Bluetooth failing whilst running Second Life on Firestorm viewer

[Beefwitted]

I've had an ongoing issue with Second Life where I use a wireless Bluetooth headset and I've noticed that if I have Second Life open on Firestorm occasionally my connection will just cut out and won't return until I manually toggle Bluetooth off and then on again, though sometimes the Bluetooth function will just fail entirely and I won't be able to toggle it back on at all until a restart is performed. Anyone experienced anything similar with Bluetooth / audio devices being affected?

[Lindal Kidd]

I had an early Bluetooth headset that worked fine with everything, but was completely nonfunctional with SL.

I've never tried to use Bluetooth with SL since, simply assuming that SL doesn't support it.

[Rowan Amore]

1 hour ago, Lindal Kidd said:

I had an early Bluetooth headset that worked fine with everything, but was completely nonfunctional with SL.

I've never tried to use Bluetooth with SL since, simply assuming that SL doesn't support it.

I use a bluetooth headset with SL and it works fine so it might not be an SL or viewer issue but a headset/computer issue.

[Wulfie Reanimator]

There's a whole bunch of stuff that can interfere with Bluetooth, including other Bluetooth/WiFi devices, or your microwave, or not having direct line of sight to your computer, etc.

Edited January 29, 2023 by Wulfie Reanimator

[AlexMas118]

Well. I think it's some5hing up to how firestorm is having issues with Bluetooth. I tested 2 USB Bluetooth adapter and 4 different headphones, all top brands (jbl,akg,pioneer, sony) not cheap, no issues talking in local. If I call p2p other user I don't listen, the other user can't listen. I deactivated firewall, update drivers. No issues with other games or chat apps (zoom, Skype, etc). I give up. Last but not least.... tried different viewer as well. I give up.  No clue what to do more

Edited March 27 by AlexMas118

[Qie Niangao]

20 minutes ago, AlexMas118 said:

no issues talking in local. If I call p2p other user I don't listen, the other user can't listen

That part is interesting, inasmuch as the Bluetooth connection works with no issue until Firestorm tries to use it for a very slightly different thing. If you haven't already tried with a wired USB audio connection (Apple's USB-C EarPods are surprisingly not awful for the surprisingly reasonable price), it may be worth seeing if there's something amiss in Firestorm's voice configuration.

Usually I'd fuss about the USB-Bluetooth adapter approach, which always caused me problems that magically went away when I got a motherboard with a proper Bluetooth + WiFi module, but if you're only having problems in p2p mode, that doesn't really seem like a Bluetooth problem.

As you may know, the Lab is in the process of replacing Vivox with WebRTC, and on a pretty accelerated schedule. That might possibly fix stuff.

[AAngel Braveheart]

I use two speakers with SL for music during dance shows. The Megaboom speaker works well and it is the computer that it communicates with and any sound from the PC, even SL browsers  plays just fine.

My other speaker has a microphone and that was a disaster with SL, it sometimes worked, sometimes didn't,  so I deleted the bluetooth connection, again it is just to the DESKTOP computer Bluetooth dongle.

Then I used a male to male 3.5mm cable to the speaker and the PC headphone socket and the sound from SL is just perfect, with good base.

For this reply, I kust used my Headphones on Bluetooth and SL. Yes it works.

Bluetooth works with the PC and repeats anything that the PC plays.

To make a change of output, try Ear Trumpet app, it will re-direct the sound automatically or manuallyand is a free app.

It sits in the app box on the PC by the clock.

 

The Bluetooth dongle, it is dirt cheap on Amazon (£8 - £11) and supports 6 units, of course one at a time. And far better than a built in one.

Also used it on my Win 10 klaptop, yup it works with three systems on there too.

Hope that helps.

[AlexMas118]

On 3/27/2024 at 8:32 PM, AAngel Braveheart said:

To make a change of output, try Ear Trumpet app, it will re-direct the sound automatically or manuallyand is a free app.

Thank you very much to inspire me.

It's clear! The problem is how the official and Firestorm viewer are handling the bluetooth drivers. I was able to fix in the following way:

I installed Voicemeeter. It install a virtual audio device.

In Voicemeeter I selected as source my Bluetooth headphone.

In Firestorm, in voice mic device, the virtual driver of Voicemeeter.

Working perfect!

I can call, receive and everything.

You can be sure that ALL your bluetooth devices are working now in SL.

Hugs

Edited March 29 by AlexMas118

[AAngel Braveheart]

13 hours ago, AlexMas118 said:

Voicemeeter

Where is this available please?

[AlexMas118]

58 minutes ago, AAngel Braveheart said:

Where is this available please?

https://vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/

Here