Max distance for a bluetooth dongle

[Trimac20]

We are planning on getting broadband, and I figure instead of buying an expensive Wi-Fi setup (ah, we might just get it anyway to wirelessly network all the PCs) I would buy a Bluetooth dongle to use for my PPC. I need something with a range of at least 20 metres (through walls,etc.) to sync it with my pc. Any recommendations?

[freitasm]

Although there are some Bluetooth adapters capable of ranges of up to 100m, current Pocket PCs have a range of only 10m. So, this will be maximum (in theory).

Some devices can have an actual range of +- 50%, depending on conditions, like no walls in between, no cordless phones using the 2.4GHz spectrum around, etc...

[Kacey Green]

If the PC has a longer (100m) range and is more powerfull shouldn't the therotical max be 109.99m?

[Kevin Remhof]

If the PC has a longer (100m) range and is more powerfull shouldn't the therotical max be 109.99m?

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The shorter range wins out. So, even with a Class I (100m) Bluetooth dongle on your PC, your Class II (10m) Pocket PC is the bottleneck.

I've found that the 10m is pretty generous though. I can go anywhere in my house and use my Bluetooth connection. It goes through two floors with no problems. Now, if only ZoneAlarm (the free version) would handle Internet Connection Sharing better...

[Kacey Green]

If the PC has a longer (100m) range and is more powerfull shouldn't the therotical max be 109.99m?

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The shorter range wins out. So, even with a Class I (100m) Bluetooth dongle on your PC, your Class II (10m) Pocket PC is the bottleneck.

I've found that the 10m is pretty generous though. I can go anywhere in my house and use my Bluetooth connection. It goes through two floors with no problems. Now, if only ZoneAlarm (the free version) would handle Internet Connection Sharing better...

darn, yeah I can go most anywhere in my house too, i use a belkin blutooth dongle and it has an activesyinc profile so i can use the active sysnc passthrough internet connection

[arnage2]

i cant get bt to work in the next room. The range is not so good.

[Ripper014]

Think of it this way... first you need to except that the devices need to comunicate with each other... now draw a circle showing the range of your dongle... say it is a class 1 with a range of 100m... now draw a circle around your PPC a class 2 device... with only a range of 10m... now the the circle from both your dongle and PPC needs to encompass both devices... obviously you are restricted to range of your more limited device... hence... your range or you PPC...

I was using a Bluetooth dongle.. and it was only giving me a range of about 20ft... or 7m... I ended up getting a WiFi access point... I can now recieve a signal from across the street and I don't need to leave my computer turned on... a much better solution for me.

[JvanEkris]

Although there are some Bluetooth adapters capable of ranges of up to 100m, current Pocket PCs have a range of only 10m. So, this will be maximum (in theory).AFAIK,

The Ipaq's have a Class 2 device on board reaching 50 meters open-field, making about 25 meters in a heavy concrete building.

Some devices can have an actual range of +- 50%, depending on conditions, like no walls in between, no cordless phones using the 2.4GHz spectrum around, etc...True, heavy walls kill your connection, especially heavy armored concrete walls. The armor-steel can work as a cage of farraday. The house i live in only has heavy concrete floors but the inner walls are all very soft material, allowing a range of about 75%-80%.

Jaap

[Don Tolson]

We are planning on getting broadband, and I figure instead of buying an expensive Wi-Fi setup

Actually, I set up Wi-Fi in my house for about $100 CDN -- I already had a wi-fi enabled laptop, and the router I bought would handle both the desktop PC in the office and the parallel printer. Voila! The house is now Wi-Fi enabled for any other PC which arrives (as my sons get older).

[juni]

Our apartment is 64 m2 and with my TDK dongle I can surf anywhere in it - even the balcony with the door closed. I don't buy the 10m limitation (I have a HP2210).

[ignar]

We are planning on getting broadband, and I figure instead of buying an expensive Wi-Fi setup

Actually, I set up Wi-Fi in my house for about $100 CDN -- I already had a wi-fi enabled laptop, and the router I bought would handle both the desktop PC in the office and the parallel printer. Voila! The house is now Wi-Fi enabled for any other PC which arrives (as my sons get older).

I believe WiFi setup can be actually cheaper than BT setup. Trimac20, shop around. AP can be had at less than $30, and laptop card is pretty cheap too. The performance is much better with WiFi than BT.