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Bluetooth Technology
By J. Kohrs |
www.geeks.com
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 Computer Geeks 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,
shown above. 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 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
Browsing the Computer Geeks website shows 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.
Laptops, such as the Toshiba Tecra 9000, include an
onboard Bluetooth adapter 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 adapter built in,
there are USB Bluetooth adapters, such as the Belkin
F8T001.
Bluetooth enabled PDAs, such as the HP iPAQ hx4700,
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 like the Logitech 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, such as the
Logitech MX900, or both a mouse and keyboard using
something like the Logitech diNovo Media Desktop. 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.
The HP JetDirect BT1300 Bluetooth printer adapter makes
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.
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