From owner-freebsd-bluetooth@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Dec 9 13:54:59 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-bluetooth@FreeBSD.ORG Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 60A7C1065672 for ; Tue, 9 Dec 2008 13:54:59 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from olli@lurza.secnetix.de) Received: from lurza.secnetix.de (unknown [IPv6:2a01:170:102f::2]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id BAE088FC19 for ; Tue, 9 Dec 2008 13:54:58 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from olli@lurza.secnetix.de) Received: from lurza.secnetix.de (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by lurza.secnetix.de (8.14.3/8.14.3) with ESMTP id mB9DstOM019271; Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:54:55 +0100 (CET) (envelope-from oliver.fromme@secnetix.de) Received: (from olli@localhost) by lurza.secnetix.de (8.14.3/8.14.3/Submit) id mB9DstLs019270; Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:54:55 +0100 (CET) (envelope-from olli) Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:54:55 +0100 (CET) Message-Id: <200812091354.mB9DstLs019270@lurza.secnetix.de> From: Oliver Fromme To: freebsd-bluetooth@FreeBSD.ORG In-Reply-To: <20081208212541.5736d3e9@vlado.netng.org> X-Newsgroups: list.freebsd-bluetooth User-Agent: tin/1.8.3-20070201 ("Scotasay") (UNIX) (FreeBSD/6.4-PRERELEASE-20080904 (i386)) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Greylist: Sender IP whitelisted, not delayed by milter-greylist-2.1.2 (lurza.secnetix.de [127.0.0.1]); Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:54:56 +0100 (CET) Cc: Subject: Re: bluetooth USB dongles X-BeenThere: freebsd-bluetooth@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Using Bluetooth in FreeBSD environments List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:54:59 -0000 Vladimir Botka wrote: > Iain Hibbert wrote: > > the vast majority of USB dongles will work just fine > > > > if you are buying something, there are different selling points that > > can be confusing. > > > > Class 1 - 100m range > > Class 2 - 10m range > > Class 3 - 1m range > > > > I've never seen a class 3 device, and although I do have a class 1 > > controller it doesn't seem to make much difference as to signal > > quality at close range (I guess its just more powerful radio). The device I'm going to use is class 2, so I guess it's sufficient to buy a class 2 controller. In order to be able to support the 100m range, both device _and_ controller have to be class 1, I assume. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.) > > Then there is Bluetooth version, so you might see > > > > v1.0b > > v1.2 > > v2.0 + EDR > > v2.1 + EDR > > > > If you see a v1.x device for sale then don't be tempted. v2.x devices > > are vastly better at making and maintaining connections, and the > > 'Enhanced Data Rate' gives much faster transfers. I've not seen a > > v2.1 dongle in the real world though they may exist (ditto for v2.2 > > as spec is availabe) > > > > I have seen (recently!) a v1.0b device advertised as "BLUETOOTH CLASS > > 2" with the v1.0b in really small writing on the case, I guess that > > these are old stock dressed up to sell rather than new manufactures > > but its good to be aware :) Thanks Iain for the explanations. That's very helpful. Indeed I noticed there are still 1.x dongles offered for sale. Good thing you warned me. > I can recommend "cambridge silicon radio". The best choice up till now. Thanks Vladimir for the suggestion. Unfortunately it is difficult to find a product by chipset name. Most online shops don't list such technical details, and even the manufacturers' web sites don't mention it. After some searching, I finally ordered a "LogiLink Ultra Mini Bluetooth 2.0 USB Adapter BT0007". According to the manufacturer's web page it is Bluetooth V2.0 with 20m range (so I assume it's class 2, even though they don't mention this), and they even say that the chipset is "CSR" (which I assume means cambridge silicon radio). Surprisingly this little fella is so small it seems to almost completely disappear inside the USB slot. Amazing. What's even better, it costs only 6 Euros. Thanks everybody for your suggestions! Best regards Oliver -- Oliver Fromme, secnetix GmbH & Co. KG, Marktplatz 29, 85567 Grafing b. M. Handelsregister: Registergericht Muenchen, HRA 74606, Geschäftsfuehrung: secnetix Verwaltungsgesellsch. mbH, Handelsregister: Registergericht Mün- chen, HRB 125758, Geschäftsführer: Maik Bachmann, Olaf Erb, Ralf Gebhart FreeBSD-Dienstleistungen, -Produkte und mehr: http://www.secnetix.de/bsd "Python tricks" is a tough one, cuz the language is so clean. E.g., C makes an art of confusing pointers with arrays and strings, which leads to lotsa neat pointer tricks; APL mistakes everything for an array, leading to neat one-liners; and Perl confuses everything period, making each line a joyous adventure . -- Tim Peters