Decreased Distance in BlueTooth

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okaussie

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 4585 7-Aug-2005 09:50

I have a Tungsten T3. I purchased a BT Dongle for my PC that boasted a 100 meter distance. This was months ago. It did just as expected.

Now, it only works in the 5-10 feet range. I installed the old drivers. No help. Moved to another USB port, no help.

What gives?????

Thanks,,

Bill

freitasm

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Reply # 17621 7-Aug-2005 11:32

Interference from other devices in the same band (ISM, 2.4GHz)? DECT phones, Wi-Fi, microwave oven?

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okaussie

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 17626 7-Aug-2005 12:03

Thanks for the suggestion however that is not the problem. I turned off all of the cordless phones and still no luck. If I am in the same room with the BT dongle, it works fine. If I move out of the room it does not.

It did work when I first got it about 6 months ago. This has only happened with the last few days.

Bill

freitasm

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Reply # 17627 7-Aug-2005 12:09

Very hard to pinpoint then. Bluetooth is a personal area technology - and the radio on most PDA and phones are not very powerful (currently they all are 10m only). The 100m dongles are more suited for hard environment where other 100m dongles will be present to establish communications.

Bluetooth radios do not have enough strenght to go through walls, doors or sometimes even glass. Devices are supposed to be in the same area - not in line of sight, but at least close to each other.

Have you used one of those older software versions that allowed the user to control the radio strength? Perhaps this is set to Low (check advanced properties on your Bluetooth configuration)? Changed USB port to one without enough power?

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okaussie

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 17628 7-Aug-2005 12:41

My Bluetooth software that came with the dongle did not work with my PC. I used the Widcomm 4.0.1.700 version. Installed it set it up and it ran just fine. I was able to use the T3 in the living room with the PC in the bedroom without a problem.

The BT dongle is attached to a port off the motherboard, not a hub.

I went to the latest version of Widcomm and continued to work fine. That was July 1. Within the last couple of days the distance decreased. I then went back to the earlier Widcomm drivers. No help. That is what i am currently running.

You speak of the signal strength. I don't remember seeing any adjustments for this in any of the Widcomm versions.

I am wondering if my BT dongle is just getting ready to go bad.

Bill

okaussie

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 17629 7-Aug-2005 12:51

I did check under properties for "Network Access". It does show signal strength "GOOD." However there is nothing there to adjust it.

I use the BT for surfing the web and the occasional HOT SYNC that is all. I leave it in the cradle most of the time.