Bluetooth Issue

WetGeek

Having recently broken my right arm in a fall, I found myself typing on my laptop with one finger of my left hand, and that got old very quickly. My laptop sits on a stand in front of my recliner, and it's painful to try to raise my right hand that high. So I bought a Bluetooth keyboard that I can place on my lap, and that allow me to type with both hands, at which I'm very good.

Problem is, if I don't type for a while, there seems to some kind of timeout that engages, and typing no longer works. The Bluetooth settings in the menu continue to tell me that the keyboard is connected, however that's not true. I've tried every tactic to try to get it working again, and the only thing I've tried that actually works is to shut down the laptop and restart it. Reboot doesn't work -- only a shutdown and restart works to get the keyboard working again.

Does this issue sound familiar to anyone else? If so, have you found a fix or a workaround that's less extreme than the one I found?

In fact, it quit again halfway through typing that previous sentence, leaving me to finish this message with one finger. Sigh.

[deleted]

WetGeek Using TLP?

WetGeek

[deleted] Using TLP?

Apparently not, as I don't know what that stands for. Is it something that you think might help me?

[deleted]

WetGeek It's a script (or a bunch of scripts) helping with power management, but there's a chance it causes problems like you described. If you haven't installed it, you shouldn't have it.

WetGeek

[deleted] If you haven't installed it, you shouldn't have it.

I've never installed it. I'll check to see whether it was installed as a default.

The only TLP I knew of is Traffic Light Protocol, but that didn't seem to have anything to do with Bluetooth.

[deleted]

WetGeek The package name is just tlp and it doesn't come preinstalled.
https://dev.getsol.us/source/tlp/

WetGeek

[deleted] The package name is just tlp and it doesn't come preinstalled.

Then I'm sure I don't have it -- I've never installed it. Is there any reason why I should try installing it? I ask, because I'm still very unclear about what it does.

EDIT: Since I can uninstall anything I've installed, I thought I'd give it a try. Apparently it's configurable, so I'll take a look at the possibilities that are available, and see if anything it supports can help me. Thanks for mentioning it.

[deleted]

WetGeek No, I asked the question to get a clue whether it's an issue with TLP or something else. What is the make/model of the keyboard?

WetGeek

[deleted] What is the make/model of the keyboard?

Arteck HB088. I use another one just like it to control the media/streaming machine that drives my TV. That's a desktop running MATE, and it's never given me a problem like this one.

For what it's worth, I haven't experienced the issue since I installed tlp. It'll be interesting to see whether it's actually fixed, or I just haven't given it enough reason to screw up yet. If it doesn't help, of course, the first thing I'll do is remove tlp.

There's no entry in my ~/.config directory for tlp, by the way, and no GUI. How does one change its defaults?

[deleted]

WetGeek /etc/tlp.conf

WetGeek

[deleted] /etc/tlp.conf

Yeah. After asked about that, I looked in the Software Center again and found out that it's there. There are a few settings that appear to affect bluetooth (as well as other radios), but it's not apparent that a change of any of them will solve my problem.

Interestingly, my keyboard still hasn't stopped working since I installed tld. Hoping it continues to work right because my typing ability is about 10 times better with two hands, compared with typing using one finger of one hand. In other words, to me it's enough of an issue that I'm willing to spend considerable time finding a solution.

Thanks for your continued help with it!

WetGeek

WetGeek Interestingly, my keyboard still hasn't stopped working since I installed tld.

It's the next morning, now, and this Bluetooth keyboard is still working well. Needless to say, I don't type much in my sleep, but before I installed tld, just not typing anything for a little while was enough to cause the problem I described. I'm not calling it solved quite yet, but I'm very happy with how things are going so far.

WetGeek

WetGeek It's the next morning, now, and this Bluetooth keyboard is still working well

Unfortunately, it didn't last. I've used the keyboard a lot since then, but this morning it again stopped working in the middle of a sentence as I typed an email. I shut down the laptop and restarted it, which fixed things as usual.

So, I'm still looking for a better solution, in case anyone thinks of something else I should try. Installing tlp apparently changed the severity of the problem from several restarts per day to one restart in a couple of days, so I'm not ready to uninstall that yet, but it's obviously not a complete solution.

[deleted]

WetGeek Could you please provide the info about your bluetooth chip from lspci -v?

JoshStrobl

@WetGeek Removed post as the formatting was significantly broken. Please put your log on either pastebin and link that, or use Markdown code blocks, thanks!

WetGeek

JoshStrobl

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06)
	Subsystem: Dell Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 26
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 0000e000-0000efff [size=4K]
	Memory behind bridge: f4000000-f50fffff [size=17M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000e0000000-00000000f1ffffff [size=288M]
	Capabilities: [88] Subsystem: Dell Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller
	Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [a0] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [140] Root Complex Link
	Capabilities: [d94] Secondary PCI Express
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	DeviceName:  Onboard IGD
	Subsystem: Dell 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 39
	Memory at f5400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
	Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	I/O ports at f000 [size=64]
	Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=128K]
	Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [a4] PCI Advanced Features
	Kernel driver in use: i915

00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller (rev 06)
	Subsystem: Dell Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 41
	Memory at f7834000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel

00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI (rev 04) (prog-if 30 [XHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 35
	Memory at f7820000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
	Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/8 Maskable- 64bit+
	Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd

00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 37
	Memory at f7840000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [8c] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Kernel driver in use: mei_me


00:16.3 Serial controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family KT Controller (rev 04) (prog-if 02 [16550])
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family KT Controller
	Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel, IRQ 19
	I/O ports at f0e0 [size=8]
	Memory at f783e000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
	Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [d0] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Kernel driver in use: serial

00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection I217-LM (rev 04)
	DeviceName:  Onboard LAN
	Subsystem: Dell Ethernet Connection I217-LM
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 36
	Memory at f7800000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
	Memory at f783d000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
	I/O ports at f080 [size=32]
	Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [d0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [e0] PCI Advanced Features
	Kernel driver in use: e1000e

00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #2 (rev 04) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
	Memory at f783c000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
	Capabilities: [98] PCI Advanced Features
	Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci


00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 40
	Memory at f7830000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev d4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 27
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00002fff [size=4K]
	Memory behind bridge: cf200000-cf3fffff [size=2M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000cf400000-00000000cf5fffff [size=2M]
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #3 (rev d4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 28
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: [disabled]
	Memory behind bridge: f7700000-f77fffff [size=1M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: [disabled]
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #4 (rev d4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 29
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=07, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff [size=4K]
	Memory behind bridge: f6c00000-f75fffff [size=10M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000f3500000-00000000f3efffff [size=10M]
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #5 (rev d4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 30
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=08, subordinate=08, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 0000c000-0000cfff [size=4K]
	Memory behind bridge: f6200000-f6bfffff [size=10M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000f2b00000-00000000f34fffff [size=10M]
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.6 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #7 (rev d4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 31
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=09, subordinate=10, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000bfff [size=8K]
	Memory behind bridge: f5800000-f61fffff [size=10M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000f2100000-00000000f2afffff [size=10M]
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.7 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #8 (rev d4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 32
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=11, subordinate=11, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: [disabled]
	Memory behind bridge: f7600000-f76fffff [size=1M]
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: [disabled]
	Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port
	Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport


00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #1 (rev 04) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
	Memory at f783b000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
	Capabilities: [98] PCI Advanced Features
	Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation QM87 Express LPC Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Dell QM87 Express LPC Controller
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
	Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>
	Kernel driver in use: lpc_ich

00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode] (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Dell 82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode]
	Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 34
	I/O ports at f0d0 [size=8]
	I/O ports at f0c0 [size=4]
	I/O ports at f0b0 [size=8]
	I/O ports at f0a0 [size=4]
	I/O ports at f060 [size=32]
	Memory at f783a000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
	Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [a8] SATA HBA v1.0
	Kernel driver in use: ahci


00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Dell 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller
	Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 18
	Memory at f7839000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
	I/O ports at f040 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK106GLM [Quadro K2100M] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: Dell GK106GLM [Quadro K2100M]
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 42
	Memory at f4000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
	Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	Memory at f0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=32M]
	I/O ports at e000 [size=128]
	Expansion ROM at f5000000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=512K]
	Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [78] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [b4] Vendor Specific Information: Len=14 <?>
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [128] Power Budgeting <?>
	Capabilities: [600] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=024 <?>
	Capabilities: [900] Secondary PCI Express
	Kernel driver in use: nvidia


01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK106 HDMI Audio Controller (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Dell GK106 HDMI Audio Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
	Memory at f5080000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [78] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel

03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev 73)
	Subsystem: Intel Corporation Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 38
	Memory at f7700000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
	Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [d0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [40] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
	Capabilities: [140] Device Serial Number f8-16-54-ff-ff-45-d4-86
	Capabilities: [14c] Latency Tolerance Reporting
	Capabilities: [154] Vendor Specific Information: ID=cafe Rev=1 Len=014 <?>
	Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi

11:00.0 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. SD/MMC Card Reader Controller (rev 01) (prog-if 01)
	Subsystem: Dell SD/MMC Card Reader Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 33
	Memory at f7601000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
	Memory at f7600000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
	Capabilities: [6c] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [48] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable+ 64bit+
	Capabilities: [80] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [200] Advanced Error Reporting
	Capabilities: [230] Latency Tolerance Reporting
	Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci

WetGeek

WetGeek Sorry about all the comments that were converted to headings by the forum software. I'd edit the message and escape all of those #s, but it's probably not worth it this time. I'll try to remember that before I post the message with command output. There will undoubtedly be comments in most of those.

JoshStrobl

WetGeek No problem, Markdown parsers can be weird.

[deleted]

Hmm. Try this
echo "options iwlwifi bt_coex_active=N" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi-coex.conf
And reboot.

In case you run into issues, you can just sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi-coex.conf

WetGeek

[deleted] echo "options iwlwifi bt_coex_active=N" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi-coex.conf

tee: /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi-coex.conf: No such file or directory

There is no card, and no dongle. Wi-fi is built into this Dell laptop. It's a DELL PRECISION M4200. The only USB devices in use are my wireless mouse and webcam.

I had no idea how an internal wi-fi radio might be identified on the PCI bus, so I sent all of it, but I knew from the start it wouldn't show up as a USB device. Thanks for all the help. It's now working for days at a time, instead of a couple hours at a time, so that's a big improvement.

[deleted]

WetGeek Try out the suggestion here [deleted]

[deleted]

WetGeek sudo mkdir -p /etc/modprobe.d

You can see it's shown by lspci, 03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev 73)