BLE pairing doesn't work with prebuilt image

[n0k0m3]

Describe the problem

Prebuilt image doesn't have bluez firmwares and can't find bluetooth hci

sudo /root/bin/tesla-control -ble -vin $VIN add-key-request /root/.ble/key_public.pem owner cloud_key
Error: ble: failed to enable device: can't init hci: no devices available

hcitool dev
Devices: #Empty

Device

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

OS Image

Prebuilt TeslaUSB image

Car Model

Model Y

USB connection

Glove box

Logs

diagnostics.txt

Additional information

The log above is AFTER installing bluez, bluez-firmware, libbluetooth3.

[marcone]

Did you reboot after installing bluez and those other packages?

[n0k0m3]

Yes I did.
For more information I'm running the 2023 latest release image not the 2025 latest pre-release. Testing the pre-release rn

[n0k0m3]

pre-release doesn't boot, moved to pios bookworm lite image + install manually and the feature worked (bluetooth hci recognized)

[jakest]

Same thing is happening to me on the one touch install. hcitool dev shows an empty device list.

[miles267]

Hi - I've already had a working Teslausb image. However I've since updated to the new .conf file format to enable BLE support on my RPi 4. When I then run the teslausb update it does not install BLE support. Are there commands that can be run to install the prerequisite packages to support the tesla-control -ble -vin... command?

[jakest]

I couldn’t get it working with the prebuilt image. I installed Raspbian Lite then used the install script. Once that was done, I had to manually install bluez, bluez-firmware, and libbluetooth3.

But even so, the logs say that BLE can’t be used to enable to disable Sentry, even though it’s showing connected as a key. I haven’t been able to get it working at all.

[THX723]

I couldn’t get it working with the prebuilt image. I installed Raspbian Lite then used the install script. Once that was done, I had to manually install bluez, bluez-firmware, and libbluetooth3.

But even so, the logs say that BLE can’t be used to enable to disable Sentry, even though it’s showing connected as a key. I haven’t been able to get it working at all.

Which SBC are you using? Also do you have more than 1 other bluetooth key paired? (e.g. phone, wearable)

[jakest]

Pi Zero 2 W

Yes, I have a phone and watch connected. I actually think I have two watch apps connected (Tesla and Tessie). I’ve had more than that in the past, but those are the only two on the list now.

[THX723]

Pi Zero 2 W

Yes, I have a phone and watch connected. I actually think I have two watch apps connected (Tesla and Tessie). I’ve had more than that in the past, but those are the only two on the list now.

There's a 3 concurrent BLE connection limit. Try powering down your watch and see if that helps. Also double check your VIN entry, and also make sure they are in CAPS.

[jakest]

Meaning concurrent ever? Or concurrently active? I can definitely try removing the watch apps. If concurrent, my watch was out of range during this testing (I typically don't wear it on the weekend). VIN is correct, but I'll give it another shot by just removing one of the watch apps so there are only three concurrent connections.

[THX723]

Meaning concurrent ever? Or concurrently active? I can definitely try removing the watch apps. If concurrent, my watch was out of range during this testing (I typically don't wear it on the weekend). VIN is correct, but I'll give it another shot by just removing one of the watch apps so there are only three concurrent connections.

Concurrently active. Powering down the watch is the surest way to be sure it is not connected.

[THX723]

Btw Key Fob, if you have any, also counts as one.

[stauffenberg2020]

There's a 3 concurrent BLE connection limit. Try powering down your watch and see if that helps. Also double check your VIN entry, and also make sure they are in CAPS.

I am not sure if this is fully correct. I have 2 phones, 1 watch, 1 charger BLE connected to the car.

[THX723]

There's a 3 concurrent BLE connection limit. Try powering down your watch and see if that helps. Also double check your VIN entry, and also make sure they are in CAPS.

I am not sure if this is fully correct. I have 2 phones, 1 watch, 1 charger BLE connected to the car.

A BLE charger? That's a new one! :)

You may be confusing BLE with standard BT. They are unique classes of Bluetooth. BLE doesn't typically maintain a persistent connections like standard BT. The two can coexist on top of each other.

The 3 simultaneous BLE connections limit is documented in the Tesla developer's note:

Note: Due to hardware constraints, VCSEC can only reliably maintain up to three simultaneous BLE connections. These are shared by keyfobs and phone keys.

[stauffenberg2020]

A BLE charger? That's a new one! :)

Yes, I have a Zaptec charger which can now (locally) control/set (through Enode) the charge limit (through bluetooth key) on my Tesla.