Thinkpads Forum

I have a T60p with built-in Bluetooth - works great in general.

I haven't used Bluetooth too much with it, but recently got the Microsoft Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000, and now some problems.

First, there tends to be a lag, especially when first moving the mouse around. The mouse pointer on the screen can lag around at times - not sure if this is normal with a BT mouse?

The biggest issue, however, is that when using the mouse for several minutes, my wireless internet connection slows down! Browser response slows, downloading large files will slow, and the Internet connection just generally degrades. If I turn BT off using Fn-F5 and stop using the BT mouse, everything returns to normal. In fact, if I don't use the BT mouse, and keep BT turned on, things run fine.

Anyone else have this problem? I haven't installed any special software for the mouse, but Windows XP Pro seemed to detect it correctly.

Thanks.

Which wireless card do you have in your T60p? Have you checked within device manager under the settings for your card, many Intel cards have an option to work with bluetooth that has been disabled by default.

Also if you download and install the newest drivers from Microsoft for your mouse you may find that they have a setting to adjust the sleep setting for your mouse this may enable you to make the mouse respond faster.

Another thing to try (not sure if it will help though) would be to check the "power manager" settings for your wireless network adapter. Make sure it is set to "maximum performance," at least under AC power.

Also, just another data point for you, my wife has another MS BT mouse she uses with an HP laptop with Intel wireless adapter and it does not degrade internet performance.

Finally, I would recommend downloading and installing the latest MS Intellipoint software which enables and controls many features of the various MS mice. This software adds functionality and it may just be that your mouse won't work optimally or correctly without it.

(Note: After using Vista for a month, I already forgot whether the setting referred to in the first paragraph in this post exists in XP or whether it is in a different place.)

Interference? Both bluetooth and 802.11b/g use 2.4GHz frequency.

My (non Bluetooth) wireless mouse, which nonetheless operates at 2.4 GHz, does not interfere with my wireless adapter's performance (currently running at "G" spec), as far as I can detect. So it seems unlikely to me that that would be the cause of the problem.

pae77 wrote:My (non Bluetooth) wireless mouse, which nonetheless operates at 2.4 GHz, does not interfere with my wireless adapter's performance (currently running at "G" spec), as far as I can detect. So it seems unlikely to me that that would be the cause of the problem.

Well, 2.4GHz has a lot of channels.. So even if it doesn't happen with you, it still might cause problems. Wireless phones also can affect wireless networks, and people often have their wireless routers and wireless phone bases at the same place, and complains about loosing connection every time the phone rings

I have a T60 with the same mouse and have no issues at all. Are you using the USB dongle that came with the mouse or the built in bluetooth? I am using the built in bluetooth with the mouse and the latest intellipoint software and IBM bluetooth software.

Thanks all - excellent forum as always.

Unfortunately, though, still not much luck. I have the Atheros wireless abgn (which I've had problems with frankly, and don't really like that much). I'm using the built in Bluetooth that came on the T60p.

It's a very strange problem, and certainly feels like interference. However, I can't pin that down either. I have NetStumbler and watched the SNR+ for the various APs in my area as I used the BT mouse, disabled BT, etc. And I didn't see any significant jumps.

I even tried changing my AP to different channels - no difference. I'm currently using only wireless G. What's strange, however, is that when I changed to B-only, things may have *slightly* improved - still hard to determine though.

I also installed the intellipoint software - no difference.

I don't have the IBM BT software installed. In fact, I had it installed, but it always said Bluetooth device not found. When I uninstalled it (and now am using only the Windows BT software) I was able to get BT to work. I'll play around with this and maybe reinstall. Anyone have problems with the BT device not being found with the IBM software?

Thanks all,

Hans

Something else very interesting that I just tested.

We're on a 100mbs network here (Wall Street ISP) so our network connection is dynamite. I downloaded a large file from a local mirror, where I generally get 2 megs/second.

I just started to download a test file, and the bluetooth mouse started lagging to the point it was unusable. It's a sure sign of some type of interference - but why does it only happen to me?

So I've installed the IBM BT software. Things might be a little better, but I did the large file download test and the mouse still lagged.

I'm curious: could someone do a similar test? Large file download, with a very high transfer rate, while moving the BT mouse around? I'd also be curious if someone with Atheros wireless and someone with Intel wireless could do the tests. I'm on a wireless G network.

zaunere wrote:could someone do a similar test?

I do it often, on several different BT kitted ThinkPads, while using Logitech and MS BT mice and have zero problems.

However, I am using Intel WiFi cards (2200BG through to 4965AGN) in all my ThinkPads!

Cheers,

Bill B.

I have an intel wireless card and do not have any problems. Try to turn off the bluetooth on the laptop and then use the mouse with the MS BT dongle to see if you still have the same problems.

Yeah, I think it's the wireless at the end of the day. I've had a number of problems with the Atheros abgn. Originally it would drop connectivity when unplugging the AC power. And it would make a weird scream noise as well.

After numerous BIOS updates and fiddling, it's better, but still not as good as other Thinkpads I've had with the Intel wireless. Oh well, this laptop will make a perfect gift for Mom.

zaunere wrote:Yeah, I think it's the wireless at the end of the day. I've had a number of problems with the Atheros abgn. Originally it would drop connectivity when unplugging the AC power. And it would make a weird scream noise as well.

After numerous BIOS updates and fiddling, it's better, but still not as good as other Thinkpads I've had with the Intel wireless. Oh well, this laptop will make a perfect gift for Mom.

I just got a different T60 and this one has the Atheros card. For a short time I noticed some stuerring too which I never saw in my other T60 that has an intel card. It didn't stutter too much and when it did it was during a large download too. I haven't seen it again but just been using this machine for a few hours.

Not to hijack this thread, but I am looking at a wireless travel
mouse for my new T61 and have been pondering BT vs USB.

Since I have BT on my T61 it seems like a good idea to use it
instead of using one of the 3 available USB ports.

So, I'm curious, since two people in the thread mentioned the
Microsoft Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000. What do you think of it?
Are you happy with it? The fact that it has the remote controls
built-in makes it very attractive, but only if the whole thing works
well.

Alternatively any other mouse you can recommend?

Thanks.

Esmail

ps: I have been looking at Logitech V470 Bluetooth Cordless Laser
Mouse for Notebooks - Blue

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UY ... L18X79LXXZ

and toying of getting a separate remote

Kensington 33374 Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/rebate ... L18X79LXXZ

I am much more likely to use the mouse than the presenter for
sure.

esmail wrote:snipped

It's a nice mouse and the main reason I got it was for the BT. Firs my hand well and it is comfy. I never use it as a remote too much. Tried it out and it worked well...

DAH wrote:Have you checked within device manager under the settings for your card, many Intel cards have an option to work with bluetooth that has been disabled by default.

How do you check this (using a Intel 4965AGN)?

go to device manager - scroll to find Network Adapters - Select - Choose properties - Advanced (tab) and then scroll down for Bluetooth settings.

Well that's how it was on my other machines, i'm not 100% sure of your settings but it's always something like that.

esmail wrote:Not to hijack this thread, but I am looking at a wireless travel
mouse for my new T61 and have been pondering BT vs USB.

Since I have BT on my T61 it seems like a good idea to use it
instead of using one of the 3 available USB ports.

So, I'm curious, since two people in the thread mentioned the
Microsoft Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000. What do you think of it?
Are you happy with it? The fact that it has the remote controls
built-in makes it very attractive, but only if the whole thing works
well.

Alternatively any other mouse you can recommend?

Thanks.

Esmail

ps: I have been looking at Logitech V470 Bluetooth Cordless Laser
Mouse for Notebooks - Blue

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UY ... L18X79LXXZ

and toying of getting a separate remote

Kensington 33374 Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/rebate ... L18X79LXXZ

I am much more likely to use the mouse than the presenter for
sure.

I have the MS Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000, connected using my T60p BT (I also have an Atheros ABGN WiFi adapter), and it mostly worked fine.

All in all, I actually loved the mouse itself; I did have similar interference issues to the original poster (which caused me to move to a Logitech VX Nano instead). When WiFi was turned off, then I had absolutely no problems with the mouse at all.

The only other complaint I had about the MS BT mouse was having to reconnect to different BT stacks (I run both Linux and Win XP), whenever I rebooted.

However, having the extra USB port available was certainly a huge help, as I charge my cell phone and Archos 605 both by USB as well as having an external 160 GB HDD when I travel.

The wife uses the identical mouse with her laptop (HP) with the MS Bluetooth adapter, and has no issues with lag etc. Hers is a corporate laptop, so no idea what WiFi adapter is in it.


Patrick

I have larger hands, and thus didn't like the smaller size of the wireless presenter mouse when I tried it, but many would prefer it for travel I suspect.

I settled on the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 8000. Bought 2 actually. And no dongle necessary, just press the mouse find Bluetooth button, then do a search from the Lenovo Bluetooth software and say no pairing key, may take several tries but it works great.

One of my Mouse 8000s is associated with the Bluetooth chipset in the T61p and stays in my travel bag. When docked at home, I flick the wireless switch off (making gigabit internet only connection, and disables Bluetooth). I have a 2nd Mouse 8000 at home on my keyboard drawer, with a matching Microsoft Bluetooth dongle in a Belkin USB 2.0 hub nearby (as my dock/laptop is too far for reliable signal).

Battery seems to last for 2-3 weeks, even with heavy use, and I rarely remember to turn the power switch off.

This configuration works great, with no lag, but one minor nit on 64 bit Vista. When I'm on the road, and I wake the laptop from sleep, I sometimes have to use Fn+F5 and disable Bluetooth radio, then reenable it right away, for my Mouse 8000 to come alive again.

Hope this helps!

Ok so yesterday I got a new Linksys Wireless N router. When I am connected to the router using the "N" connection and downloading large file (MS Updates) my mouse (Microsoft Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000) does lag and stutter now. It does the suttering on the T60 with the Artheros card but not the T60 with the Intel N card.