Ultra Small Bluetooth USB adapter

Smallest one I've found so far - Ultra Mini Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR USB 2.0 Dongle - eBay (item 320554409271 end time Jul-27-10 08:41:59 PDT)

Works with the MoGo Mouse BT PCMCIA MoGo Products - MoGo Mouse BT & fits into the rear USB slot/bay of several Toughbook notebooks.

 

Is this the non-post referred to in the other thread?
CAP

 

I think you should be able to put 2 & 2 together....

 

Honestly, the big problem is not size, it the device does not use one of the better Bluetooth stacks it is next to worthless.

And to all that are quick to point out that "it uses the native Microsoft drivers/stack..." that is a very limited stack. I suggest that you read up on it and tell me if you will be happy with the limited capabilities offered by M$.

 

Works with my MoGo BT mouse so far so that's good enough for me.

 

I am sure, Mouse and Keyboard are the most common profiles.

What is the point of Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR to simply control a mouse! I mean are you using your mouse over 15 feet away?

But what about stereo audio? How many Bluetooth devices are you able to access at once?

The answer is, without one of the better Bluetooth Stacks, the "2.1+ EDR" mode of this device is next to useless.

 

will it connect to a Bluetooth GPS module?

 

not with the Microsoft Stack...

 

Hey Az, what do you think about the Iomega Bluetooth 2.1 adapter?

IOGEAR - GBU421 - Bluetooth 2.1 USB Micro Adapter

 

Well I do not know if it will fit... but if it w ill it is a well know name. But the question remains, what stack does it use? I would gather that it does not use the very limited Microsoft stack because it says:

THAT is a good thing!

For more reading on the Bluetooth Stack I would suggest that you read this handy article. This will tell you how limited that the native Windows Bluetooth Stack is in its support of different profiles.

It was Rick that got me to researching Bluetooth and made me realize just how important the Stack is! I who the hell wants to use something as sophisticated at Bluetooth 2.1 EDR just to run a wireless mouse?

 

It uses the Widcomm stack and fits nicely in the rear factory USB port on my CF-28.

 

This is the one I have. It fits perfect inside the side recessed usb slot on the cf 29

Newegg.com - ASUS USB-BT21 USB 2.0 Mini Bluetooth Dongle

 

Errrr yeah, but again, what Bluetooth Stack does it use...

It sounds like a winner! I was going to test one of the other USB Dongles that had been offered here of late to see if it would use a better Stack then the Microsoft, but the seller never sent it.

This one sounds like the one to get if you can live without your USB Port. The Widcomm stack is one of the best, Rick pointed me in that direction early on.

My Mark 5 has two USB so, I may give it a try!

Thanks!

 

Download updated WIDCOMM Bluetooth® software for Windows®

 

Well I got curious and in a few minutes "spare" time I found that apparently the Asus USB-BT21 Mini Bluetooth v2.0+EDR also works using the drivers from the Broadcom website.

This is an updated version of the software used in the famous Billington devices. I like the Asus Brand and you have to admit that the price is right!

The newest version is the Asus USB-BT211, which supports USB V2.1, which simplifies device paring and some other little stuff

 

I never use the rear USB port for anything anyway, I will give the updated software a try.

 

Thanks, I will give it a try. I guess the software that came with it is the latest according to the above wbsite

 

Azrial, how does the Toshiba model that comes in the 30's compare to what you like? Not all that familier with this Stack stuff

 

A Bluetooth stack is an application installed on your computer that interacts with your Bluetooth devices through different profiles. The better ones can also handle simple networking of multiple device radios.

I wish I was rick enough to afford a CF-30 so I could know for sure, but as a WAG I would guess that you could use the well regarded Toshiba Bluetooth Stack.

For more reading on the Bluetooth Stack I would suggest that you read this handy article. This will tell you how limited that the native Windows Bluetooth Stack is in its support of different profiles and multiple devices.

HTH!

 

Azrial, thanks for the info. On my last clean install of W7 I did not install the Toshiba Bluetooth tht comes on my 30. I figured one less program the better. I used the Windows BT for awhile and did notice that it simply didn't work as well as the Toshiba i had been using for so long. I went back and installed it a couple of weeks ago and am so glad I did.

I guess what I was wondering is how well does the Toshiba compare to some of the one's you mentioned that you like? Is the Toshiba on the lower end for the user is it regarded as one of the better one's?

BTW, when are we going to meet up? Heck we are in the same area............

 

"Please note that this TOSHIBA Bluetooth stack is for TOSHIBA notebooks only!

It will expire on all other Bluetooth hardware after 30 days!"

 

Toyo most of my experience with the Toshiba Stack is from trying to make it work with Win7 on the Billington PCMCIA Card on my CF-29. It would install but would never find it. Most people seem to regard it pretty well in my research which is why I gave it a try. However I struck out with it. It is most likely configured so that it would not work with my PCMCIA device and/or did not like the chipset that it employes...

The 15 day limitation that TopCop brings up may not apply to the CF-30 as the Bluetooth is made by Toshiba, I have also read that there is a work-a-round for the timeout feature so that would also make it a non-issue. Does it come OEM with the CF-30?

I have had far more actual hands-on experience now with the Widcomm, Microsoft, Blue Soleil, (under Linux) then the Toshiba stack. Of those I liked the Widcomm the best followed by the Blue Soleil and then well anything but the M$... I am not a M$ basher by the way, they just appear to have dropped the ball here to me.

I picked up with a small USB Bluetooth dongle the other night from a fireman friend that uses the Blue Soleil Stack. I will report back how it works for any interested.

 

I've found the Toshiba one to have the best features and options. As TC said above it is a 30 day trial kind of thing. You just need to un/re install once a month. This sounds like a pain, but the stack gives so much in the way of features that for me it's worth it.

I will say the one built into Win 7 works better than any other MS one so far. If you have this OS and are not trying to use advanced bluetooth features than it should work for most.

 

You can now download a trial Bluetooth stack for non Toshiba products which after about 2 weeks will prompt you to go online and buy a license. HOWEVER as I found out this morning the rub is that the Americas (save Brazil) are excluded from purchasing this license. This would be good for our members from other lands.

So I started searching if there was another option. I found that this Toshiba Blueetooth Nano USB adapter is on sale (until tomorrow) direct from Toshiba for 19.99 and it comes with their stack as it's their product. I would have been willing to pay that amount just for a license for the Bluetooth stack. I look at the adapter as a bonus. Even at the full price of $29.99 for the bundle I would have jumped at it.

 

"Toshiba Bluetooth Stack v6.30.03 included"

Great find!

 

How does this differ from Blue Soleil? I had version 1.6 bundled with a "long rang" BT module (was duped by their 'for-show-but-not-electronically-connected' antenna) which has networking capabilities with other BT devices but nowadays, I mostly use PC Suite to connect to my E63.

 

I think the Blue Soleil is the number two rated stack, behind the Broadcom and slightly ahead of the Toshiba.

BTW, I have been looking for that vendor I mentioned several pages back in this thread. He sent me his Bluetooth USB Dongle for evaluation, it worked great, and also worked with the Toshiba Stack.

Abet, you do have the licensing issues that TopCop1988 refers to...

 

I was duped too, but only £1 from china - was hoping to use the antenna for the internal bluetooth hack

 

Hi all,
If anyone is looking for Toshiba stack, lookie here...
Asus N61VN Notebook BT-183 BlueTooth Driver 7.00.05 for Win7 Driver for Windows 7 / Windows 7 x64 Free Download - Softpedia

Just scored a used Asus G2P and had a helluva time with the built-in BT-183 when configuring W7. The other unknown issue (Intel 945GMS express chipset 82801GBM ICH7-M) can be resolved with chipset driver download at; Chipsets — Chipset information and downloads

Hope that helps someone.
Ron in SG

** OT **
This G2P's design reminds me of a Bang & Olufsen stereo console I had years ago. Build-quality is quite nice, really. Even though it's touted to be a "gaming machine", the 17" screen is good for movies. Beefy and it weighs as heavy as a CF-28. Surely it's not a Toughbook but it has a T7400.... Blair, you thinking what I'm thinking?

 

Hi Ron,

Did you try out that download you linked? No problems with it?

Regards,
Cyril

 

Cyril,
I got the Toshiba stack and Asus G2P to play nice, and managed to pair my Nokia E63. Did some MP4 file transfers via BT but... it somehow loses the 'pairing' and wants to 're-register' BT devices when W7 restarts. Probably a learning curve thing, since I've never used Toshiba stack and not sure if it conflicts with PC Suite (which I'll test another day).

Are you planning to install that into which system?

Cheerios,
Ron in SG

 

Oh I have some problems with the brandless cheapo BT adapter I'm using when sending/receiving stuff to my PC with my SE W715 as it keeps getting cut off halfway.

 

Cyril, I'm mostly a Nokia user and unfamiliar with Sony Ericsson's menu or settings. Will upload device manager screen shots later of my E63's pairing to Asus G2P via Toshiba's BT stack and perhaps Blair might be pleased to know that there's no conflict with Nokia's PC Suite. All aspects work as they should under W7.

I'm also using those mini cheapo USB 2.0 BT dongles in my non-BT'ed toughbooks, along with PC Suite & XP Pro's generic drivers. Blue Soleil's BT stack will not play nice with Nokia's connectivity software.

For your case, try un-pairing, re-detecting the SE W715 and again re-authorizing laptop's access to it. Smart phones and comps are great, only when they work!

Please note that sometimes the software takes a few trials and reboots to get things right... ask me how I know

Be well,
Ron in SG

 

Cyril, if the Toshiba BT stack is configured correctly, your devices should be detected follows;



The Information Exchanger is, I think, Toshiba's BT server.

The rest of the screen shots are here. I'm also groping around and just glad that everything is able to sync and transfer without major hiccups or disconnection. Update us as you progress.

Ron in SG

 

Thanks Ron. Will do. As for me I'm not a Nokia user, haha.