Wii remote Plus "NEW2in1" - how to make it work with Dolphin

[dvpfig]

Hi,


I expect many to have experienced this, so I just wanted to know if it is worth to spend a lot of time to try to fix it.
I have purchased a cheap Wii mote plus from China, "NEW2in1". I know this should be poor quality but expected to work a bit better

The problem:
* Very irregular attach of the Wiimote to Dolphin.
- The attach happens sometimes fast after a couple of attempts and when it does it stays connected for long time and allows to play all the games.
- However, many other times I just give up after 15min and 10 attempts not successful.

What I do to attach the WiimotePlus:
- check that bluetooth is turned on (but do not attach in Windows).
- Start Dolphin and check the continuous scanning in controllers config.
- Push buttons 1 and or push button "sync" in the Wiimote. Also try to attach and detach the nunchuck.
- When it does attach it has the name Nintendo "RVL-CNT-01" i.e. (it is not a -TR controller)


I also tried to install Zadig and use bluetooth passthrough but it just does not work with this Wiimote.


My setup:

* OS: Windows 10 Home
* Laptop: Dell with CPU Intel i7 and GPU Nvidia 1050
* Bluetooth adapter (internal): Qualcomm Atheros
* Dolphin 5.0.13569 (also tried the stable version Dolphin 5.0)

* Wii remote Plus 2in1: The Wii mote plus brand is a 3rd party, marked with label "NEW2in1".


Thanks in advance for your guidance.

[mbc07]

The default "emulate a BT adapter" mode should work with any BT Adapter, however compatibility is only granted with genuine Nintendo Wiimotes, 3rd party models generally don't work. "Passthrough a Bluetooth adapter" mode should work with anything that works on a real console (including 3rd party Wiimotes). Bluetooth Passthrough mode, however, is very picky about the particular BT Adapter you have, some adapters simply won't work with it. You can check a list of tested adapters here...

[OwOxdz]

this is like a thread like i made but got no response.

[OwOxdz]

(01-15-2021, 07:41 AM)mbc07 Wrote: The default "emulate a BT adapter" mode should work with any BT Adapter, however compatibility is only granted with genuine Nintendo Wiimotes, 3rd party models generally don't work. "Passthrough a Bluetooth adapter" mode should work with anything that works on a real console (including 3rd party Wiimotes). Bluetooth Passthrough mode, however, is very picky about the particular BT Adapter you have, some adapters simply won't work with it. You can check a list of tested adapters here...

I have tried all of that, and didn't work.

[dvpfig]

(01-15-2021, 07:41 AM)mbc07 Wrote: The default "emulate a BT adapter" mode should work with any BT Adapter, however compatibility is only granted with genuine Nintendo Wiimotes, 3rd party models generally don't work. "Passthrough a Bluetooth adapter" mode should work with anything that works on a real console (including 3rd party Wiimotes). Bluetooth Passthrough mode, however, is very picky about the particular BT Adapter you have, some adapters simply won't work with it. You can check a list of tested adapters here...

Thanks for the reply.
From the list of BT adapters, the ones that are fully supported are mostly bluetooth 2.0 or 4.0 (i.e. backwards compatible with 2.0). Since it's hard to buy very old Bluetooth adapters, the only one I found that it can be found easily is this one:
Orico BTA-403 - e.g. on ebay link

I could go ahead and take this BT adapter and try out the Passthrough mode. Though I'm still intrigued why the passthrough implementation in Dolphin is so dependent on the BT adapter. 



Does anyone have experience of using 3rd party generic Wiimotes with Bluetooth Passthrough and the Orico adapter above?

[dvpfig]

I have an update on this issue which I consider now a reasonable enough way forward.

I have bought a CSR 4.0 bluetooth dongle to use bluetooth passthrough. the dongle works well but I never managed to make Passthrough to work or at least attach to the Wiimote.

However, I've been trying quite a lot of procedures to replicate when does the Wiimote is able to pair with Dolphin in the Emulate Wiimote mode (i.e. not passthrough).

I can say two things to the two users that replied to the two users @OwOxdz and @mbc07:

* Bluetooth CSR 4.0 support for bluetooth in Windows
I understand now that trying to make passthrough work in Windows 10 with a bluetooth dongle CSR4.0 has random success and it does not depend on the bluetooth adapter that you are using.
Since I thought the issue with passthrough was related to my bluetooth internal adapter of my laptop, I went to buy a supported CSR 4.0 dongle but the result was the same.
The table of bluetooth adapters that support passthrough in the dolphin wiki is not indicative at all since it is not describing which Operating System was used to make these tests. As I came to understand, using Mac or Linux get you better support on the passthrough.

* Support of 3rd party Wiimotes
Contrary to what @mbc07 stated, the normal mode "Emulate Wiimote" of Dolphin does support 3rd party generic Wiimotes. I have been able to do it but it does require you to find a procedure to make the pairing reproducible.


The procedure for stable pairing of generic 3rd party Wiimote:
I'm on a Windows 10 and using bluetooth internal adapter (5.0) though the result is the same with the bluetooth dongle 4.0 that I bought.

1. Search in Windows for "Bluetooth & Other Devices" settings box.
2. Turn OFF bluetooth. wait a few seconds.
3. Turn ON bluetooth - this will set the bluetooth to try to sync with any device it detects.
4. Push buttons 1 and 2 on your Wiimote - the blue lights will start blinking.
5. Start Dolphin.
6. wait a few seconds, your Wiimote should pair and stay with single blue light solid in Wiimote. (if the time goes up and the lights in Wiimote stop flashing before pairing, push buttons 1 and 2 on Wiimote and let it have another attempt to pair)


You can also keep Dolphin always open.
-->The important point that I noticed that makes the pairing to work almost every time is: starting with Bluetooth OFF in Windows and turning it ON just before you push the 1 and 2 buttons in the Wiimote to sync it to Dolphin.

[mbc07]

(01-15-2021, 09:04 AM)dvpfig Wrote: Though I'm still intrigued why the passthrough implementation in Dolphin is so dependent on the BT adapter. 

In passthrough mode, it's the emulated game who talks to the BT Adapter directly. Those games were originally made to run on a Wii, which has a very specific BT Adapter, hence, perfect compatibility is only granted when using a real Wii BT Adapter. Other adapters may work well, partially or not work at all.

(01-15-2021, 09:04 AM)dvpfig Wrote: Does anyone have experience of using 3rd party generic Wiimotes with Bluetooth Passthrough and the Orico adapter above?

As listed on the page I linked you, the Orico BTA-403 works very very well with BT Passthrough.

(01-22-2021, 08:30 AM)dvpfig Wrote: I have bought a CSR 4.0 bluetooth dongle to use bluetooth passthrough. the dongle works well but I never managed to make Passthrough to work or at least attach to the Wiimote.

Like I said earlier, perfect BT Passthrough compatibility is only granted when using a real Wii BT Module.

(01-22-2021, 08:30 AM)dvpfig Wrote: * Bluetooth CSR 4.0 support for bluetooth in Windows
I understand now that trying to make passthrough work in Windows 10 with a bluetooth dongle CSR4.0 has random success and it does not depend on the bluetooth adapter that you are using.
Since I thought the issue with passthrough was related to my bluetooth internal adapter of my laptop, I went to buy a supported CSR 4.0 dongle but the result was the same.
The table of bluetooth adapters that support passthrough in the dolphin wiki is not indicative at all since it is not describing which Operating System was used to make these tests. As I came to understand, using Mac or Linux get you better support on the passthrough.

Wrong. Even when different BT Adapters shares the same chipset, their behavior in BT Passthrough mode still is completely dependent of how the manufacturer implemented said chipset (firmware, board design, antenna placement, etc.). Also, with the exception of two very old Qualcomm/Atheros BT Adapters (AR3011 and AR9462), the particular OS you're using has zero influence on how an specific BT Adapter will behave in passthrough mode.

This "CSR 4.0" adapter you bought is very very likely using the same CSR8510 chipset as various of the tested BT Adapters found in the wiki (you can check that by verifying if the USB VID and PID identifiers matches 0A12 and 0001, respectively). We currently have test reports for 22 different BT Adapters based on the CSR8510 and yet the results widely varies with each adapter, despite all of them being powered by the same chipset.

Some (like the Azio BTD-V201) doesn't even support BT 4.0 but works flawlessly in passthrough mode, others do support BT 4.0 but simply won't work in passthrough mode (like the GMYLE Ultra-Mini USB), while others (like the Orico BTA-403 and the UGREEN Bluetooth Adapter) has both BT 4.0 and works flawlessly in passthrough mode.

You just got unlucky with the particular BT Adapter you bought, and honestly, if you were going to buy a new adapter specifically for use in Dolphin with BT Passthrough, you should've gone with a model known to work (like the Orico BTA-403 -- cheap and easy to find for purchase) or went DIY with a real Wii BT Adapter.

(01-22-2021, 08:30 AM)dvpfig Wrote: * Support of 3rd party Wiimotes
Contrary to what @mbc07 stated, the normal mode "Emulate Wiimote" of Dolphin does support 3rd party generic Wiimotes. I have been able to do it but it does require you to find a procedure to make the pairing reproducible.

I never said 3rd party Wiimotes didn't work with "Emulate a BT Adapter" mode. What I said is that compatibility is only granted with genuine Nintendo Wiimotes. 3rd party models might or might not work in that mode, some models work fine, most aren't even detected.

(01-22-2021, 08:30 AM)dvpfig Wrote: The procedure for stable pairing of generic 3rd party Wiimote:
I'm on a Windows 10 and using bluetooth internal adapter (5.0) though the result is the same with the bluetooth dongle 4.0 that I bought.

1. Search in Windows for "Bluetooth & Other Devices" settings box.
2. Turn OFF bluetooth. wait a few seconds.
3. Turn ON bluetooth - this will set the bluetooth to try to sync with any device it detects.
4. Push buttons 1 and 2 on your Wiimote - the blue lights will start blinking.
5. Start Dolphin.
6. wait a few seconds, your Wiimote should pair and stay with single blue light solid in Wiimote. (if the time goes up and the lights in Wiimote stop flashing before pairing, push buttons 1 and 2 on Wiimote and let it have another attempt to pair)


You can also keep Dolphin always open.
-->The important point that I noticed that makes the pairing to work almost every time is: starting with Bluetooth OFF in Windows and turning it ON just before you push the 1 and 2 buttons in the Wiimote to sync it to Dolphin.

If you need to do that every time there's definitely something very wrong with your PC, or your 3rd party Wiimote is acting up. When using the default "Emulate a BT Adapter" mode, all you have to do is press 1+2 (or the red Sync button if you have a -TR Wiimote) while Dolphin is open, then click on "Refresh" in Controller Settings. Additionally, if you've enabled "Continuous Scanning", you can skip that last step and just press 1+2 or the red Sync button on the back of the Wiimote. As long as Dolphin is open, it'll connect to them automatically. That's how it works since Dolphin 5.0 stable at least, and that's a 4 years old build at this point...

[supsonic]

I've ordered the Orico BTA-403, which should arrive in three weeks. In the meantime I am using a generic BT 4.0 CSR8510 from 2010 that I used for a Wii interactive whiteboard.

With the BT 4.0 CSR8510, I can reliably get one third-party remote to connect via BT Passthrough. But I haven't had any luck getting two to connect. Might there be a special procedure I should use, such as deleting some files, restarting Dolphin (latest version), and then trying to resync both third-party controllers?

Is this a problem I definitely will not face with the Orico BTA-403 and possibly a real Wii BT adapter? Something tells me that I should be able to connect two third-party controllers via the BT 4.0 CSR8510.

Though the Orico adapter is in the mail on the way, I'm still contemplating buying the pre-made original Wii BT adapter just to be safe.

[supsonic]

Update: Twenty minutes after my previous reply, I got two third-party Wii controllers to work with the generic BT 4.0 CSR8510. But the details lead me to believe that there is something I'm missing, something that may uncover an overlooked procedure.

Full History: I bought five third-party Wii controllers with nunchucks. Three sets are black and two sets are red. Under the four square lights there is written "Wii." In a crescent underneath that is written "Wii MotionPlus INSIDE."

Details:

1. I first played around with the two two black controllers, trying to run them through "Emulate Wii's Bluetooth Adapter.

2. Then I started experimenting with running them through BT Passthrough, first with my X570 motherboard's built-in BT (AC9260) with limited success. I modified the .ini file and deleted SYSCONF and one instance of BT.DINF. Through Zadig 2.5, I tried both LibusbK and WinUSB. I forget the details, but performance was not reliable, so I reinstalled the original driver for AC9260.

3. Then I rummaged through long-forgotten PC parts looking for USB BT adapters I used back in 2010 with a Wii interactive smart board. I first tried a CSR BT adapter (no other identifying details), configuring the .ini file and changing the driver. No luck. I tried reinstalling the original driver for this CSR BT adapter but could not. Getting frustrated, I then tried a BT 4.0 CSR8510 A10. I installed LibusbK and configured the .ini file properly. But then I could not get those two black controllers to work again.

4. I decided to try one of the red controllers that neither my PC nor Dolphin had seen before, and it worked. For three days we played with this configuration. But then the desire to connect a second controller struck.

5. I tried connecting each of the black controllers, which had worked previously, as Controller 2 (with the red controller connected as Controller 1, but I could not get either one of the black controllers to connect. I was able to get an original white Wii controller (without motion plus) to connect as Controller 2. But I need both connected controllers to be motion plus controllers.

6. I registered for the Dolphin forum to post my experience, seeking more information. Two weeks ago, before this adventure ever started, I spent three hours reading through the Dolphin forum, gathering as much information as possible regarding the BT adapter saga, preparing for my day in the sun.

7. On a whim, I decided to change the driver for BT 4.0 CSR 8510 A10 from LibusbK to Winusb and try the two black controllers. Nothing. Then I decided to try a second red controller, one that neither my PC nor Dolphin had seen before, and, Voilà, it connected immediately as Controller 2. I don't think this had anything to do with changing from LibusbK to Winusb. I'm fairly sure that I could revert back to LibusbK and both red controllers will still work. I need to try this, just for the record.

8. I don't think my eventual success has anything to do with color of the controller. The black and red controllers have to be the same. I think it has to do something with both my PC and Dolphin first seeing and recognizing the two black controllers when I was fiddling around with AC9260 and the nonspecific CSR BT adapter. These are still registered in the system somehow, and I need to make the system forget their existence.

[mbc07]

(01-29-2021, 02:49 AM)supsonic Wrote: With the BT 4.0 CSR8510, I can reliably get one third-party remote to connect via BT Passthrough. But I haven't had any luck getting two to connect. Might there be a special procedure I should use, such as deleting some files, restarting Dolphin (latest version), and then trying to resync both third-party controllers?

When using a compatible adapter, you shouldn't need to delete/edit any files, nor do any special procedure. The only exception is if Dolphin gives you an "No usable adapter found" error at boot, in that case you should manually add the VID and PID of your particular BT Adapter into Dolphin.ini

(01-29-2021, 02:49 AM)supsonic Wrote: Is this a problem I definitely will not face with the Orico BTA-403 and possibly a real Wii BT adapter? Something tells me that I should be able to connect two third-party controllers via the BT 4.0 CSR8510.

Perfect compatibility is only guaranteed with a real Wii BT adapter. However, I personally own a Orico BTA-403 adapter that has zero issues connecting multiple Wiimotes. The ones I have are genuine Nintendo Wiimotes, though, I haven't tried 3rd-party models (theoretically they should work too).

(01-29-2021, 08:16 AM)supsonic Wrote: 2. Then I started experimenting with running them through BT Passthrough, first with my X578 motherboard's built-in BT (AC9260) with limited success. I modified the .ini file and deleted SYSCONF and one instance of BT.DINF  name). Through Zadig 2.5, I  tried both LibusbK and WinUSB. I forget the details, but performance was not reliable, so I reinstalled the original driver for AC9260.

The Bluetooth portion of Intel Wi-Fi Cards are very finicky with BT Passthrough. If you connect only one Wiimote, they work flawlessly, the moment you try to connect a second Wiimote, all sorts of issues starts happening (random disconnects, severe lag, broken audio, pairings not remembered, etc.).

(01-29-2021, 08:16 AM)supsonic Wrote: 3. Then I rummaged through long-forgotten PC parts looking for USB BT adapters I used back in 2010 with a Wii interactive smart board. I first tried a CSR BT adapter (no other identifying details), configuring the .ini file and changing the driver. No luck. I tried reinstalling the original driver for this CSR BT adapter but could not. Getting frustrated, I then tried a  BT 4.0 CSR8510 A10. I installed LibusbK and configured the .ini file properly. But then I could not get those two black controllers to work again.

Again: you should edit the .ini file only if Dolphin gives you the "No usable adapter found" error at boot. If your BT Adapter is picked without editing the .ini file but doesn't work properly, manually editing the INI or trying another USB driver won't improve anything in most cases. Also, the only thing that manually deleting SYSCONF and btdinf.bak can fix is the case where you're using a BT Adapter that you're sure that can remember pairings yet the Wiimotes doesn't stay paired after closing the game.

(01-29-2021, 08:16 AM)supsonic Wrote: 8. I don't think my eventual success has has anything to do with color of the controller. The black and red controllers have to be the same. I think it has to do something with both my PC and Dolphin first seeing and recognizing the two black controllers when I was fiddling around with AC9260 and the nonspecific CSR BT adapter. These are still registered in the system somehow, and I need to make the system forget their existence.

You said all your Wiimotes are 3rd-party, the only way of guaranteeing they're all the same is taking them apart and looking inside. Even if they look identical from the outside, the internals can be completely different (especially if they're from a different batch). Different models may behave completely different, especially when they're 3rd party...

About Wiimotes being registered in the OS after using Dolphin, that only happens when using "Emulate a BT Adapter" mode and won't have any influence when using BT Passthrough mode. Regardless, when you press 1+2/red sync button on the Wiimote and click "Refresh" (or if you have "Continuous Scanning" enabled) on the emulator, Dolphin will automatically take care of unregistering the paired Wiimotes before trying to connect to them again if necessary. If you still want to start fresh regardless, you can remove the paired Wiimotes through the Windows "Bluetooth and other devices" page in the Settings app...