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View Full Version : Buying a Bluetooth USB Dongle: Pitfalls


taxus
10-24-2004, 09:20 PM
Be wary of what you buy.

I upgraded my iPAQ h2210's ROM yesterday with version 1.10 (as per HP's recommendation), and now it won't connect with my PC by Bluetooth.

Why? Probably because on my PC I'm using the 1.2.2.15 Widcomm driver, and I can't upgrade to 1.4.x. (The 2210 is now using the 1.4.1 Widcomm driver, while ROM version 1.0 had Widcomm driver 1.3.x.)

I have seen many complaints about the D-Link DBT-120 (and others) in forums. The problem is that many manufacturers like D-Link still ship Bluetooth adapters with hopelessly outdated Widcomm drivers, because they don't want to pay the license for a newer version.

When I try to install the latest driver (retrieved from the D-Link web site), I get asked for a "software key" that was supposedly written on the CD (according to the online instructions), package or whatever. It never was included. No matter what I try (including copying the license.dat file from my CD, as suggested to another poster in another forum), nothing works because I don't have that software key.

There is supposed to be a web form (http://66.45.42.85/dlink/) for D-Link customers who "lost their software key". That form reports that my MAC address is not legitimate. Well, it worked for a full year. How can it not be legitimate?

All D-Link support could do was to refer me to Widcomm (Broadcom actually) email support. I just sent a message. We'll see if they answer.

If you buy a Bluetooth USB dongle, make sure that it comes with the latest Widcomm Bluetooth driver (1.4), or that you will be able to upgrade.

Obviously, you should stay away from D-Link. (Problem is, in my area the D-Link DBT-120 is the only available Bluetooth USB dongle.)

Spam Target (http://home.comcast.net/~spam-target/) suggests on his web site buying a Belkin F8T001 second generation Bluetooth USB dongle. (Many retailers still sell the first generation one. The latest model does not have the antenna sticking up. Check on the Belkin site (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=200583&pcount=&Product_Id=126336).)

Darius Wey
10-25-2004, 05:21 AM
Spam Target (http://home.comcast.net/~spam-target/) suggests on his web site buying a Belkin F8T001 second generation Bluetooth USB dongle. (Many retailers still sell the first generation one. The latest model does not have the antenna sticking up. Check on the Belkin site (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=200583&pcount=&Product_Id=126336).)

I have two of these second-generation Belkin BT dongles and I can also confirm that they work very well with my iPAQ. I have also been able to connect with the first-generation dongles though (the ones with the antennas), although I find the newer ones have a better form factor and seem to deliver better performance too.

taxus, have you considered contacting the store you purchased it from and informing them of your problem? Perhaps they will allow you to "exchange" the product for another in some way...(just a thought).

taxus
10-26-2004, 05:51 AM
Well, what do you know. Widcomm answered my mail yesterday, and sent me a software key. I wasn't expecting and answer. Last year they never answered my email.

I successfully upgraded to Widcomm Bluetooth 1.4.1 build 6, and everything works now. (Almost. Can't Network ActiveSync, but Bluetooth ActiveSync works.)

DJ Apod, since I'd bought my dongle a year ago, I'm not sure I could have had it replaced.