Looking for recommendations for Bluetooth Access Point

[Martin I Pettinger]

Hi

Broadband - ASDL - will be available soon in my area. Now I have a Bluetooth Dongle for the laptop - Anycom USB 100 and a Bluetooth CF Card for my iPAQ - no idea what make but it works just fine for ActiveSync and File Transfer.

Now I was considering getting an access point - i.e. a Bluetooth ASDL modem - just like this gizmo - Anyone got any experiences, alternatives - this looks good value.

Gizmo: http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=INV-BLU-DSL&asource=

Martin

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I have no information as such, but if you do choose to buy this, let us know how this works out. You'd be the first person I know to do BT networking.

[choddo]

Range on BT is pretty (very) limited, you sure you want to use that for a WLAN?

C

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Range on BT is pretty (very) limited, you sure you want to use that for a WLAN?
Actually that depends on the class of BT device this is. If I'm not mistaken, there is a class of BT that has range of up to 100 feet.

[freitasm]

Since you already have a BT USB you can use your laptop or desktop as the access point. Have a look in our Bluetooth Guides (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=449) for a step-by-step guide on how to do this (and more).

Of course this is if you have a desktop with a BT dongle. You only need the AP if you want the the iPAQ and your notebook accessing the LAN from anywhere in the house.

[JvanEkris]

You can even turn an old PC to an access point. I'm writing a manual for an Access point based on Red Hat 9. The manual is in it's first trials (people complaining about missing steps :(), but it is relatively easy, and works like a charm.

Jaap

[MWWeston]

Even if you get a BT access point with 100 ft range, don't you need to consider the range that the PPC with send its signal? I am curious because many of the small PPCs coming out have built in BT but not WiFi.

[freitasm]

You're correct. The maximum distance for a Bluetooth connection will be the shortest one.

If you have a 100m USB adapter and a 10m Pocket PC, the max range will be 10m.