Bluetooth Basics
Bluetooth technology is nothing new, but in many respects it still seems to be more of a buzz word rather than a well understood, commonly accepted technology. You see advertisements for Bluetooth enabled cell phones, PDAs, and laptops, and a search of the Geeks.com website shows all sorts of different devices taking advantage of this wireless standard. But, what is it?
History
Before getting into the technology, the word Bluetooth is intriguing all on its own, and deserves a look. The term is far less high tech than you might imagine, and finds its roots in European history. The King of Denmark from 940 to 981 was renowned for his ability to help people communicate, his name (in English)... Harald Bluetooth. Perhaps a bit obscure, but the reference is appropriate for a wireless communications standard.
Another item worth investigating is the Bluetooth logo. Based on characters from the runic alphabet (used in ancient Denmark), it was chosen as it appears to be the combination of the English letter B and an asterisk.
Capabilities
The FAQ on the Bluetooth.org (https://www.bluetooth.org/) website offers a basic definition: "Bluetooth wireless technology is a worldwide specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution that provides links between mobile computers, mobile phones, other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet."
Just like 802.11 b/g wireless networking systems and many cordless telephones, Bluetooth devices operate on 2.4 GHz radio signals. That band seems to be getting a bit crowded, and interference between devices may be difficult to avoid. Telephones are now being offered on the 5.8 GHz band to help remedy this, and Bluetooth has taken its own steps to reduce interference and improve transmission quality. Version 1.1 of the Bluetooth standard greatly reduces interference issues, but requires completely different hardware from the original 1.0C standard, thus eliminating any chance of backwards compatibility.
The typical specifications of Bluetooth indicate a maximum transfer rate of 723 kbps and a range of 20-100 meters (65 to 328 feet - depending on the class of the device). This speed is a fraction of that offered by 802.11 b or g wireless standards, so it is obvious that Bluetooth doesn't pose a threat to replace your wireless network. Although it is very similar to 802.11 in many ways, Bluetooth was never intended to be a networking standard, but does have many practical applications.
Practical Applications
There are a variety of products that take advantage of Bluetooth's capabilities, from laptops and PDAs, to headphones and input devices, and even wireless printer adapters.
Many Laptops include an onboard Bluetooth adaptor to allow the system to connect to any Bluetooth device right out of the box. For laptop or desktop systems that do not have an adaptor built in, there are many USB Bluetooth adaptors available.
Bluetooth enabled PDAs allow for convenient wireless synchronization and data transfer.
Headphones can take advantage of Bluetooth for two purposes? audio playback and mobile phone communications. Using something a mobile headset with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone allows anyone to go hands free, as well as wire free.
Logitech, and other manufacturers, also produce input devices that eliminate wires thanks to Bluetooth. You can add a Bluetooth mouse to your system, or both a mouse and keyboard. One advantage that Bluetooth wireless keyboard/mouse combinations have over the standard RF wireless keyboard/mouse combinations is range. Where most standard RF keyboard/mouse combinations have a range up to 6 feet; a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combination will usually have a range of up to 30 feet.
Bluetooth printer adaptors make sharing a printer extremely convenient by eliminating the need for any wires or special configurations on a typical network. Printing to any compatible HP printer from a PC, PDA or mobile phone can now be done easily from anywhere in the office.
Final Words
At this point the popularity of Bluetooth might not be as large as some proponents would have hoped, but many devices are available for those interested. The cost and competition from other standards have hindered the widespread acceptance, but Bluetooth does offer a viable solution to many devices that might not have wireless connectivity without it.
Computer Geeks tech tips and computer advice
Computer MiceEvery computer user can hopefully identify their mouse and... Read More
The USB standard has become the universal means of connection... Read More
1) Mechanical: This is a type of computer mouse that... Read More
This article focuses on frequently asked questions by buyers of... Read More
So you finally have that new laptop you have been... Read More
Have you ever felt like throwing the fax machine out... Read More
We have finally advanced to a time when technology can... Read More
Throughout the years there have been many technologies involved with... Read More
Hewlett-Packard is, along with Brother and Samsung, one of the... Read More
There are three refurbished laptop battery types, each named for... Read More
With all the technical terms out there, it is becoming... Read More
From throwing our unnecessary files, to defragmenting, from partitions to... Read More
You can purchase an inkjet printer for as little as... Read More
Notebook Computers Are Sexy!Granted, the notebook computer may just be... Read More
With all the wheeling and dealing that seems to take... Read More
It's most peoples worst computing nightmare. You wake up in... Read More
Testing diodes is different from testing a resistor because you... Read More
TiVo will change your life... for the better. Plain and... Read More
The Inkjet printer industry is booming. Office supply companies report... Read More
Just about everyone would I agree, I think, that wires... Read More
A couple of the recent Tech Tips from www.geeks.com have... Read More
If you are like most student's, money isn't exactly growing... Read More
Computers and their accompanying printers were huge years ago. In... Read More
Do You Feel Used by Computers?A look at second-user computer... Read More
CCNA and CCNP candidates hear it all the time: "you... Read More
It appears we need to further streamline health care and... Read More
When it comes to sales of technology products over the... Read More
How To Choose the Best Student Laptop?Merchants are singing those... Read More
The proliferation of portable DVD players has dramatically changed the... Read More
Samsung laser toner is just as popular as its Hewlett-Packard... Read More
Forget about emptying your wallets every time you see the... Read More
Laptops or Notebook computers are an expensive personal and business... Read More
Thinking about a mini DVD camcorder? You're not alone, it's... Read More
After twelve years of owning desktop computers, I finally opted... Read More
Think you got a great deal on a printer? Like... Read More
What is so important about cables anyway?One of the most... Read More
DVD CD ROMs have become predominantly the most used CD... Read More
Have you noticed that laptop computers are beginning to dictate... Read More
So you bought a new computer but you don't have... Read More
Do you feel overwhelmed when buying a computer or a... Read More
Human beings are scaling new heights day by day. Markets... Read More
In electronic repair, most of the time i came across... Read More
Forget about emptying your wallets every time you see the... Read More
Take a good look at your notebook computer screen. Do... Read More
Computer network installation has become an essential prerequisite for any... Read More
Nothing is completely safe today. Adobe has recently released a... Read More
Selecting motherboard is really simple. As name suggests "Motherboard" acts... Read More
Soon the human brain will be completely interfaced with the... Read More
You just poured hours upon hours into a lengthy research... Read More
Much has been written about solid state disks (SSDs) becoming... Read More
With all the wheeling and dealing that seems to take... Read More
Have you ever felt like throwing the fax machine out... Read More
Let's take a moment to think about the topic of... Read More
IMO, these sd work 'like a VCR' as far as... Read More
There are many fancy add-ons for computers, but the basic... Read More
Have you ever come across power problem where once you... Read More
With all the technical terms out there, it is becoming... Read More
Notebook Computers Are Sexy!Granted, the notebook computer may just be... Read More
When you're studying for your CCNA exams, you're going to... Read More
In the past computers and their accompanying printers were huge.... Read More
Bar code readers have proven themselves to be essential tools... Read More
Someone recently asked me "I teach senior citizens in a... Read More
Rear Projection Television - An Affordable OptionA great deal of... Read More
RAID is short for Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive)... Read More
A laptop computer certainly provides you with an unprecedented level... Read More
For years, I smugly prided myself as a non-fax machine... Read More
Computer Hardware |