New Bluetooth Spec Increases Speed to 2.1Mbps

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/10/faster_bluetooth/' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/0...ster_bluetooth/</a><br /><br /></div>The Register are reporting that a new version of the Bluetooth specification called Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) is being developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The biggest change to the current specification is the speed increase from 712Kbps to 2.1Mbp, caused mainly by increasing the compression ratio of the data packet sent.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logo_bluetooth2.gif" /> <br /><br /><i>"The SIG says EDR will consume less power than the current version - it reckons EDR devices will eke out battery power for twice as long as Bluetooth units do today. And the new specification also provides improved facilities to use several functions or devices simultaneously, due to more available bandwidth. The Bluetooth SIG expects the EDR specification to be finalised this coming Autumn. Products based on the specification are set to ship some time in 2005."</i><br /><br />The official Bluetooth press release is <a href="http://www.bluetooth.com/news/index.asp?A=2&amp;PID=1292">here</a>. Bluetooth EDR should be backwards compatible with current Bluetooth devices, which is jolly decent of them. A tripling of speed is welcome, but it does not quite match the 480Mbs on offer with <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=27016&amp;">Wireless USB</a>. Still, it looks like more and more devices are coming with Bluetooth built into them these days. Who was it again that said <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25268&amp;">Bluetooth is only needed in Europe</a>? Of course, not everyone is <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24758&amp;">convinced</a>. :wink:

[SeanH]

This is good news. It will be easy for companies to migrate their products to the next generation Bluetooth and I am sure there will be some backwards compatibility.

I do predict Wireless USB is many years away. If you read link on Wireless USB in this article it show the following

"An introduction to Wireless USB (WUSB) by Rafael Kolic (Feb. 21, 2004)"

"The Wireless USB Promoter Group is chartered with defining the wireless USB (WUSB) specification. "

That means it will be a year before a standard is defined and another year before it is implemented on silicon. Then OEM’s have to start adding it to there devices. It’s been almost 4 years since Bluetooth was announced. It went through the typical design cycle and look were it’s at today. Harris Semiconductor showed early versions of there Prism Chip Set used in most WiFi designs 8 years ago in Melbourne FL. It took longer for WiFi to take off then Bluetooth.

Another standard that is being defined is UWB. I am sure we will be seeing a lot of press on that in the near future.

Sean

[Ed Hansberry]

Awesome. I am sick of my bluetooth connections taking so long to fail because of their pokey speeds. Now, they will crash nearly instantly, allowing me to initiate soft resets and start deleting/recreating profiles much faster.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Awesome. I am sick of my bluetooth connections taking so long to fail because of their pokey speeds. Now, they will crash nearly instantly, allowing me to initiate soft resets and start deleting/recreating profiles much faster.
:rotfl: Very good.

I'm going to have to get me a bluetooth device so I can experience all that joy myself. :wink: I understand that when BT works, it works very well, but when it has problems..........

[SeanH]

I do not own a PDA with Bluetooth yet either. I am waiting for a unit with VGA, BT and WiFi to start shipping. I do use Bluetooth a lot with the cell phone and it works great. The wireless Logitech headset connects to the phone in less then 1 second. The IBM T40 laptop with built in Bluetooth connects to the phone over Bluetooth, dials the AT&T access number and connects to the Internet over GPRS/EDGE all in less then 2 seconds.

Sean

[ctmagnus]

I understand that when BT works, it works very well, but when it has problems..........

...boy, does it have problems!

Fortunately, the number of BT sessions I've had problems with is far, far outweighed by the number of sessions with no problems. And most of the problems I've had were to do with wandering out of range of the BT-connected desktop.

[ricksfiona]

I've been pretty happy with my Bluetooth devices. Using my T610 phone and my iPAQ has been great. Good Bluetooth headsets tend to work very well.

The additonal speed could help for getting better stereo audio products.

Or how about sunglasses with built-in HUDS that allow for transmission of data or graphics to them via the Pocket PC? It could work with a faster Bluetooth speed. Please don't use them while driving :wink:

[SeanH]

Fortunately, the number of BT sessions I've had problems with is far, far outweighed by the number of sessions with no problems. And most of the problems I've had were to do with wandering out of range of the BT-connected desktop.
Once you pair two Bluetooth devices together they should work over and over for ever. What do you mean by sessions?

Bluetooth is a PAN (Personal Area Network) the range is 10 meters in a wide open area without walls. That is 33 feet or less, or 15 feet with walls and other obstructions. I have never had an issue if I stay with in those limits. If you need a network that spans farther then 33 feet try a wireless LAN (WiFi) that is good for about 150 feet or try a GPRS connection that covers most of the major cities in the US.

Sean

[ctmagnus]

Once you pair two Bluetooth devices together they should work over and over for ever. What do you mean by sessions?

A typical session: Turn on BT on the iPaq and connect. Come to think of it, all BT issues I've had were on the desktop I connect through, ie the machine gets rebooted for whatever reason and there's noone there to ok the prompt when I connect.

Bluetooth is a PAN (Personal Area Network) the range is 10 meters in a wide open area without walls. That is 33 feet or less, or 15 feet with walls and other obstructions. I have never had an issue if I stay with in those limits.

I used to be able to get ~30ft through walls, but now I get ~20ft (I suspect one of the neighbors has something running at 2.4GHz). No more surfing via BT from the deck for me! But I still have excellent Wifi coverage.

[disconnected]

My Bluetooth connections from iPAQ to Sprint phone and iPAQ to GPS have been pretty trouble-free (and I'm really happy with them); if the higher speed would make stereo headsets for music possible that would be great.

[Ed Hansberry]

Once you pair two Bluetooth devices together they should work over and over for ever.
"Should" - the perfect word for that statement. :?

[jimski]

Nice to see that Bluetooth is progressing :D I guess I will have to go out and find an incompatible Bluetooth device and see what all the fuss is about because the; three PDA's, three cell phones and four hands-free/headsets I have owned, all with Bluetooth, have all paired within a couple minutes and continued to pair/function correctly until I told them not to.

Now I did have a very early edition T-----a PC Card (think is was a 1.0 device) that crashed a laptop when I tried to remove the software, causing me much grief and loss of data. I replaced it with a Belkin PC card and that has lasted through three laptops and a tablet. Didn't blame Bluetooth for this one, but needless to say, I will never buy anything made by :twisted: T-----a :twisted: again, ever.

[tanalasta]

Just out of curiosity, what are the benefits of bluetooth over wi-fi? From what I know, wi-fi has better range and speed. Is it only because bluetooth accessories are more common?

Enlighten me! :)

[jonathanchoo]

What is wrong with Bluetooth? I have been using it since the middle ages and it never fails me (except on the crazy iPAQ - but eventually it worked). The point of Bluetooth is to create a PAN not WAN. The good thing bout Bluetooth is it takes so much less battery than WiFi. I always leave all my mobile phone's Bluetooth turned on. Even on my T630 it would last 4 days on standby with Bluetooth on 24 hours a day. This is connected to my BT headset. I use my T3 to auto check e-mail via VersaMail while using the Bluetooth hack program BtToggle to auto turn on. Use my PDA to compose SMS. HotSync and ActiveSync via Bluetooth. Chatting with my friends via Bluetooth while separated by a wall or in the train. Oh...and bluetoothing...but only to chat on the underground.

The problem with bluetooth that I have experienced are with iPAQs. PalmOne has managed to integrate Bluetooth pretty well with the T3 but with the iPAQ it is pain. I connect to my GPRS, can connect, can't connect - it seems to have a mind of its own and even changes the settings by itself. Can fetch mail but can't surf. Need to change between work and internet settings. Can update WorldMate but can't update JournalBar. Why once I pair it do I need to pair it again and again. This has never happened on other devices. The problem it seems to be GUI and the lack of proper implementation at OS level. So apart from Pocket PC, bluetooth works for me on mobile phones (Ericsson), PalmOS PDAs (T, T3), PCs (Belkin), mouse (Logitech), headset, mp3 player, pens, printers, remote control Sony Ericsson car, car handsfree etc I welcome the additional speed though.

[EricMCarson]

The problem with bluetooth that I have experienced are with iPAQs. PalmOne has managed to integrate Bluetooth pretty well with the T3 but with the iPAQ it is pain. I connect to my GPRS, can connect, can't connect - it seems to have a mind of its own and even changes the settings by itself. Can fetch mail but can't surf. Need to change between work and internet settings. Can update WorldMate but can't update JournalBar. Why once I pair it do I need to pair it again and again. This has never happened on other devices. The problem it seems to be GUI and the lack of proper implementation at OS level. So apart from Pocket PC, bluetooth works for me on mobile phones (Ericsson), PalmOS PDAs (T, T3), PCs (Belkin), mouse (Logitech), headset, mp3 player, pens, printers, remote control Sony Ericsson car, car handsfree etc I welcome the additional speed though.

I have the exactly same PDA and same phone as you (listed in your profile). I have never had any issues like what you describe, ever. How in the world you would you be able to grab e-mail, but not surf the internet, unless you forgot to sign up for an actual data plan and were using one of those crazy T-Mobile WAP-only plans with the limited ports? Pairing is definitely not an issue with the 4150 (and, since they haven't updated the ROM, we're talking about the same GUI software). The only way pairing would fail would be if you forgot to pair the devices (simply finding them once doesn't pair them).

I don't know about you, but I turn BT on from BT Manager and click Connect to Internet and, in about 3-4 seconds, I'm on the net.

[Duncan]

Americans want Bluetooth, not video (http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2004/06/04/americans_want_.php)

So the desire to have it is there...!

[Kacey Green]

I've been pretty happy with my Bluetooth devices. Using my T610 phone and my iPAQ has been great. Good Bluetooth headsets tend to work very well.

The additonal speed could help for getting better stereo audio products.

Or how about sunglasses with built-in HUDS that allow for transmission of data or graphics to them via the Pocket PC? It could work with a faster Bluetooth speed. Please don't use them while driving :wink:

:i got it:A holographic BT HUD, yeah! :drool:
The semi transparent varity of course!

[dlinker]

Fortunately, the number of BT sessions I've had problems with is far, far outweighed by the number of sessions with no problems. And most of the problems I've had were to do with wandering out of range of the BT-connected desktop.
Once you pair two Bluetooth devices together they should work over and over for ever. What do you mean by sessions?

Bluetooth is a PAN (Personal Area Network) the range is 10 meters in a wide open area without walls. That is 33 feet or less, or 15 feet with walls and other obstructions. I have never had an issue if I stay with in those limits. If you need a network that spans farther then 33 feet try a wireless LAN (WiFi) that is good for about 150 feet or try a GPRS connection that covers most of the major cities in the US.

Sean

If you get a type 1 Bluetooth USB dongle for your PC, you get a range of up to 100m (330ft) with bluetooth. The person sitting next to me at work has one and can ActiveSync his XDA II from anywhere on our floor (about 35m each side). He even got it to work in the Coffee shop 2 floors above - if he sat near the window. This is in a modern high rise office building with concrete and steel reinforced floors. We were VERY surprised (and very jealous).

The main difference between Bluetooth and WiFi is not the range but the purpose. Bluetooth is supposed to replace cables for devices in close (Type 2 - the original spec - up to 10m) proximity - now extended to up to 100m. But it's still designed as a one to one relationship between each pair of devices. It's also slower and lower power than WiFi. However, it can be used to connect any or all the following to each other:
PC, mobile (cellur) phone, PDA, headset, keyboard and mouse (yes Think Outside are working on a Bluetooth mouse for PDAs http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2908)

WiFi is a wireless local area network. It's range of up to 100m is designed for a number of devices to share a LAN with speeds up to now 54Mbps (or even 108 with some combinations).It is great at providing a wireless network and that's all it is supposed to be for.

Hope that clears it up a little.

PS I have a Bluetooth laptop (Dell), an iPAq 3870, and a Nokia 6310 but have used a Sony Ericsson T68i, Nokia 6230 and an XDA II with both the PC and PocketPC. I've also road tested the Dell Axim with WiFi (pre Bluetooth) and the SDIO WiFi in the XDA II. Each works together with various combinations above and serves a purpose if you configure it right. The last bit can often be very painful and has often lead to hours of cursing before the solution is found.