On this page you will see information about how to connect your NWBB to the computer using Windows 8 or Windows 7, and some known issues that can occur. These steps are very easy, and the known issues are typically minor.
An important thing to remember with the NWBB is that it must be connected before it can be used and disconnected before you turn your computer off. If you don’t disconnect it when you restart your computer it will appear to be connected but will not work. If this happens simply disconnect it and reconnect it.
Quick note: In many versions of the programs we use we automatically connect the NWBB to the computer using custom code, however this can often be a source of errors on many computers. Manually connecting and disconnecting the NWBB whenever you want to use it is very easy.
An important thing to remember with the NWBB is that it must be connected before it can be used and disconnected before you turn your computer off. If you don’t disconnect it when you restart your computer it will appear to be connected but will not work. If this happens simply disconnect it and reconnect it.
Quick note: In many versions of the programs we use we automatically connect the NWBB to the computer using custom code, however this can often be a source of errors on many computers. Manually connecting and disconnecting the NWBB whenever you want to use it is very easy.
INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE
All of the software available on this site needs some form of overhead software. You need to subscribe to the Mailing List to download this software. Once you download the software you wish to try out, before you can run it for the first time you must:
1. Double click the folder to unzip the files. You need to record the location so that you can open the files. The easiest place to unzip them to is the Desktop.
2. Double click the "setup.exe" file to install the overhead software which allows my program to run.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Double click the application file (each program will have these instructions on their web page)
1. Double click the folder to unzip the files. You need to record the location so that you can open the files. The easiest place to unzip them to is the Desktop.
2. Double click the "setup.exe" file to install the overhead software which allows my program to run.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Double click the application file (each program will have these instructions on their web page)
WINDOWS 10 SETUP
Connection: The trick to a Windows 10 connection is to click your Bluetooth icon, then select "Join a Personal Area Network". Then click "Add a Bluetooth Device" and press the red sync button in the battery compartment of the WBB. Then select the Nintendo option and skip the password by clicking next.
Disconnection: Simply click the Bluetooth icon, then "Show Bluetooth Devices", select the Nintendo option and click it to remove it.
Disconnection: Simply click the Bluetooth icon, then "Show Bluetooth Devices", select the Nintendo option and click it to remove it.
Connect the WBB
Disconnect the WBB
SETTING UP THE NWBB – WINDOWS 8
CONNECTING THE NWBB
STEP 1. Right click the blue Bluetooth icon in the bottom right of the screen, then left click the "Add a Bluetooth Device" option. A “Manage Bluetooth Devices” screen will open up.
If you don’t have a Bluetooth icon, you’ll either need to search for it in the Windows Settings or click the Customize option underneath the icons, find the Bluetooth option and set it to “Show icon and notifications”. *SIDE NOTE* You may notice that my Windows 8 version looks different, I have installed ClassicShell which gives me a Start Menu just like previous versions of Windows. I hated Windows 8 until I found this add-on, now it runs like a better version of Windows 7.
STEP 1. Right click the blue Bluetooth icon in the bottom right of the screen, then left click the "Add a Bluetooth Device" option. A “Manage Bluetooth Devices” screen will open up.
If you don’t have a Bluetooth icon, you’ll either need to search for it in the Windows Settings or click the Customize option underneath the icons, find the Bluetooth option and set it to “Show icon and notifications”. *SIDE NOTE* You may notice that my Windows 8 version looks different, I have installed ClassicShell which gives me a Start Menu just like previous versions of Windows. I hated Windows 8 until I found this add-on, now it runs like a better version of Windows 7.
STEP 2. Turn the WBB upside down to locate the battery section – in it there will be a small red button. Press this once and a blue flashing light on the button at the rear of the WBB will come on (Note: if this doesn’t flash the batteries are flat). You will also see a new option appear on the Manage Bluetooth Devices screen, it will say either “Input Device” or “Nintendo ….”. Click this option, then click “Pair”, then when it asks for a passcode leave it blank and click “Next”.
STEP 3. You will see a progress bar as the NWBB connects, and once this is finished it will say “Connected” and you are ready to use the software. MINIMISE the “Manage Bluetooth devices” window, you will use this at the end to disconnect the NWBB.
STEP 3. You will see a progress bar as the NWBB connects, and once this is finished it will say “Connected” and you are ready to use the software. MINIMISE the “Manage Bluetooth devices” window, you will use this at the end to disconnect the NWBB.
DISCONNECTING THE NWBB
When you are finished using the NWBB simply go back to the “Manage Bluetooth devices” window, click the “Nintendo….” option and click “Remove device”. This will disconnect the NWBB and turn it off.
When you are finished using the NWBB simply go back to the “Manage Bluetooth devices” window, click the “Nintendo….” option and click “Remove device”. This will disconnect the NWBB and turn it off.
SETTING UP THE NWBB – WINDOWS 7
CONNECTING THE NWBB
STEP 1. Right click the “Bluetooth” logo on the bottom right of your screen and select “Show Bluetooth devices”. This will bring up a screen with your current devices shown. Click “Add a Device”. This will bring up a screen with your current devices shown. This will constantly look for new devices.
STEP 1. Right click the “Bluetooth” logo on the bottom right of your screen and select “Show Bluetooth devices”. This will bring up a screen with your current devices shown. Click “Add a Device”. This will bring up a screen with your current devices shown. This will constantly look for new devices.
STEP 2. Turn the WBB upside down to locate the battery section – in it there will be a small red button. Press this once and a blue flashing light on the button at the rear of the WBB will come on (Note: if this doesn’t flash the batteries are flat). You will also see a new option appear on the Manage Bluetooth Devices screen, it will say either “Input Device” or “Nintendo ….”. Click this option and choose “Pair without using a code”. You’ll know you’re successful if you get a green tick in the box that appears in the bottom right of the screen AND the light on the Balance Board continues to flash. If the light on the Balance Board stops flashing during this process, wait a minute and start again.
STEP 3. MINIMISE the “Manage Bluetooth devices” window, you will use this at the end to disconnect the NWBB.
DISCONNECTING THE NWBB
When you are finished using the NWBB simply go back to the “Show Bluetooth Devices” window, click the “Nintendo….” option and click “Remove device”. This will disconnect the NWBB and turn it off.
When you are finished using the NWBB simply go back to the “Show Bluetooth Devices” window, click the “Nintendo….” option and click “Remove device”. This will disconnect the NWBB and turn it off.
KNOWN ISSUES
- 95% of all errors are related to batteries which have enough power to make the blue light flash and connect to the laptop but not enough to stay connected. If you have any issues the first step is to either check your batteries with a multimeter or get brand new batteries straight out of a packet.
- Sometimes the Bluetooth connection can repeatedly fail on Windows 7. This can require a restart of the computer before it becomes functional again. This is rare, and only occurs with repetitive connecting/disconnecting without restarting the computer.
- The Balance Board provides a somewhat erratic dataflow, which is fine even for precise research purposes if properly conditioned and the Nyquist limits are observed. This program will convert this dataflow to a stable interpolated signal at a sampling frequency of 100Hz, however sampling interval errors can occur if other programs are running in the background or if your Bluetooth is poor. A basic quality check of your data is simple – if the COP dot appears to lag or doesn’t move very smoothly then consider using another computer or purchase a better Bluetooth dongle. Some noise in the real-time signal is fine, however it should be very responsive to even subtle movements.
- If during testing the COP data performs erratically or stops working replace the batteries. You may need to disconnect and reconnect the NWBB if this occurs.
- On Windows XP this program only works with the Windows Bluetooth stack. The majority of computers use this, but some laptops (Toshiba, Sony Vaio) use the “Toshiba” stack, which will look entirely different when you try to connect to a Bluetooth device. If this is the case you will either need to delete this stack and install the Windows based one from the web or use another computer preferably with Windows 7 or 8. You may also need to add Bluetooth com ports before it will work. Do this by right clicking the Bluetooth logo, clicking “Open Settings”, choosing the COM ports tab and adding some incoming ports. Please don’t use Windows XP unless you absolutely have to, and sorry but I will not provide any assistance with this operating system.