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Bluetooth Dongles


lordkafei

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I recently bought a cell phone that has Bluetooth capabilities (v. 1.2). So now, I am looking for a Bluetooth dongle for my PC (Win XP, SP3).

 

Looking on Amazon, I see wild differences in price, from < $5 to over $20. I gather that the included software is part of the reason for the cost differences. I also see a lot of complaints about evaluation software that expires after a few weeks, requiring an investment in updated software to make the dongles useful again.

 

I am looking for recommendations on which dongle I could buy that would work for me. Doesn't have to be on Amazon.

PvP is not for me

In the 3rd Year of the Boycott
Real-world money saved since FT/W: Hundreds of Dollars
Real-world time saved since FT/W: Thousands of Hours

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I find using the USB cable for my phone much easier than bluetoothing it to my laptop. Software isn't exactly hard to find on Google. (Unless you're all for legal stuff)

 

This post is pretty useless to what you're asking :P

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I find using the USB cable for my phone much easier than bluetoothing it to my laptop. Software isn't exactly hard to find on Google. (Unless you're all for legal stuff)

 

This post is pretty useless to what you're asking :P

 

Unfortunately, this phone has no USB jack that I can see. And yes, I am for legal stuff in this instance.

PvP is not for me

In the 3rd Year of the Boycott
Real-world money saved since FT/W: Hundreds of Dollars
Real-world time saved since FT/W: Thousands of Hours

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I find using the USB cable for my phone much easier than bluetoothing it to my laptop. Software isn't exactly hard to find on Google. (Unless you're all for legal stuff)

 

This post is pretty useless to what you're asking :P

 

Unfortunately, this phone has no USB jack that I can see. And yes, I am for legal stuff in this instance.

Connectivity

Bluetooth Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP, DUN, OPP, FTP

version 1.2 / supports PTT

USB Yes

 

Hmm?

bGmskuB.gif

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I find using the USB cable for my phone much easier than bluetoothing it to my laptop. Software isn't exactly hard to find on Google. (Unless you're all for legal stuff)

 

This post is pretty useless to what you're asking :P

 

Unfortunately, this phone has no USB jack that I can see. And yes, I am for legal stuff in this instance.

Connectivity

Bluetooth Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP, DUN, OPP, FTP

version 1.2 / supports PTT

USB Yes

 

Hmm?

 

Hmm. I guess the power jack must double as USB. That's the only thing I can think of.

 

phonejack.jpg

 

I bought this phone used; it came with no cables.

 

But I'd still rather get Bluetooth working. As Sheldon Cooper says, "Everything is better with Bluetooth."

PvP is not for me

In the 3rd Year of the Boycott
Real-world money saved since FT/W: Hundreds of Dollars
Real-world time saved since FT/W: Thousands of Hours

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Windows has it's own bluetooth stack (a bit better in Vista and 7 than in XP), so if the device has no software or trial software, maybe you can learn to like the Windows native Bluetooth support.

 

The "micro" style of dongle can be insanely cheap.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-USB-Micro-Adapter-Dongle/dp/B0026SKZO0/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in_f

 

with unlicenced Bluesoleil! - better to ignore that and let Windows support handle it.

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Windows has it's own bluetooth stack (a bit better in Vista and 7 than in XP), so if the device has no software or trial software, maybe you can learn to like the Windows native Bluetooth support.

 

The "micro" style of dongle can be insanely cheap.

 

http://www.amazon.co...p_edpp_ttl_in_f

 

with unlicenced Bluesoleil! - better to ignore that and let Windows support handle it.

 

I see a lot of the complainers were trying to stream MP3s with the dongles and needed more robust software. All I need right now is to connect to my cell phone, so I think I can make do with what's in XP.

 

I bought one of those half-moon shaped ones just now - with shipping it's under $5 so I figured, what the hey.

PvP is not for me

In the 3rd Year of the Boycott
Real-world money saved since FT/W: Hundreds of Dollars
Real-world time saved since FT/W: Thousands of Hours

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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883259

 

 

If the device is not recognized, you may be able to force the use of the generic driver

http://www.techenclave.com/mobile-phones/bluetooth-drivers-needed-win-xp-sp3-127559.html

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841803/

The supported set of IDs is rather limited, I guess the first step would be to try searching for a driver using Windowsupdate.

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Interestingly enough, the other day I plugged a USB BT card into my computer and I had to do absolutely nothing to get it to work. I mean, BT is a standard by now, you should just be able to get something pretty generic and plug it in.

C2b6gs7.png

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Just to put a bow & a ribbon on this:

 

The dongle finally arrived in the mail today. XP had no trouble at all auto-installing the device & finding my cell phone.

 

Everything is better with Bluetooth.

PvP is not for me

In the 3rd Year of the Boycott
Real-world money saved since FT/W: Hundreds of Dollars
Real-world time saved since FT/W: Thousands of Hours

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