Socket's Bluetooth Cordless Serial Adapter

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.socketcom.com/product/CS0400-479.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.socketcom.com/product/CS0400-479.asp</a><br /><br /></div>For those of you who use Bluetooth, Socket is about to release a potentially useful tool: a very compact serial-to-Bluetooth adapter. This makes it easy to convert your serial devices, such as printers, modems, or even workstation/switch consoles into a Bluetooth connection which can then easily be managed/used via a laptop or your Pocket PC.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20031027-SocketCSA.gif" /><br /><br />I have a variety of devices I administer for which a short-range, point-to-point solution like Bluetooth will be ideal. Maybe I can get one of these for a review... :)

[jmbneaf]

This may sound crude - but I wonder if this could be used with PPC's that have a serial connection.

My first thought is could it be used with my XDA I ?? - which has a serial port in the sync connector pinout.

Granted this would be bulky, but being able to wirelessly sync / print would be nice. Maybe other possiblities exist here too?

-JB

[Janak Parekh]

Ah, you're thinking of the reverse. I'd imagine it's possible to do if your Pocket PC supports serial sync, but I'd expect it to be a bit bulky.

--janak

[Fitch]

You could put one of these guys on an old serial GPS unit and do navigation wirelessly with any bluetooth PPC like the HP 1945

[jmbneaf]

I have a Socket CF BT card and it works great. So yeah, I think this serial adapter would work too, granted Socket's software would detect it on the COM port.

Their current software for the CF card does well and I know it scans the COM ports because with my Toshiba e755, the CF COM port assignment can change depending what is attached to the PPC (ie IRDA enabled or not).

If available I would get one just to see if it would work...

-JB

[Majestic]

Search google.com and you will find that the asking price for this thing looks to be around $130.00. Is it worth THAT much? Geez.

See links:

http://www.neutronexpress.com/prod.cfm/240134/SOCKET/CS0400-479/BLUETOOTH_CORDLESS_SERIAL_ADAPTER

[hojbjerg]

You could put one of these guys on an old serial GPS unit and do navigation wirelessly with any bluetooth PPC like the HP 1945

That was my first thought also. Unfortunatly you have a power problem. The CSA needs to be powered either through pin 9 on the DB9 connector or with an external power supply (included). Your GPS device typically only has Rx/Tx/GND lines on the serial connection, which means you need to use the external power supply.

So in other words it should be possible, but you need to use the external power supply.
--
Jens

[Paul P]

Search google.com and you will find that the asking price for this thing looks to be around $130.00. Is it worth THAT much? Geez.

See links:

http://www.neutronexpress.com/prod.cfm/240134/SOCKET/CS0400-479/BLUETOOTH_CORDLESS_SERIAL_ADAPTER

This may not be a fair comparison, but that adaptor is close to 40% of the price of a new bt printer. You can get one for $350 shipped from HP.com.

[gohtor]

I read the FAQ on their site... doesn't look like the thing has that many uses. it does support a variety of types of devices but not everything can be plugged into it. If you're in that badly of a need to plug bluetooth to your printer or get wireless [whatever] through converting your existing serial styled device then it would be a must get. For me, I already host the printer in the network on my bluetooth enabled pc so it just don't make sense to get one just to make the printer stand alone.

I like the fact that you can get many of these CSA's to network via bluetooth. but again, you could have done that with a usb counterpart. How badly do you need to enable a pc that has only serial input in the first place?

[Pete Teoh]

I could see using this as a way to get console port access to Cisco or headless Sun servers from a laptop that doesnt have a serial port. I've been shopping around for a new machine and I notice that many of the current models do not include a serial port. However, I don't think Cisco or Sun console ports supply power. That means I have to use a cumbersome AC power adapter. If only they designed it to be powered by a small lithium battery or something...

[powder2000]

You could put one of these guys on an old serial GPS unit and do navigation wirelessly with any bluetooth PPC like the HP 1945

I'd be interested if this was indeed possible.

[GadgetGirl]

I can think of one potentially very cool use for this. My car has OnStar in it that I don't use (I guess it may be nice if my car is stolen or something). Anyway, the OnStar module has a GPS receiver in it that can be hacked to connect it to a laptop (http://www.openminds.net/onstar/). With this Socket BT adapter, theoretically you could Bluetooth-enable the OnStar GPS receiver and connect to it in the car with a laptop or PDA.

[burtman007]

A quick google search brings up a whole mess of ideas for Network Admins, such as:

http://www.networktechinc.com/srvsw-term.html

Walk up to your Rack with your BT enabled Laptop (or PPC running a Term Emulation client) and connect to ALL of your serial gear without cables!

[DrtyBlvd]

How badly do you need to enable a pc that has only serial input in the first place?

If it's an NT work laptop with locked down USB, this becomes a must have for travel purposes...

Depending on price of course :!:

[jmbneaf]

I can think of one potentially very cool use for this. My car has OnStar in it that I don't use (I guess it may be nice if my car is stolen or something). Anyway, the OnStar module has a GPS receiver in it that can be hacked to connect it to a laptop (http://www.openminds.net/onstar/). With this Socket BT adapter, theoretically you could Bluetooth-enable the OnStar GPS receiver and connect to it in the car with a laptop or PDA.Cool idea....

A BT enabled Onstar system.... my truck has Onstar too; maybe its time I found out where my Onstar controller box is stowed, BT or Cable this has potential....

Thanks GadgetGirl!!!

-JB

[gorkon280]

I bought a Digitravler on sale (only 50 bucks) and while it works, it's acquire time is crap compared to my Garmin eMap. I do have a BT enabled pda and this module would be the shiznit. My Garmin is infintely more reliablle then my Digitraveler and dare I say the Pharos unit. The only thing is the Garmin's cable is quite long. I am sure a wrath of short stubby custom cables will soon be released for all Garmins if this is true.

[petekol_]

power is not the only problem, have you noticed the baud rate?

min is 9600 that is not the case for NEMA that has 4800 as a standard (Etrex models have it)

some alternatives that are not so cheap too

http://www.free2move.se/
http://www.lintech.de/english//index.html (with power cell)
http://www.brainboxes.com

why would they cost more than USB adapter (30$)?
every BT chip producer supports BT stack up to SPP on the chip
is it the cost of this small setup software? can not be... -(


when do we get cheap BT devices (HID, legacy SPP, sound... and not only on desktop ) ???

[MaximumPDA]

A quick google search brings up a whole mess of ideas for Network Admins, such as:

http://www.networktechinc.com/srvsw-term.html

Walk up to your Rack with your BT enabled Laptop (or PPC running a Term Emulation client) and connect to ALL of your serial gear without cables!

That is a perfect idea. I have been thinking about that for months now ever since I saw the Free2move on Expansys http://www.expansys.us/product.asp?code=BTP_RS232&asource= Still too expensive. If they were only $50 or something I would order a whole handfull of them. Maybe of Belkin come out with one prices will start to drop.