Bluetooth Wireless Networking

Bluetooth technology offers three different types of defined ranges, based on output ranges. Class 1 devices are the most powerful, as they can have up to 100 mW of power, with a regular antenna giving them a range of around 130 – 330 feet.

The class 2 devices are lower power, offering up to 2.5mW of power.  A regular antenna will give them a range of around 50 - 100 feet.  Class 3 devices use even less power, up to 1 mW of power to be exact.  With a regular antenna, they will have a range of around 16 – 33 feet.

Even though you may not realize it, Bluetooth wireless technology has never been intended for anything other than short distance types of communication.  With Bluetooth wireless, the short range is actually a benefit.
For one, the short range will reduce the change of interference between your devices and those that belong to others who are nearby.  Overall, this is a basic type of security, designed to protect you and your devices.

Secondly, the lower power used for short-range means a longer battery life. Most Bluetooth devices will get their power from a battery, meaning that anything you can do to lengthen the battery life is very important.

The wireless networking offered by Bluetooth is actually among the best, even though it uses short-range communication. Bluetooth is used with wireless controllers, the Internet, and even wireless headsets.

For the best in short-range technology, Bluetooth is extremely hard to beat. If you’ve never tried Bluetooth before, now is the time. It’s the best with wireless networking, especially for those who enjoy hands free talking on their cell phone.

10 Benefits of Bluetooth

1. Wireless

As you probably already know, there are many benefits and advantages to using wireless devices. Along with improving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don’t need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages. When traveling with your laptop or other wireless devices, you’ll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables.

2. Bluetooth is actually inexpensive

The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company. These savings are then passed from the company on to you.

3. Bluetooth is automatic

Bluetooth doesn’t have you set up a connection or push any buttons. When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will automatically begin to communicate without you having to do anything.

4. Standardized protocol

Bluetooth is standardized wireless, meaning that a high level of compatibility among devices is guaranteed. Bluetooth will connect devices to each other, even if they aren’t the same model.

5. Low interference

Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference from other wireless devices. Bluetooth uses a technique known as frequency hopping, and also low power wireless signals.

6. Low energy consumption

As a result of Bluetooth using low power signals, the technology requires
very little energy and will use less battery or electrical power as a result. This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices, as Bluetooth won’t drain the battery.

7. Sharing voice and data

The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible devices to share data and voice communications. This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your cell phone.

8. Instant PAN (Personal Area Network)

You can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming a piconet or PAN. For a single room, you can also set up multiple piconets.

9. Upgradeable

Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth. There are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works, which offer many new advantages and backward compatible with older versions.

Choosing A Bluetooth Headset

Creating a good wireless headset for Bluetooth is actually difficult to do. The regular wired headsets are easy to design – with ranging styles. Bluetooth headsets can never be as small or as light as wired headsets, simply because it needs to include the battery and extra functions. This extra size will impact how the headset mounts on or around your ears.

Comfort

There seems to be two main styles of headsets for Bluetooth. Some are held into place with a loop around the ear. These styles are normally more comfortable, although they may be less secure. The others are held in place by being jammed into your ear – and usually prove to be less comfortable

Cost

The cost is an obvious issue, something that you really need to think about.

Ergonomics

1. Check if the device is easy to quickly and conveniently put on and off your ear

2. Are the control buttons on the headset easy to use?

3. The headset should be comfortable to wear for long phone calls.

4. Can you use it with a pair of glasses?

5. Check to see if you can wear it with either ear.

6. When you aren’t wearing it, you’ll need to see how you would carry it with you.

7. The weight is important as well, as you don’t want something that has the risk of falling off.

Ease of use

1. The commands and controls should be easy to remember.

2. The volume level should be easy to adjust.

3. The unit should turn on quickly.

4. The manual should be very well written and easy for you to understand.

5. There should be a support number for you to call if you should experience any problems.

Features

1. You’ll need to know about the battery, talk time, type, and how to tell when it is going dead or fully charged.

2. How many devices can the unit be paired with?

3. Compatibility is also important, as well as the warranty period.

4. Check the sound quality for both sending and receiving audio.

5. What type of range does the headset offer you?

Other important capabilities include voice tags, last number redial, transfer calls, 3 way calling, link to other phones, call reject, and mute. You’ll also want to note if it looks attractive, and if it’s too big or too small.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

Bluetooth has a lot to offer with an increasingly difficult market place. Bluetooth helps to bring with it the promise of freedom from the cables and simplicity in networking that has yet to be matched by LAN (Local Area Network).

In the key marketplace, of wireless and handheld devices, the closest competitor to Bluetooth is infrared. Infrared holds many key features, although the line of sight it provides doesn’t go through walls or through obstacles like that of theBluetooth technology.

Unlike infrared, Bluetooth isn’t a line of sight and it provides ranges of up to 100 meters. Bluetooth is also low power and low processing with an overhead protocol. What this means, is that its ideal for integration into small battery powered devices. To put it short, the applications with Bluetooth are virtually endless.

Disadvantage

Bluetooth has several positive features and one would be extremely hard pressed to find downsides when given the current competition. The only real downsides are the data rate and security. Infrared can have data rates of up to 4 MBps, which provides very fast rates for data transfer, while Bluetooth only offers 1 MBps.

For this very reason, infrared has yet to be dispensed with completely and is considered by many to be the complimentary technology to that of Bluetooth. Infrared has inherent security due to its line of sight.  The greater range and radio frequency (RF) of Bluetooth make it much more open to interception and attack. For this reason, security is a very key aspect to the Bluetooth specification.

Although there are very few disadvantages, Bluetooth still remains the best for short-range wireless technology. Those who have tried it love it, and they know for a fact that Bluetooth will be around for years to come.

Buyer’s Guide To Bluetooth Headsets

A Bluetooth headset may become a necessary piece of technology for Canadian drivers as provinces continue to draft legislation banning hand held devices while driving. The low-frequency radio is produced by a number of companies: here are some tips to keep in mind when making your purchase.

A Bluetooth headset can set you free. When paired with a compatible cell phone, a Bluetooth headset allows you to make calls without having to hold the phone in your hand. And Bluetooth headsets are more than just a convenience; in some places, using one is the law. It may be illegal for you to use your cell phone without a headset while driving.

Even if you live in a state where it isn’t a violation to talk on a cell phone while driving, you should invest in a headset anyway. Using a Bluetooth headset can be a liberating experience.

You’ll encounter a huge variety of Bluetooth headsets on the market.  As far as design and style go, take your pick: over-the-ear or ear bud (some do both).  Over-the-ear headsets can have wide, loopy hooks or thin, narrow ones; they can be plastic, rubberized metal, or leather, too. Some headsets have ear buds that are completely round, while other buds have tips that protrude.

Headset makers handle the arrangement and feel of the function buttons differently, too. Some buttons are recessed, others are raised, while still others are flush with the headset’s surface. Some buttons sport notches or markers; others lack indicators entirely.

In a perfect world for headset makers, people’s ears would be identical. They aren’t, of course.  Some manufacturers are generous with their goodies, providing small, medium, and large ear buds, along with an additional ear hook or two.  Others give you an AC charger and a user guide, but nothing else in the box.