES pads, though. You can even connect both with just one adapter. The only downside is that the lights on the bottom of the controller will continuously flash, but it’s not too big of a deal.

8BitDo woks fine with Switch SNES controller,but I have bought another 8BitDo receiver to use with M30 controller and that’s when I have problem.so I can’t have 2 8Bitdo dongles connected to Mister and have 2 controllers paired.
one must be taken out or the connected controller will randomly disconnect also pairing issues etc.
Once one 8bitdo dongle is discounted,either of controllers work without any issues.
(Basically 2 8Bitdo dongles shouldn’t be inserted at the same time)


I’ve ordered a generic BT transmitter now.

[Threepwood]

so I can’t have 2 8Bitdo dongles connected to Mister and have 2 controllers paired.
one must be taken out or the connected controller will randomly disconnect also pairing issues etc.
Once one 8bitdo dongle is discounted,either of controllers work without any issues.
(Basically 2 8Bitdo dongles shouldn’t be inserted at the same time)

I have two of the grey 8bitdo blutooth sticks (they are the same as the brown ones) and they work fine when both are plucked in at the same time. I already had hour long game sessions with two players in the past, but just tested it again with a SN30 and a M30, both bluetooth and played some without issues.

Make sure you update your dongles and gamepads to the latest firmware versions, which is 1.3 for the bluetooth sticks (https://support.8bitdo.com/, there was a connectivity issues solved by 8bitdo in November). The gamepads work best when you put the dongles in X-Input mode (hold select+UP for 3 seconds on the connected gamepad).

The only thing that can be problematic in your setup is the official Switch SNES controller.

[Kraken]

so I can’t have 2 8Bitdo dongles connected to Mister and have 2 controllers paired.
one must be taken out or the connected controller will randomly disconnect also pairing issues etc.
Once one 8bitdo dongle is discounted,either of controllers work without any issues.
(Basically 2 8Bitdo dongles shouldn’t be inserted at the same time)

I have two of the grey 8bitdo blutooth sticks (they are the same as the brown ones) and they work fine when both are plucked in at the same time. I already had hour long game sessions with two players in the past, but just tested it again with a SN30 and a M30, both bluetooth and played some without issues.

Make sure you update your dongles and gamepads to the latest firmware versions, which is 1.3 for the bluetooth sticks (https://support.8bitdo.com/, there was a connectivity issues solved by 8bitdo in November). The gamepads work best when you put the dongles in X-Input mode (hold select+UP for 3 seconds on the connected gamepad).

The only thing that can be problematic in your setup is the official Switch SNES controller.

I have 2 grey 8Bitdo dongles,just like yours.both updated to latest firmware.
I think you misunderstood the scenario,I don't want to use 2 controllers simultaneously in 2 player mode.
I just want to have 2 different controllers synced and ready,one for Genesis and one for SNES,so I don't have to re-sync one everytime.(since 8Bitdo receiver allows only 1 synced controller).

I don't have any problem with either 8Bitdo M30 or Official SNES controller when there is one 8Bitdo receiver is inserted.
I've played with each for 2+ hours in one go without issues.

but If I leave both dongles connected,then no matter which controller I'm using,there is gonna be random but reoccurring issues.
the sticks keep de-syncing and flashing even after being synced for some time,in the middle of a game for example.or initially refusing to connect and require manual re-sync etc

[Threepwood]

[...]I leave both dongles connected,then no matter which controller I'm using,there is gonna be random but reoccurring issues.
the sticks keep de-syncing and flashing even after being synced for some time,in the middle of a game for example.or initially refusing to connect and require manual re-sync etc

In your experience is there like a minimum time it takes for a desync to happen? I guess I have to try this for longer than ten minutes, but so far that scenario caused me no desyncs with both dongles inserted and only one M30 connected. The pairing surely is more hit and miss, because you have two BT receivers awaiting connections and only one controller looking for its dongle.

I found that the dongles need to be spaced out a bit when having both plugged in and only one controller connected. When they are right next to each other the unpaired dongle causes dropouts in the other one's connection (not full disconnects in my case). Maybe this could improve your situation, but since you already ordered a BT dongle, I am not sure if it would help you when I used this setup to play for the next days to try to replicate your issue with desyncs.

[Kraken]

[...]I leave both dongles connected,then no matter which controller I'm using,there is gonna be random but reoccurring issues.
the sticks keep de-syncing and flashing even after being synced for some time,in the middle of a game for example.or initially refusing to connect and require manual re-sync etc

In your experience is there like a minimum time it takes for a desync to happen? I guess I have to try this for longer than ten minutes, but so far that scenario caused me no desyncs with both dongles inserted and only one M30 connected. The pairing surely is more hit and miss, because you have two BT receivers awaiting connections and only one controller looking for its dongle.

I found that the dongles need to be spaced out a bit when having both plugged in and only one controller connected. When they are right next to each other the unpaired dongle causes dropouts in the other one's connection (not full disconnects in my case). Maybe this could improve your situation, but since you already ordered a BT dongle, I am not sure if it would help you when I used this setup to play for the next days to try to replicate your issue with desyncs.

there was no minimum time,but it was very random.
regarding space between USBs,there is not much space between USB ports of Mister anyway,and I don't want to try the one on the back since it's used for my wired arcade stick.
the annoying part is that I bought these 8Bitdo sticks (overpriced for what they are) thinking that they are the best option.but obviously thats far from truth.
haven't tried the generic BT transmitter that I orederd yet,but everyone here seems to have issue-free ,multi controller connection experience with them.

[Threepwood]

regarding space between USBs,there is not much space between USB ports of Mister anyway,and I don't want to try the one on the back since it's used for my wired arcade stick.

If you have the USB-Hub board, then plug them in on opposite sites, that should be enough

the annoying part is that I bought these 8Bitdo sticks (overpriced for what they are) thinking that they are the best option.but obviously thats far from truth.
haven't tried the generic BT transmitter that I orederd yet,but everyone here seems to have issue-free ,multi controller connection experience with them.

They were the best bluetooth option for a long time, but if you want the best option, then bluetooth is the wrong way, because of input lag. I use a Retrobit Saturn Wireless 2.4GHz gamepad since months and it reacts better than any bluetooth gamepad and is quite hassle free. Plug in the dongle, press start on the controller twice, done.

I only have one of those, so no idea if two transmitters, like in your setup, would cause trouble.

[dukrous]

the annoying part is that I bought these 8Bitdo sticks (overpriced for what they are) thinking that they are the best option.but obviously thats far from truth.

The 8bitdo bluetooth receivers were a good option when Bluetooth isn't an option. They work more like hybrid 2.4g/bluetooth dongles in that they work 1 to 1 like a 2.4g dongle but use bluetooth so they can be paired with any 1 controller at a time. They really serve their purposes when being moved between many different systems.

A traditional bluetooth dongle is just an extension of the OS and the OS remembers who it was paired to. The 8bitdo receiver handles all of that, so you once you pair a bluetooth controller to the 8bitdo dongle you can move it from system to system without needing to pair the controller again. It also works in places where pairing over bluetooth might not be an option, like on the Nintendo Switch.

So yeah...a bit overpriced compared to some standard bluetooth dongles, but they have a niche use-case which has proven popular.

[Kraken]

If you have the USB-Hub board, then plug them in on opposite sites, that should be enough

I forgot to mention,I use a standard USB Hub and everything is fitted inside a 3D printed case..it has 4 USB ports,3 of them close to each other on one side snd one at the back.(it’s a very popular hub for Mister since it fits a popular 3D printed case perfectly)

They were the best bluetooth option for a long time, but if you want the best option, then bluetooth is the wrong way, because of input lag. I use a Retrobit Saturn Wireless 2.4GHz gamepad since months and it reacts better than any bluetooth gamepad and is quite hassle free. Plug in the dongle, press start on the controller twice, done.

I only have one of those, so no idea if two transmitters, like in your setup, would cause trouble.

Yeah I know about those pads being better than Bluetooth (I had the 2.4Ghz M30 for Mega SG now both sold because of Mister)
but I’m using Mister with a CRT (PVM) and honestly I can’t sense any lag whatsoever.(and I’m very sensitive to it).
Also I need a authentic witeless SNES controller as well,which I only get if I use official Nintendo SNES Bluetooth controller (made for Switch online).
(I tries 8Bitdo Snes30 and snes30 Pro snd didn’t like them at all specially SNES30 Pro with those analogue sticks that felt wrong and in the way.)

[Kraken]

the annoying part is that I bought these 8Bitdo sticks (overpriced for what they are) thinking that they are the best option.but obviously thats far from truth.

The 8bitdo bluetooth receivers were a good option when Bluetooth isn't an option. They work more like hybrid 2.4g/bluetooth dongles in that they work 1 to 1 like a 2.4g dongle but use bluetooth so they can be paired with any 1 controller at a time. They really serve their purposes when being moved between many different systems.

A traditional bluetooth dongle is just an extension of the OS and the OS remembers who it was paired to. The 8bitdo receiver handles all of that, so you once you pair a bluetooth controller to the 8bitdo dongle you can move it from system to system without needing to pair the controller again. It also works in places where pairing over bluetooth might not be an option, like on the Nintendo Switch.

So yeah...a bit overpriced compared to some standard bluetooth dongles, but they have a niche use-case which has proven popular.

Yes everything sound perfect in theory (or when only 1 is used) but having 2 of them together for 2 different pads seem to cause problems for whatever reason sadly.