Bluetooth keyboard no longer discoverable after 10.4.4

Question

Hi--
My Apple Wireless Keyboard had been working fine with my PowerBook. I've had Bluetooth 1.5 Update for Mac OS X Bluetooth Firmware Updater 1.2 installed for awhile and I've installed new batteries within the last several weeks.
However, roughly two weeks ago (I'm pretty sure before I upgraded to 10.4.5) any input from the keyboard was not recognized.
The green light is visible on the back of the keyboard. When I attempt to set up a new Bluetooth device one of two things happen:
* the dialog box claims my keyboard isn't discoverable
* it takes a long while for the keyboard to be discovered; then, when I try to type in the string to validate, the system doesn't recognize any input.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide.
--SET
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Answer 1

You're quite welcome, --SET —
Now if only one of these ideas actually helps!   OK, I've a few more ideas to share...
(1) Not to belabor (polarize?) the batteries thing, but I've participated in a number of exchanges here where it turned out that someone's problem was due to a surprising sensitivity to slightly low voltage. Some have even given up using a particular brand of alkalines. (I didn't quite "buy it" — so I don't remember which. Keep this idea in your toolbox, anyway.) Goofy though it seems, I've had success once or twice by replacing batteries that I didn't believe were spent.
(2) I don't recall whether you've mentioned a Bluetooth mouse or any other BT devices...? If not — it's entirely possible that it's the internal module. This isn't usually an issue with desktops, but laptops are much more susceptible to a bump in the night... There's really no way for you to troubleshoot this yourself that I know of — but AppleCare or an Apple-authorized service provider (AASP) may have suggestions.
(3) Have you done a ~careful review of potential sources of 2.4 GHz interference adjacent to / near your keyboard? I can provide some detailed references if you'd like — but Article 58543 or this thread may be descriptive enough.
(4) Some triple-checking, just to be perfectly clear: "Discoverable" is selected (and not dimmed-out) in Preferences »» Bluetooth »» Settings? and after you type in the authentication number you hit <return>? Have you looked at the data provided in System Profiler »» Hardware »» Bluetooth to confirm it's all consistent with what you expect? (If the PB is old enough for this to be relevant) you did install the Wireless Keyboard/Mouse Firmware Update 1.1 before installing Tiger?
(5) How old is your PowerBook G4? Do you have an active protection plan? This gives a hint to my reply to your final question. The problems I mentioned occurred ~6 weeks after I purchased my eMac with CTO Bluetooth and wireless mouse & keyboard last May. I tried everything I'd read, then called AppleCare tech. support and worked through something like the checklist I cited. Both my BT mouse & keyboard seemed awry. Nothing we tried worked, so they gave me a case number, and I called then took in the eMac and BT devices to my friendly independent AASP. They ordered a new keyboard and everything was fine. The tech. thought it was a connection/voltage issue inside the keyboard.
HTH!
Dean
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