Switch Pro Controller loses connection randomly

[Wikzo]

(I've already posted this on https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/1694920442946840975/, but just in case I will post it here as well)

My Switch Pro Controller seems to randomly disconnect every minute or so, both in a game and in the the Big Picture menus. It does not happen in the pre-OS for Steam Link.

I've recorded a video where I play Vanquish via my Steam Link to demonstrate the disconnects. When it loses connection, I have to press a button to re-connect. Every time it re-connects the game stutters for a bit until a "controller connected" message pops up in the right corner.

Video: https://youtu.be/dfq3nBDXdlY

Steam Link beta 655
Steam Client May 3 2018, 17:29 - version 1525395880, v018 (Windows 10 Home (64-bit) 1803

[Wikzo]

Nobody else having this issue?

[Wikzo]

Hey, it seems like this issue is still present, despite a few Steam client beta updates since last week.

[austinp_valve]

From your video those disconnections look like Bluetooth disconnects rather than the controller being turned off by Steam (you can tell by the fact that the blue home LED stays lit when the controller disconnects). To rule out disconnects due to signal issues with the Steam Link could you try running over Bluetooth directly to your computer or through a wired connection to your Steam Link or computer?

[Wikzo]

Originally posted by austinp-dev:

From your video those disconnections look like Bluetooth disconnects rather than the controller being turned off by Steam (you can tell by the fact that the blue home LED stays lit when the controller disconnects). To rule out disconnects due to signal issues with the Steam Link could you try running over Bluetooth directly to your computer or through a wired connection to your Steam Link or computer?

I've been using the Pro Controller with my Steam Link since October as a Generic GamePad. This only happens with the new native drivers.

Will try playing wired now and report back.

[Wikzo]

Originally posted by austinp-dev:

From your video those disconnections look like Bluetooth disconnects rather than the controller being turned off by Steam (you can tell by the fact that the blue home LED stays lit when the controller disconnects). To rule out disconnects due to signal issues with the Steam Link could you try running over Bluetooth directly to your computer or through a wired connection to your Steam Link or computer?

Alright, now I've performed a bunch of tests, and the culprit does indeed seem to be Bluetooth-related when playing in Big Picture mode via Steam Link.

I performed the same "running around for a few minutes" test in Vanquish as in the video above. It only disconnected when using Bluetooth to Steam Link.

- Pro Controller wired directly to the Steam Link = no disconnects
- Pro Controller connected to my Windows 10 laptop via Bluetooth and playing via Steam Link = no disconnects
- *Pro Controller connected to Steam Link OS (before starting Big Picture) via Bluetooth = no disconnects
- Pro Controller connected to Steam Link via Bluetooth and playing Vanquish = disconnecting (like in the video above)

(* I kept moving up/down in the OS menus for two minutes to see if it lost connection)

Steam Link, laptop and Pro Controller are within a few meters to each other. The Steam Link is connected via an Ethernet cable to my wireless router. My laptop is connected to the router via wifi.

I have never experienced any Bluetooth interference before.

Running Steam Link beta 655 and Steam client beta built May 9, 18:19.

I have a strong feeling it's an issue with some Bluetooth driver code for Steam Link, since it seems like the Steam Link OS (before starting Big Picture) appears to use the Generic Gamepad driver (because I have to reverse A/B buttons), while Big Picture uses a new native driver.

I've been playing with my Pro Controller for many months with the Generic GamePad driver. The disconnect issue only started when I updated to the new native Pro Controller beta drivers. To me, it seems like there is a bug between Steam Link and the new beta drivers in Big Picture.

Is it maybe possible to force-remove my controller from both Steam Link and Big Picture to try again? I can deregister the controller in Steam Link, but there doesn't seem to be an option in Big Picture.

[Thundermare]

I am facing exact the same problem, my Switch Pro controller losing connection after a few minutes of playing.

I have the impression the more I am playing the disconnect occur more frequently.
I have exported the Steam Link logs and took a look at them but unfortunately I cannot find any hint which cause this issue.

If I understand the logs correctly, after each disonnect the controller get reconnected as a new one, this behavior might cause that the disconnect occur more frequently after a few minutes.

[Radjak]

Same thing here. I got a Pro Controller today, it works really well... for about a minute, then disconnects (the controller LED stays on, so it's not the controller that shuts off). It reconnects by itself, Steam says that the Pro controller is connected, then 1mn later, same thing. And repeat.
I'm using the beta version of Steam and the Link.

[SeeDborg]

Same problem here !

[austinp_valve]

We've put some additional logging around Switch connection and disconnection behaviour in the latest beta, as well as some other fixes. If you'd like to give it a try again we should be able to pull some additional diagnostics from it now if your controller continues disconnecting.

[Wikzo]

Originally posted by austinp-dev:

We've put some additional logging around Switch connection and disconnection behaviour in the latest beta, as well as some other fixes. If you'd like to give it a try again we should be able to pull some additional diagnostics from it now if your controller continues disconnecting.

Alright, cool! Will see if I can get time later this week. How do I find/post the logs?

[austinp_valve]

The logs are in your Steam folder under Steam/Logs. The files we care about here are controller.txt and controller_ui.txt.

[Wikzo]

Originally posted by austinp-dev:

The logs are in your Steam folder under Steam/Logs. The files we care about here are controller.txt and controller_ui.txt.

Thanks a lot! I rolled back to the non-beta Steam version and used the Generic Gamepad drivers, but will try out the beta again soon and report back :)

[Radjak]

Originally posted by austinp-dev:

The logs are in your Steam folder under Steam/Logs. The files we care about here are controller.txt and controller_ui.txt.

Hi, I just tried the controller wireless, it seems like it was good for a few minutes or so, then started disconnecting again. Where can I send the logs?

Thank you.

[Wikzo]

Originally posted by austinp-dev:

The logs are in your Steam folder under Steam/Logs. The files we care about here are controller.txt and controller_ui.txt.

Finally got around to play with the Switch Controller again. There disconnect problem is still there, although it seems to happen a bit less than usual.

Where would you like me to submit the .txt log files?

[Radjak]

Same thing here, I have to play with a USB cable.. :/