How do I improve the mac mini bluetooth range?

[bradleydavidgood]

This question is for the mac mini M1 and M2.

How do I improve the bluetooth range? I would like to use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse from 15 feet away and it gets to be a problem around 10 feet.

Thanks!

 

[ovbacon]

I have no experience with it nor need it but there are a lot of Bluetooth extenders for usb and they tend to be pretty cheap. Could be worth a try?!

 

[Fishrrman]

Bluetooth is designed to be a "weak radio" technology.
So one must expect the signal to be... weak.

Since Apple designed the current case for the Mini (starting in 2010, was it?), users have complained about bt problems.

Doesn't bt run in the 2.4ghz band (approximately)? If you have a lot of other wifi devices connecting at 2.4ghz, perhaps the other signals are "getting in the way". (I could be wrong about this)

One way to "improve" the Mini's bt performance is to get a 3rd-party USB bt "adapter". Numerous ones are available, but not all work with the Mac, you're going to have to do some research.

And then get a USB "extension cable" like this:

Amazon.com: Usb3 Extension Cable 3ft

Amazon.com: usb3 extension cable 3ft

www.amazon.com

Plug the adapter into the extension cable.
Plug the extension cable into a USB3 port on the Mini.
"Loop" the extension cable around so that the adapter end is closer to you.

That may work.
Be aware that you also may have to put in some commands in terminal to make the Mini "recognize" the 3rd-party adapter "first". See this:

Mac mini 2018 Bluetooth issues?

I wonder how well it would work to call them about it and ask them to send a trackpad since those obviously will work while plugged in. This is the only fair solution I see since they sold us all a device with faulty bluetooth connectivity. There's 16 pages of evidence here, I don't see why...

forums.macrumors.com

I don't use bt, myself.
I use a WIRED keyboard with a USB port, into which I plug the unifying receiver for my Logitech mouse. No connection problems at all that way!

 

[bradleydavidgood]

I have no experience with it nor need it but there are a lot of Bluetooth extenders for usb and they tend to be pretty cheap. Could be worth a try?!

They don't support M1 M2. At least I haven't found one that does.

 

[bradleydavidgood]

Bluetooth is designed to be a "weak radio" technology.
So one must expect the signal to be... weak.

Since Apple designed the current case for the Mini (starting in 2010, was it?), users have complained about bt problems.

Doesn't bt run in the 2.4ghz band (approximately)? If you have a lot of other wifi devices connecting at 2.4ghz, perhaps the other signals are "getting in the way". (I could be wrong about this)

One way to "improve" the Mini's bt performance is to get a 3rd-party USB bt "adapter". Numerous ones are available, but not all work with the Mac, you're going to have to do some research.

And then get a USB "extension cable" like this:

Amazon.com: Usb3 Extension Cable 3ft

Amazon.com: usb3 extension cable 3ft

www.amazon.com

Plug the adapter into the extension cable.
Plug the extension cable into a USB3 port on the Mini.
"Loop" the extension cable around so that the adapter end is closer to you.

That may work.
Be aware that you also may have to put in some commands in terminal to make the Mini "recognize" the 3rd-party adapter "first". See this:

Mac mini 2018 Bluetooth issues?

I wonder how well it would work to call them about it and ask them to send a trackpad since those obviously will work while plugged in. This is the only fair solution I see since they sold us all a device with faulty bluetooth connectivity. There's 16 pages of evidence here, I don't see why...

forums.macrumors.com

I don't use bt, myself.
I use a WIRED keyboard with a USB port, into which I plug the unifying receiver for my Logitech mouse. No connection problems at all that way!

Thank you, I saw that post but I'm not sure it will work with M1/M2 because it's an old post.

I did call Apple. They said their keyboards use bluetooth 5.3 which is a lot further range than previous bluetooth standards. So I tried my apple keyboard and it had absolutely no delays at 15 feet. The Amazon $31 keyboard started lagging at 10 feet. So I will just use the apple one. And my Logitech Ergo seems to work fine too, all with the stock M2 mac mini.

Thanks for the ideas. I like the Apple keyboards anyway so I don't mind paying for them since they work with no other cables/dongles. I don't like the idea of buying a dongle anyway since I already have my own dongle between my legs.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

As I understand it, M-series bluetooth antennas are built into the plastic plate on the bottom of Mini. So you might try propping the Mini up on its side so that plate is facing your bluetooth stuff and see if that makes any difference. If so, there are simple ways to "hang" the mini on the wall and/or vertical stands (or vertical stand hubs) for Minis that can securely keep it like that.

I do NOT know if it will make a difference or not but it is very easy to TRY and won't cost you anything to test the idea. Maybe it WILL make enough difference for whatever concerns you?

I believe it is the same with Mac Studio too and is one of the reasons I have my own Mac Studio hanging on a wall roughly behind my monitor. No bluetooth issues at all for a year+ now (NOT using an Apple keyboard).

 

[bradleydavidgood]

Thanks, it is hanging on the back of the monitor. So I guess it's already in the best position.