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+--- Thread: can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? (/showthread.php?tid=178816)
can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? - space-time - 04-30-2015
Mac Mini (2012), and several USB3 hard drives. One was sitting ON the Mac Mini (it was there just 2 days, temporary location). Apple Bluetooth mouse was operating fine.
Moved the hard drive NEXT to the Mini, with the USB3 cable on the RIGHT side of the Mini. When I restarted, I noticed the mouse was very "jerky" although click and touch-scroll worked fine. I flipped the power switch on the mouse ON and OFF several times. I even restarted the Mini. It didn't help.
I shut down, reached back and re-routed the cables and now moved the cable to the LEFT of the Mac Mini. I restarted, Mouse works fine.
Coincidence or was this really a case of interference between USB cable and Bluetooth module?
Re: can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? - TheTominator - 04-30-2015
Yes. USB 3 can interfere with Bluetooth.
Re: can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? - clay - 04-30-2015
yup, I seem to remember reading something about those models of minis related to usb3 and bluetooth. Search xlr8yourmac.com or apple support forums for details.
Re: can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? - space-time - 04-30-2015
Found this, right here at OWC
http://blog.macsales.com/15990-shielding-resolves-usb-3-0-conflict-with-bluetooth
and they show how to fix it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYzF8QDCSlc
Re: can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? - celliott - 04-30-2015
I had a 2012 mini and installed the OWC fix and still had problems. I currently have an upgraded MacPro 2010 that has a USB 3 card installed and the internal bluetooth is almost unusable. I put a USB bluetooth dongle on an extension cable and move it far away from the Pro and things seem much better.
You might be able to get a bluetooth 4 dongle and do the same thing with the mini. Why USB 3 passed testing is beyond me- I have had all sorts of problems. Apple has a bluetooth utility that allows you to select the active bluetooth radio- internal or dongle.
Here's the IBM white paper:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/universal-serial-bus/usb3-frequency-interference-paper.html
Re: can USB3 cable interfere with Bluetooth module in a Mac Mini? - Speedy - 04-30-2015
OWC seems to have a fix for everything! :-)
space-time wrote:
Found this, right here at OWC
http://blog.macsales.com/15990-shielding-resolves-usb-3-0-conflict-with-bluetooth
and they show how to fix it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYzF8QDCSlc