Connecting to Bluetooth speakers

[J2Joe]

Hi, I am seeking help using the Bluetooth speaker output option. I can see speakers when I use the Scan or List Trusted but moode does not connect. I have managed to connect my phone successfully as an input but I cannot seem to pair to output.
Does anyone have any tips or have successfully used the Bluetooth audio output. 
I am using a raspberry Pi 3. 
Thanks

[Tim Curtis]

To troubleshoot, provide the following info:

1. Reboot and post the startup log. Either download it via System Config or run the command below.

Code:

moodeutl -l

2. What make/model Bluetooth Speaker?
3. How far away is it and are there any obstructions (walls, etc) in the signal path?

Bluetooth has very limited range, maybe 30 ft under ideal conditions.

[TheOldPresbyope]

@J2Joe

I’m away from home so don’t have the moOde webUI in front of me but in general there are multiple steps to this process

• Scan for a new Bluetooth device
  
• Pair with it (which means the device itself has to be in pairing mode)
  
• Connect to it
  
• Redirect moOde audio output to it.
  

This process has been working well for me. During testing and for general listening I routinely connect to speakers (such as Sonos Move and JBL Flip), headphones (such as Sennheiser HD4.50BT), other moOde players, ….

Note that Tim’s diagnostic command is probably meant to be 

---

moodeutl -l

---

Regards,
Kent

[davidbitton]

@TheOldPresbyope, can you expand on "Redirect moOde audio output to it."? Thanks!

[TheOldPresbyope]

@TheOldPresbyope, can you expand on "Redirect moOde audio output to it."? Thanks!

Sure.

For you to hear moOde's audio output on your Bluetooth speaker (or earphones in my case) two things have to be true.

1) the Pi's Bluetooth subsystem has to be paired with and connected to the Bluetooth device in question. That's accomplished in the "Devices" section of the Bluetooth Control screen.

2) the audio stream has to be directed to the connected device. That's accomplished in the "Options" section of the Bluetooth Control screen. Click on the down arrow in the first box and select "Bluetooth speaker" instead of "Local audio".

Unless this is done, moOde assumes the connected Bluetooth device is an audio source (for rendering audio from an app on my smartphone, say).

Regards,
Kent

[davidbitton]

@TheOldPresbyope

wow, thanks. Those appear to be GUI instructions. I learned about bluetoothctl since asking for help. now, I have a paired and trusted bluetooth speaker. moode isn't seeing it. The code is looking for a device named Alsa Bluetooth; of which cannot be found. Also, I have this output
--
davidbitton@moode:~ $ bluealsa-aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Bluetooth Devices ****
**** List of CAPTURE Bluetooth Devices ****
--

I'm missing a step; I think. How do I get the BT speakers to be a device? Thanks

[Tim Curtis]

@TheOldPresbyope

wow, thanks. Those appear to be GUI instructions. I learned about bluetoothctl since asking for help. now, I have a paired and trusted bluetooth speaker. moode isn't seeing it. The code is looking for a device named Alsa Bluetooth; of which cannot be found. Also, I have this output
--
davidbitton@moode:~ $ bluealsa-aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Bluetooth Devices ****
**** List of CAPTURE Bluetooth Devices ****
--

I'm missing a step; I think. How do I get the BT speakers to be a device? Thanks

Why do u need to use commands? 
Connecting to a BT speaker is done using the WebUI.

What ver of moode are you using?