Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a

controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth

connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and 2nd gen

Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth signal in

the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it appears to

have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed

symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify during the

limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask audience

to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable level of

reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the lab where

we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of tightly

packed equipment that could've very well caused similar connectivity issues,

With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences. Is

this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae than MBPs?

Composition, Music Technology, CCTAD, CHCI, CS and Art (by courtesy)

Director, DISIS Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio

Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a
controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth
connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and 2nd gen
Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth signal in
the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it appears to
have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed
symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify during the
limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask audience
to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable level of
reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the lab where
we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of tightly
packed equipment that could've very well caused similar connectivity issues,
and yet has not done so.

With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences. Is
this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae than MBPs?

Ivica Ico Bukvic, D.M.A.
Composition, Music Technology, CCTAD, CHCI, CS and Art (by courtesy)
Director, DISIS Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio
Virginia Tech
Dept. of Music - 0240
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-6139
(540) 231-5034 (fax)
ico@vt.edu
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/bukvic/

wiimote-connection-stability

>Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a

>controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth

>connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and 2nd gen

>Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth signal in

>the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it appears to

>have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed

>symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify during the

>limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask audience

>to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable level of

>reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the lab where

>we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of tightly

>packed equipment that could've very well caused similar connectivity issues,

>With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences. Is

>this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae than MBPs?

I don't use the Wii myself, but in my ensemble 2 of the players do 

use them - one is even using 2 of them - and we never had this kind 

the computers are all macs, mostly intel, but there are some PPC (the 

wii are synchronised to intel macs, running X.4.10 i belive)

we once had a problem with the bluetooth on one of them, a macbook 

(non-pro) but it seems a b-tooth problem of some of those (thanks 

apple!) - it was easily solved with a b-tooth usb key.

hope it helps (but i suspect it just adds to the mystery)

>Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a
>controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth
>connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and 2nd gen
>Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth signal in
>the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it appears to
>have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed
>symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify during the
>limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask audience
>to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable level of
>reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the lab where
>we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of tightly
>packed equipment that could've very well caused similar connectivity issues,
>and yet has not done so.
>
>With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences. Is
>this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae than MBPs?

I don't use the Wii myself, but in my ensemble 2 of the  players do 
use them - one is even using 2 of them - and we never had this kind 
of problems

the computers are all macs, mostly intel, but there are some PPC (the 
wii are synchronised to intel macs, running X.4.10 i belive)
we once had a problem with the bluetooth on one of them, a macbook 
(non-pro) but it seems a b-tooth problem of some of those (thanks 
apple!) - it was easily solved with a b-tooth usb key.

kasper
-- 
  Kasper T. Toeplitz
noise, composition, bass, computer
http://www.sleazeArt.com

What did you use for your Wiimote connection? I've tested the aka 

stuff, junxion and osculator. None of them is totally reliable, but 

osculator connections are the most stable.

Op 20-apr-2008, om 16:34 heeft Ivica Ico Bukvic het volgende geschreven:

> Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a

> controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth

> connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and 

> Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth 

> the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it 

> have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed

> symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify 

> limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask 

> to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable 

> reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the 

> we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of 

> packed equipment that could've very well caused similar 

> With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar 

> this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae 

> Composition, Music Technology, CCTAD, CHCI, CS and Art (by courtesy)

> Director, DISIS Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio

What did you use for your Wiimote connection? I've tested the aka  
stuff, junxion and osculator. None of them is totally reliable, but  
osculator connections are the most stable.

> Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a
> controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth
> connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and  
> 2nd gen
> Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth  
> signal in
> the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it  
> appears to
> have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed
> symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify  
> during the
> limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask  
> audience
> to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable  
> level of
> reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the  
> lab where
> we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of  
> tightly
> packed equipment that could've very well caused similar  
> connectivity issues,
> and yet has not done so.
>
> With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar  
> experiences. Is
> this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae  
> than MBPs?
>
> Ivica Ico Bukvic, D.M.A.
> Composition, Music Technology, CCTAD, CHCI, CS and Art (by courtesy)
> Director, DISIS Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio
> Virginia Tech
> Dept. of Music - 0240
> Blacksburg, VA 24061
> (540) 231-6139
> (540) 231-5034 (fax)
> ico@vt.edu
> http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/bukvic/
>
>


Aka stuff, but what made it more complex was the fact that we also used

wireless webcam which apparently uses near the same frequency range like the

Bluetooth standard, making one of the bluetooth dongles we tried using to

boost signal result in wireless video signal corruption. We could not link

the disconnection symptoms to camera usage, however.

So, if I understand correctly all of the solutions currently available seem

to be unstable in terms of maintaining connectivity?

> From: maxmsp-bounces@cycling74.com [mailto:maxmsp-bounces@cycling74.com]

> Subject: Re: [maxmsp] wiimote connection stability

> What did you use for your Wiimote connection? I've tested the aka

> stuff, junxion and osculator. None of them is totally reliable, but

> osculator connections are the most stable.

> Op 20-apr-2008, om 16:34 heeft Ivica Ico Bukvic het volgende geschreven:

> > Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a

> > controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth

> > connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and

> > Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth

> > the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it

> > have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed

> > symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify

> > limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask

> > to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable

> > reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the

> > we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of

> > packed equipment that could've very well caused similar

> > With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar

> > this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae

> > Composition, Music Technology, CCTAD, CHCI, CS and Art (by courtesy)

> > Director, DISIS Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio

Aka stuff, but what made it more complex was the fact that we also used
wireless webcam which apparently uses near the same frequency range like the
Bluetooth standard, making one of the bluetooth dongles we tried using to
boost signal result in wireless video signal corruption. We could not link
the disconnection symptoms to camera usage, however.

So, if I understand correctly all of the solutions currently available seem
to be unstable in terms of maintaining connectivity?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxmsp-bounces@cycling74.com [mailto:maxmsp-bounces@cycling74.com]
> On Behalf Of Zip Boterbloem
> Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2008 1:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [maxmsp] wiimote connection stability
>
> What did you use for your Wiimote connection? I've tested the aka
> stuff, junxion and osculator. None of them is totally reliable, but
> osculator connections are the most stable.
>
> Best,
>
> Zip
>
> Op 20-apr-2008, om 16:34 heeft Ivica Ico Bukvic het volgende geschreven:
>
> > Last night we had a show where one of the numbers used Wiimote as a
> > controller. What I discovered is that apparently Wiimote's Bluetooth
> > connectivity with computer (in this case we tested it with 1st and
> > 2nd gen
> > Intel MBPs) is lost as soon as there are other competing Bluetooth
> > signal in
> > the vicinity (we are not even sure if this is the core reason--it
> > appears to
> > have been the only logical parallel we could draw between the observed
> > symptoms and environmental variables we could easily quantify
> > during the
> > limited time we had for troubleshooting). We literally had to ask
> > audience
> > to shut off their cell phones completely to attain a reasonable
> > level of
> > reliability. On the other hand, I had no problems with this in the
> > lab where
> > we used an iMac (first gen Intel) and yet where we have tons of
> > tightly
> > packed equipment that could've very well caused similar
> > connectivity issues,
> > and yet has not done so.
> >
> > With all that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had similar
> > experiences. Is
> > this perhaps because iMacs may have stronger Bluetooth antennae
> > than MBPs?
> >
> > Ivica Ico Bukvic, D.M.A.
> > Composition, Music Technology, CCTAD, CHCI, CS and Art (by courtesy)
> > Director, DISIS Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio
> > Virginia Tech
> > Dept. of Music - 0240
> > Blacksburg, VA 24061
> > (540) 231-6139
> > (540) 231-5034 (fax)
> > ico@vt.edu
> > http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/bukvic/
> >
> >
>


can anyone confirm that using a USB bluetooth key improves the reliability of wii connections on intel macs (macbook pro in particular)? I am having a lot of connection problems with the aka object, almost unusable, and osculator looks promising and perhaps has better connection stability but my first experiments with it crashed max. I'm using max5, any thoughts would be much appreciated,