Bluetooth lag (KB + Mouse = lag)

[bruleke]

This issue has been discussed in MANY forums and threads out there, but no answer.

I studied the possibilities and found some stuff. Before that, lets see the previous situation:

-Logitech M555b ONLY.
Status: no lag, no problem. Mouse used to stand in the right side of macbook.
Macbook: high stand (about 25cm elevated - griffin).

Now, the situation, WITH the bluetooth lag:

-Bought an Apple Wireless keyboard
Macbook: same height but now I put it on my left side.
Status: lag on bluetooth logitech mouse. Jumpy cursor and delay on the movements.

What I did and DIDNT solve:

-New batteries;
-New mousepad;
-Opened the mouse and cleaned with cottom;
-Formated and did a fresh install of Snow Leopard (last update);
-Changed 2.4ghz router's channel to 1, 2, 3, 4...until 11. (D-524 DLink);

What I noticed:

If I use ONLY the mouse, everything is ok, but when I add the Apple bluetooth keyboard, the mouse gets laggy.
It seems that the bluetooth sensor in macbook pro doesnt have that much power to handle these two devices.

What I am going to do next week:

-Install a new router (Cisco E2000) and use the 5ghz signal;
-Use my macbook pro in the right side (so the mouse will be closer to it).

Does anybody have a solution?

 

[bruleke]

Ok, I have changed my macbook from the left side to the right side of my mouse yesterday, so its been more than 24 hours since then.

DIDNT work!

These expensive machines just cant handle 2 bluetooth devices?????

 

[bruleke]

Update: Replaced my bluetooth mouse for another model. Same problem. So, I bought a wired mouse and... voi la. Everything works fine.

So, it seems that:

1. Macs candle handle 2 bluetooth dispositives (if they are keyboard AND mouse);

2. I am the only one who tried something and replied to this post...

Thats it!

 

[iPadThai]

I am experiencing the exact same problem like yours. I have a magic mouse and the wireless BT apple keyboard. Once in a while but frequently, my mouse would jump all over the place and I always thought it was the lack of mouse pad that was causing it. I got three mouse pads in fact and all three don't make a difference - the mouse would jump around and become laggy - it's so frustrating because I don't know why it's doing this. I also returned the magic mouse and got another one which does the same thing!

 

[bruleke]

@ iPadThai: yes, the same here!

There are a lot of threads over the internet and the advices are to change the mousepad, mouse batteries but NOTHING solves.

My conclusion after all of these tests is that Macbooks cant handle bluetooth keyboard AND bluetooth mouse together without problems, which is a shame.

Also, an useful information: the jumpy cursor will only happen when your hard drive is doing some medium/hard activity.
Minor lags may occur normally, but the big problem is the jumpy cursor.

The solution, for me, was to use my bluetooth apple keyboard + WIRED mouse.

Problem is gone.

3,500 dollars for a notebook that only supports ONE bluetooth device is a joke (in Brazil it is more expensive).

 

[iPadThai]

@ iPadThai: yes, the same here!

There are a lot of threads over the internet and the advices are to change the mousepad, mouse batteries but NOTHING solves.

My conclusion after all of these tests is that Macbooks cant handle bluetooth keyboard AND bluetooth mouse together without problems, which is a shame.

Also, an useful information: the jumpy cursor will only happen when your hard drive is doing some medium/hard activity.
Minor lags may occur normally, but the big problem is the jumpy cursor.

The solution, for me, was to use my bluetooth apple keyboard + WIRED mouse.

Problem is gone.

3,500 dollars for a notebook that only supports ONE bluetooth device is a joke (in Brazil it is more expensive).

I am testing out this new hypothesis now: I turned off bluetooth discoverable and so far, no lag with the mouse! I have been transcoding a bunch of DVD movies to my ATV2 and have not witnessed anything abnormal; so I'm crossing fingers and I'll see how it fairs in a few days.

 

[bruleke]

I am testing out this new hypothesis now: I turned off bluetooth discoverable and so far, no lag with the mouse! I have been transcoding a bunch of DVD movies to my ATV2 and have not witnessed anything abnormal; so I'm crossing fingers and I'll see how it fairs in a few days.

I guarantee you this WONT work.
You may feel happy now for 1 or 2 hours tops.
Then, wait. The problem wont be solved EVEN if you restart.
Just to remind you that you have to test it for some days before you came with a conclusion. Many sites recommends to do this what you are doing and people come with "hey, it worked", but next day, the same happens =/

 

[iPadThai]

I guarantee you this WONT work.
You may feel happy now for 1 or 2 hours tops.
Then, wait. The problem wont be solved EVEN if you restart.
Just to remind you that you have to test it for some days before you came with a conclusion. Many sites recommends to do this what you are doing and people come with "hey, it worked", but next day, the same happens =/

Nope you are right - the frickin' lag and stuttering is there when the hdd and/or cpu gets taxed. I wonder if a pram reset will fix this??

I don't even know of a comparable mouse like the magic mouse; in Lion, i rely on the gestures and it would suck to revert to a wired mouse that's a plain jane generic one too.

 

[Ledgem]

For what it's worth, I'm guessing that the problem has to do with the mouse. Back on OS X 10.5, I used a Bluetooth mouse (non-Apple) and Bluetooth headphones. The mouse didn't lag that I can remember, but the audio would frequently stutter and cut out when I used the mouse. It occurred if the mouse was simply connected, but its frequency greatly increased if I moved the mouse around a lot. Audio over Bluetooth was newly introduced with 10.5, though, and as of 10.5.4 or so it seemed that Apple had stabilized the issue.

I no longer use a Bluetooth mouse, but I have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard. With 10.7.1, Bluetooth audio + keyboard is a bit fickle - with some connections, the audio begins to have problems after a few minutes. Sometimes, there are zero issues. I haven't found any particular pattern that would explain these differences.

For what it's worth, even when it's working well or when there's no other Bluetooth device connected, Bluetooth audio begins to have issues if I'm straining the system (high CPU usage). I don't remember having lag or stuttering with my Bluetooth mouse back a few years ago under such conditions, but who knows - things may be different. Make sure to write in on Apple's feedback form about your problems and observations.

 

[bruleke]

Nope you are right - the frickin' lag and stuttering is there when the hdd and/or cpu gets taxed. I wonder if a pram reset will fix this??

I don't even know of a comparable mouse like the magic mouse; in Lion, i rely on the gestures and it would suck to revert to a wired mouse that's a plain jane generic one too.

Already did PRAM but nothing worked.
I bought a wired mouse. Problem solved.

----------

For what it's worth, I'm guessing that the problem has to do with the mouse. Back on OS X 10.5, I used a Bluetooth mouse (non-Apple) and Bluetooth headphones. The mouse didn't lag that I can remember, but the audio would frequently stutter and cut out when I used the mouse. It occurred if the mouse was simply connected, but its frequency greatly increased if I moved the mouse around a lot. Audio over Bluetooth was newly introduced with 10.5, though, and as of 10.5.4 or so it seemed that Apple had stabilized the issue.

I no longer use a Bluetooth mouse, but I have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard. With 10.7.1, Bluetooth audio + keyboard is a bit fickle - with some connections, the audio begins to have problems after a few minutes. Sometimes, there are zero issues. I haven't found any particular pattern that would explain these differences.

For what it's worth, even when it's working well or when there's no other Bluetooth device connected, Bluetooth audio begins to have issues if I'm straining the system (high CPU usage). I don't remember having lag or stuttering with my Bluetooth mouse back a few years ago under such conditions, but who knows - things may be different. Make sure to write in on Apple's feedback form about your problems and observations.

No man, I'm sorry, but the problem is exclusively with the combination KEYBOARD+MOUSE, both bluetooth.
Also, the more you use your hard drive or CPU, the slower the mouse will be (and jumpy too).

 

[leez]

Bump, as I'm experiencing this from time to time.

Just found something in Bluetooth preferences, looks like signal strength. Could you please check yours ? Even if you don't experience this. Is your signal constant ?

It drops on mine, depends if I move the mouse or not. Lion, 10.7.4, all updated.

Thanks.

To access this, select your mouse, on the bottom -> Settings icon -> Monitor Connection RSSI




BTW.
Changed my WiFi channel to something different that 12. Works for now...

 

[bruleke]

Yes, the signal is always strange!
Actually, I am using only bluetooth keyboard. I would LOVE to buy a magic trackpad, but I am sure I would get these annoying lags =/

Now, I am using bluetooth Apple Keyboard + wired mouse. I had to buy a wired one since bluetooth KB + bluetooth mouse causes the lags.

This is very frustrating...
No solution here =/

 

[leez]

Yes, the signal is always strange!
Actually, I am using only bluetooth keyboard. I would LOVE to buy a magic trackpad, but I am sure I would get these annoying lags =/

Now, I am using bluetooth Apple Keyboard + wired mouse. I had to buy a wired one since bluetooth KB + bluetooth mouse causes the lags.

This is very frustrating...
No solution here =/

Change your WiFi channel to something different than 12 (your router settings - WiFi preferences). It works for me since yesterday. No lags for now...

PS.
Oh sorry, just noticed, that you already tried that. But might help someone...

 

[bruleke]

Change your WiFi channel to something different than 12 (your router settings - WiFi preferences). It works for me since yesterday. No lags for now...

PS.
Oh sorry, just noticed, that you already tried that. But might help someone...

Yeah =/
I tried EVERY channel. Even HBO lol
Nothing worked

 

[agente221]

bluetooth lag is NOT a mouse/key board issue

I get the lag with at work with an apple wireless keyboard and magic mouse and at home with an apple wireless keyboard and trackpad. So don't think it's your bluetooth device that is defective!

My temporary solution is to disconnect one of the devices (drag your slow mouse to the top right corner to the bluetooth icon, highlight a device and select 'disconnect'). The lag immediately goes away and I reconnect the device.

The lag happens to me about once a day and I'm trying to figure out what process is going on in the background that could be interacting with bluetooth. Anyone have any ideas?!