Instruction for
BlueRetro

Basic Usage

Power LED: Indicates that the BlueRetro Core is powered properly.

Status LED:

  • Solid: An error occured, try power cycle, check serial logs for detail.
  • Pulsing: Bluetooth inquiry mode enable (new pairing).
  • Off: No error and Bluetooth inquiry mode disabled.

BOOT Button:

  • Short press (outside BT inquiry mode): Disconnect all Bluetooth devices from the adapter.
  • Short press (BT inquiry mode): Cancel Bluetooth inquiry mode (new pairing).
  • 3 sec hold: Enable Bluetooth inquiry mode (new pairing).
  • 10 sec hold: Factory reset BlueRetro to default configuration and clear BT pairing keys.

EN Button: Reboot BlueRetro Core.

Micro USB Port: Connect a micro USB cable for firmware update.

DB25 Female Port: Connect BlueRetro Cables.

1 Updating Firmware

Download latest firmware binary from HERE and flash them on your BlueRetro.

Via USB serial

Flashing firmware Windows 10

~/BlueRetroRoot/python_env/idf4.2_py3.7_env/bin/python ~/BlueRetroRoot/esp-idf/components/esptool_py/esptool/esptool.py -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -b 460800 –before default_reset –after hard_reset –chip esp32 write_flash –flash_mode dio –flash_size detect –flash_freq 40m 0x1000 bootloader.bin 0x8000 partition-table.bin 0x10000 BlueRetro.bin\

Via Web-Bluetooth interface (OTA FW update)

Required FW v0.19 minimum to be already programmed via USB serial.

  1. Go to https://blueretro.io/ota.html and connect to your BlueRetro adapter (make sure it’s powered on and no controller connected).​
  2. Select the BlueRetro*.bin you want then click Update Firmware button.
  3. Via PC Chrome update should take around 5 minutes, with Android Chrome it will take around 45 minutes (!!!).

2 Connecting Cable

  • Connect BlueRetro Core to BlueRetro Cable
  • Connect BlueRetro Cable to your console

3 Pairing Controller

In default configuration BlueRetro is always in inquiry mode (LED pulsing) if no controller is connected.
Pair via inquiry first (SYNC or pairing mode), on subsequent connection you can simply page (button press or power on button).
You may change this behavior by switching inquiry mode in the web config to manual. Pressing BOOT buttons for 3 sec will activate inquiry mode. See guide for more specific instruction: Pairing Guide

Up to 16 connection keys for classic BT and also up to 16 keys for BLE devices can be stored for persistent pairing.

System macro

I’m using generic label to descripbe the macro here. Refer to BlueRetro mapping reference for specific buttons.
The macro button refer to the destination button and follow the mapping configuration.

  • Disconnect controller (+ power off internal mod): Main Left Trigger + Main Right Trigger + Middle Left (Start) + Face Down
  • System reset internal mod: Main Left Trigger + Main Right Trigger + Middle Left (Start) + Face Left
  • Toogle Pairing mode on/off : Main Left Trigger + Main Right Trigger + Middle Left (Start) + Face Right
  • Factory Reset: Main Left Trigger + Main Right Trigger + Middle Left (Start) + Face Up + D-pad Up
  • Deep Sleep: Main Left Trigger + Main Right Trigger + Middle Left (Start) + Face Up + D-pad Down

Web config

Power on system and connect via Web Bluetooth at https://blueretro.io to configure adapter.
The config mode is only available if no controller is connected. Supported only in Desktop or Android Chrome