Bluetooth adapter - what is it, how it works, what it is needed for, main types, existing profiles

Electronic devices, despite being manufactured by thousands of different manufacturers, must use the same technology/standard to connect with each other. It is for this reason that networks are used all over the world. 4G LTE (more recently also 5G), and modern devices connect to the network using a wireless standard WiFi.

Bluetooth , in turn, is a short-range wireless communication standard. This solution is used on laptops, tablets, smartphones, cars, speakers, sound bars, home theaters, smart watches, fitness bracelets, smart home devices, wireless keyboards and other devices. The possibilities for using Bluetooth are almost endless.

Bluetooth technology is usually easy to set up and use, but, unfortunately, various types of problems sometimes occur.

In the following article, we will explain what Bluetooth is , what this technology can be used for, and how to use it. Possible solutions to the most common problems that arise when using Bluetooth are also provided.

What is Bluetooth communication

At the very beginning, we should explain what Bluetooth . It is a short-range wireless communication standard between devices that uses radio communications . With Bluetooth we can transfer files, documents, videos and music. Due to the nature of the Bluetooth connection - low bandwidth and significant energy efficiency , Bluetooth is used mainly for communication between accessories and audio transmission.

Bluetooth is an open standard that was described in the IEEE 802.15.1 . It includes three main power classes with range limits of 1 meter, 10 meters and 100 meters.

Bluetooth standard was initiated by Ericsson , which, together with IBM , Intel , Nokia and Toshiba SIG in 1994 , the goal of which was to develop a universal standard for short-range wireless communications. The idea of ​​getting rid of wires quickly evolved to a LAN and became the WLAN (Wi-Fi) we know today.

The first version of the Bluetooth 1.0 was introduced in 1999 . The description of the solution took up to 1500 pages.

The current standard is Bluetooth 5.0 (+ new Bluetooth 5.1), as well as the popular old Bluetooth 4.2 .

In the simplest cases, Bluetooth connects two devices, for example, a smartphone with a headset in a car. The connection is created using a PAN (Personal Area Network), which has one point-to-point connection. Any device that has Bluetooth has a unique AMA (Active Member Address), i.e. identifier that allows you to easily recognize the device. Manufacturers can also name their devices with meaningful names, making it easier to find your chosen equipment in a list of Bluetooth devices nearby. The user can often change this name to something else.

Bluetooth also allows you to connect a larger number of devices (up to on the same network. In this case, a point-to-multipoint connection is used, where one device acts as a server and the rest as nodes.

In addition, Bluetooth have standby functions, thanks to which the user does not need to connect the devices each time. For example, the mouse associated with the device will automatically connect after reboot. The hands-free kit in the vehicle's infotainment system will attempt to connect to the last paired smartphone each time the engine is started.

The theoretical Bluetooth specification allows for up to 256 devices in standby mode. PMA addressing , which has a width of 8 bits (28 = 256 devices).

History of the name Bluetooth

In 1998, Intel engineer Jim Cardack was part of a large development team working on short-range radio technology. A communication system that could connect computers and mobile phones with a universal communication protocol.

Many names were tried for the technology, but none of them suited the company’s management. Some were somewhat cumbersome, others did not reflect the essence of the project. Then, Jim Kardak heard from his Swedish colleague a story about a small Norwegian village.

It is known only for one ancient landmark. The Jelling rune stones are installed there.

Now they are protected from bad weather and vandals by durable glass, behind which a constant temperature is maintained, but for more than a thousand years the stone surface was watered by rain and wind, so now the stones of Jelling bear little resemblance to the monuments that were once here.

The smallest and oldest of them was erected by King Gorm of Denmark in honor of his wife, Thyra. The larger stone is the work of their son, whose name, translated into English, sounds like Harold Bluetooth (Blue-toothed). The inscription on it reads "Harald, who conquered all Denmark and Norway, who baptized the Danes."

The story about the ruler who united such dissimilar peoples attracted Kardak and he decided that the name “Bluetooth” would make a good code name. We need to name the project something while the debate continues. That's all.

After long meetings and approvals, they decided to make “Personal Area Networking” or PAN (Personal Area Networking) the official name, but three weeks before the release, lawyers said that they could not register a trademark for something with such a common name. There was no choice left, and the technical name was assigned to the protocol - the name of the ancient king - Bluetooth.

As for the logo, it means: Harald Bluetooth. “ХБ”, written in the runic alphabet, merged together to form something of an ancient signature.

A thousand years ago, the Danish king ordered stones to be carved and erected in memory of his deeds, and a century later his name was immortalized on every smartphone.

Bluetooth classes and bands

On the Internet you can find information about three classes of Bluetooth . Their main task is to determine the maximum transmission range and power of a wireless connection.

• Class 1 allows for a wireless connection of 100 milliwatts (mW). This means a maximum coverage of up to 100 meters (with no obstacles such as walls between connected devices). This is a class with great range and power. These kinds of Bluetooth modules are used in computers and public address systems in cars.
• Class 2 has a maximum transmit power of 10 milliwatts (mW). Limiting the power by a factor of 10 reduces the maximum transmission distance to 50 meters (assuming there are no obstacles such as walls between connected devices). This type of adapter is used in Bluetooth to USB .
• Class 3 is used to transmit data with a minimum power, which is set to 1 miliwat (mW). Bluetooth Class 3 allows data transmission over a distance of 10 meters . We find this kind of solution in all mobile devices.

Most popular Bluetooth versions

Currently, it is difficult to find devices with Bluetooth 1-2.1 on the market. Devices available on the market use one of the following versions of Bluetooth:

• Bluetooth 3 – in the case of Bluetooth 3.0, we are definitely dealing with version 3.0 HS Bluetooth. The abbreviation HS stands for High Speed, which means increased data transfer speed. This solution allows you to send data at a speed of 24 Mbit/s. The new version of Bluetooth 3.1 TN increased this speed to 40 Mbit/s.
• Bluetooth 4 - the first version of Bluetooth 4.0 had the addition LE in the name. This label stands for Low Energy. When developing this standard, the creators paid special attention to reducing energy consumption and increasing the range to 100 meters - all this came at the cost of throughput, which dropped to 1 Mb/sec. Transmission in power saving mode is even slower and has a range of up to 10 meters.
• Bluetooth 4.1 is a modification of Bluetooth 4.0 and was created for IoT (Internet of Things) devices. Allows these devices to directly connect to the Internet using Bluetooth.
• Bluetooth 4.2 offers even greater energy efficiency while improving security and enabling fast data transport. In addition, the pairing process has been fixed.
• Bluetooth 5.0 focuses on combining the capabilities of Bluetooth 4.2 as well as Bluetooth 3.0. In BLE mode, throughput increases to 2 Mbit/s. Thanks to this solution, you can quickly update your fitness bracelet and smart watch without Wi-Fi.

If the manufacturer decides to limit the transfer rate to 125 KB/sec, then it is possible to increase the range to 200 meters (in open spaces). They can also increase speed through energy efficiency, or make data transfer slower but more energy efficient.

How to set up Bluetooth

Once the user has figured out how to properly enable the Bluetooth connection, he needs to configure it. The correct setting determines whether the user will receive the maximum level of pairing with other accessories or devices. If the user does not receive accelerated stabilization, then he has configured the wireless connection incorrectly.

First you need to activate Bluetooth. This was discussed above, so you shouldn’t stop at this step.

Renaming a device

The user can then rename their device. This can be done in the special line “rename device”. This shows how other devices will see the user's phone. As a rule, manufacturers initially use the name of the gadget or their company. The user can choose his own name.

Visibility

Now it's time to adjust the visibility. It is necessary to activate it, since initially all devices are in an invisible position. These settings vary depending on the user. In order for other devices to see the phone, we activate this item. You just need to go to the settings and activate the checkbox. Afterwards, other devices will be able to see the user’s phone and connect to it.

Received via Bluetooth

There is a special column called “Received via Bluetooth”. In it you can see all the files and data that a person will receive from others while using the phone. This setting is created by default in the internal memory of the phone. If the user has lost data, he can access this section and configure it as well.

Connecting other devices

The settings can also include connecting other devices. How to connect to other devices is worth considering further, but the setup process itself is possible in the “Bluetooth” section next to the device from which you would like to receive information.

Bluetooth Profiles

Bluetooth technology supports various profiles . They are responsible for how and whether devices can communicate with each other using Bluetooth.

There are many different profiles that are designed for specific applications. Below are the most popular ones:

• A2DP – advanced stereo audio distribution profile.
• AVCTP – Audio/Video Control Transport, used to transmit audio and video.
• AVRCP is an audio-video remote control profile that functions as a control panel that uses Bluetooth for communication.
• BPP – Basic Printing Profile, used for printing documents from a mobile phone using Bluetooth, is currently practically not used, its role has been taken over by Wi-Fi.
• BIP – Basic Image Profile, used to transfer, display and print files in JPEG (photo) format.
• GAVDP – Generic AV Distribution Profile – controls the transfer of data, audio and video.
• HSP – Handset Profile, used to work with multimedia control keys on headphones.
• HFP – Hands Free Profile is designed for making hands-free phone calls.
• PBAP – Phonebook Access Profile – serves to access the phonebook on a connected device, for example, a hands-free kit.
• SYNC – Synchronisation, used for data synchronization, ensures data transfer to/from a PC.

What does Bluetooth look like and where is it?

Bluetooth literally translated from English consists of two words – blue and tooth. Translated from Danish, this combination means blue-toothed (in honor of the Viking king from Denmark).

The interpretation of the technology icon is very interesting. The emblem features two Scandinavian runes combined together. The color scheme of the logo also fully corresponds to the name.

• There are a huge number of devices that can be used without connecting wires thanks to the presence of Bluetooth, and their number is only growing every day.
• This technology can now be found almost everywhere: in phones, computers, headphones, TVs, radios, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, washing machines and even refrigerators!

Yes, yes, we are absolutely serious, some modern refrigerators actually have this option - it helps: track the freshness of products, order them from the store, remotely change the temperature, perform automatic diagnostics for problems, access the Internet and even social media. networks. It seems that the future has already arrived.

How is data transferred using Bluetooth?

Bluetooth the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical Band) frequency band Up to 79 channels are available in this interval. Each of them has a frequency bandwidth of 1 MHz. The 2.4 GHz frequency range, very close to 2.402 GHz, uses Wi-Fi communications compatible with the IEEE 802.11 .

Bluetooth supports on-the-fly frequency shifting (FHSS) functions that can change channels 1600 times within a second. These changes, as well as the transmission of small data packets, mean that Bluetooth connections remain stable.

Bluetooth and WLAN (Wi-Fi) - what are the differences?

Bluetooth and WLAN come from the same idea and work similarly, but are used for completely different things.

Bluetooth uses two different data transfer methods: SCO - Synchronous Connection Oriented and ACL - Asynchronous Connectionless Link . SCO is used for real-time voice transmission with a maximum speed of 64 Kbps. The remaining data is transferred using an ACL and requires the sending device to have built-in memory to store the data.

The WLAN (Wi-Fi) network is only able to transmit data in asynchronous mode. In addition, Wi-Fi operates at other frequencies and has much higher throughput.

Where to look for Bluetooth settings on your device

The location where the settings for Bluetooth depends solely and exclusively on the manufacturer of the particular device. Luckily, smartphones and computers these days use multiple operating systems that keep the settings in one place.

On Android, Settings application and find the Connections → Bluetooth section. You can also use the search engine inside Settings or go to Bluetooth by long pressing the Bluetooth in the notification bar.

On iOS, launch the Settings and select the Bluetooth section, which is located almost at the very top.

On Windows 10 , launch the Settings app → Devices → Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can access Bluetooth settings using quick actions in the Windows 10 .

On macOS, you need to launch the System Preferences → Bluetooth application.

Why do you need a bluetooth adapter?

Bluetooth wireless technology is a convenient choice when you need to connect and communicate between various electronic devices without the need for wires and cables. The main features include:

1. Transferring information from a smartphone to a PC and back.
2. Connecting several desktop computers within a small radius.
3. Connecting peripheral equipment to a PC (headphones, mouse, keyboard, etc.).

The Bluetooth adapter for a computer plugs into any USB port, and setup and connection occur automatically. In some cases, it may require installing drivers; this applies to operating systems of the Windows family that are older than version 7. Has stable communication and low power consumption.

How to determine the Bluetooth version on a device

Over the course of 20 years, several versions of Bluetooth , which, although compatible with each other, have different capabilities and technical parameters. In mobile devices, due to their small size, the Bluetooth module is integrated with the processor within a single SoC (System on a Chip).

For Android , you can install an application such as Aida64 or CPU-Z, which will report the Bluetooth version.

Windows computers , you need to launch Device Manager (you can find it through the system search) and go to the Bluetooth . When selecting a module, go to the “Advanced” section. There you will see an LMP with a number.

Below is information about which number corresponds to which Bluetooth standard:

• LMP 9.x – Bluetooth 5.0
• LMP 8.x – Bluetooth 4.2
• LMP 7.x – Bluetooth 4.1
• LMP 6.x – Bluetooth 4.0
• LMP 5.x – Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
• LMP 4.x – Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• LMP 3.x – Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
• LMP 2.x – Bluetooth 1.2
• LMP 1.x – Bluetooth 1.1
• LMP 0.x – Bluetooth 1.0 b

On Mac computers, go to Finder → About This Mac → System Report → Bluetooth. Bluetooth Core Spec setting shows what version of Bluetooth your computer has.

Information about the type of Bluetooth version you are using can be found in the technical specifications for this device. In addition, all Bluetooth equipment has a special certificate.

How to turn on bluetooth on your phone

Bluetooth is used to connect wireless devices. These include headphones, headsets, and speakers - everything that needs to be connected to the phone without a cable. Bluetooth also serves to connect two devices for data transfer. If you need to transfer a file or music, you can do it through it.

This technology is available in every device. The main thing is to know how to install it and how to activate it on your device. You should watch this video for more details about this technology.

iPhone

iPhones also have technology called bluetooth. It is quite rarely used on iOS phones, since the APL company came up with a system different from Bluetooth specifically for its devices. Despite this, the technology is present on the smartphone. To use it, you must:

1. First, you should go to your phone settings. They are located on the phone's start screen and resemble a gear-shaped icon. Tap to open them;
2. After that, you should look at the very top panel, which contains all the main features of the phone. We find there a section called “Bluetooth”;
3. If the user has not activated it, the line will show the status “Off.” To activate, you need to tap on the line;
4. A window opens where in the “Bluetooth” line we switch the toggle switch to the activated state.

This way, Bluetooth is activated on the iPhone. If the user has done everything correctly, the status bar will show that it is enabled.

On Android

You can also activate Bluetooth on Android. Wireless connection technology appeared for the first time on such phones. For the first time they began to use it on such devices.

Activation of Bluetooth depends on what firmware the user has on the device. If it has a fairly modern firmware, then it can even turn it on through the status curtain. For this:

1. Swipe to open the status curtain on the device. The swipe and its direction also depend on the firmware, model and much more. Typically, a downward stroke will activate the system in the right direction;
2. After this, you need to find the icon that is responsible for the wireless connection. The icon itself looks like the English letter “B”;
3. If you click on this icon, the user will activate the required element of the system.

Thus, activating Bluetooth will not take much time from the user. Of course, on Android, as on iPhone, you can activate it through the settings, but using the status curtain it is much easier to do this.

If the user did everything correctly, the corresponding icon will appear in the top status bar on the phone.

On Windows Phone

Windows Phone is a device that has recently appeared on the market. Their system is different from other phones, so they have their own Bluetooth connection. In order to activate them on a Windows phone you need:

1. Open settings on your phone;
2. After that, find the special section “Bluetooth”;
3. Tap on this section and find a line called “Status”;
4. Now it’s worth transferring it to the activated state.

After this, the user will see a list of phones or devices with which they can pair.

How to connect devices using Bluetooth

Connecting devices using Bluetooth seems simple, but in practice it turns out that users have a lot of problems with it.

To connect two devices, they must have an active Bluetooth . Bluetooth settings are usually found in the connection settings. For Android , you can launch Bluetooth using the quick settings in the notification panel. iOS/iPadOS devices can use the Control Center.

The equipment to which we want to connect another device, for example a speakerphone, must be in pairing mode. Unfortunately, it often turns out that each function for activating the pairing mode is in its own place in the menu. Sometimes equipment can be connected immediately after turning on Bluetooth, others after some time, and others only after enabling the corresponding option. In this case, it is best to check the operating instructions for this equipment.

When trying to connect, both devices display a four-digit PIN code (usually 0000 or 1234), which allows us to further verify that we are linking the selected devices. Only after confirmation with a PIN code does the pairing process begin.

Connect via Bluetooth using NFC

A significant part of new smartphones and tablets have a built-in NFC – Near Field Communication . This solution is used to pay using Google Pay , Apple Pay and other payment systems.

Few people know that NFC can also be used to quickly pair two devices. In case you have an NFC-enabled smartphone and another NFC-enabled device, such as a soundbar or headphones, bring the devices close to each other and automatic pairing will begin. In this case, you do not need to enter a PIN code or additionally confirm the connection.

Why doesn't my smartphone detect all devices?

As we wrote earlier, not all devices are detected even when the Bluetooth is active. The operating system used in this equipment has a very large influence on the operation of this technology

Currently, the problem of detecting available devices is the biggest curse of Bluetooth . Some manufacturers such as Samsung change Bluetooth drivers, as well as the settings menu, to make access to them more clear in relation to regular Android.

Unfortunately, there are companies on the other side that prevent access to the Bluetooth menu. Here we are talking mainly about manufacturers of cars and hands-free kits. While in the case of smartphones and computers you can learn to use Bluetooth in several systems (Android, iOS, Windows and macOS), each car manufacturer uses a completely different system, in which Bluetooth are sometimes deeply hidden.

The device was detected but cannot connect

Sometimes it may happen that the device is detected correctly but fails to connect. Unfortunately, there is no universal solution to this problem , but, fortunately, it mainly affects older devices.

It is possible that your smartphone or other device is already connected to other equipment using Bluetooth (such as a smartwatch), and when you try to connect to your Bluetooth home theater, it will reject the call. This happens because not all devices support multiple Bluetooth connections.

Earlier versions of the Android (4.4 Kitkat inclusive) have problems if there are many entries in the list of connected devices. In this case, it is best to remove devices that you do not use.

If you transfer data from an old Android to a new one, paired devices can also be transferred. This solution rarely works as it should. After purchasing a new phone, we recommend clearing the list of paired Bluetooth and proceeding with the installation again.

Sometimes a connection problem occurs due to a significant distance between devices. Make sure the equipment is nearby.

Bluetooth connection drops after a while

Unfortunately, disconnection is still a real problem, even in the latest smartphones. Bluetooth connection problems are a big problem for owners of all kinds of fitness bracelets and smartwatches , which must be constantly connected to the phone throughout the day. In this case, the solution to the problem may be to remove unused equipment from the list of paired devices, but we have other, more effective solutions.

Android smartphones have complex algorithms used to save battery power . Phone makers and Google have introduced aggressive process management. This leads to the fact that when the phone goes into sleep mode - the so-called Deep Sleep , the process responsible for the Bluetooth . As a result, the smartwatch informs us that there is no connection with the phone.

The solution to this problem is to disable power saving for fitness bracelet or smartwatch control applications . This can be done in the settings in the "Applications" section. The exact location of the parameter depends on the interface used. For Samsung Gear/Galaxy watches, you need to disable the economy mode in the Samsung Gear, Gear Plugin (optional - if displayed in the list), and Samsung Health applications.

of power saving modes in the smartwatch or fitness bracelet itself may also be responsible for connection problems

Pairing wearable devices using Bluetooth

For wearables like smartwatches and fitness bands, you don't just need to connect the device using Bluetooth . To use the capabilities of this type of device, you must install a client application . In the case of Android watches, this is Wear OS , Samsung smartwatches and bracelets use Samsung Gear , and Xiaomi devices use Mi Fit .

Pairing is done using the app and differs depending on the device used. All this is carefully described in the operating manual of the device, as well as the client application.

Is it possible to update via Bluetooth?

Yes, updating via Bluetooth is possible . Most often, this is how you can update devices that do not have Wi-Fi. We are talking about wearable devices, smartwatches, as well as hands-free kits, receivers and smart speakers. In their case, the firmware is downloaded to the mobile device and transferred via Bluetooth to the memory of the connected equipment.

Play audio on two Bluetooth devices

Bluetooth for a long period of time did not allow maintaining a connection with two devices at the same time, much less simultaneous data transfer between all connected devices.

The situation changed with the advent of the Bluetooth 4.0 . He introduced Dual Mode, which allows you to transmit sound to two devices simultaneously. All three devices must support Bluetooth version 4.0, and the transmitting device must additionally be compatible with the Dual Mode .

In this case, one of the connected devices uses Bluetooth Classic , while the second one Bluetooth Low Energy .

Dual Audio feature debuted in the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Since its launch in early 2020, other phone models have appeared in stores with the ability to simultaneously transmit audio to two Bluetooth devices.

Problem with Bluetooth on Windows

When using a PC, sometimes there is a problem with activating the Bluetooth module. Windows 10 system settings, there is an option to turn Bluetooth on and off, but it is purely software.

First, we recommend that you check the Bluetooth module in Device Manager . If it is not in the list, restart your computer - the drivers may have been updated. When the Bluetooth module is still invisible after a reboot, it may have been disabled from the BIOS/UEFI or a physical switch on the case (mostly older laptop models). If these solutions do not help, it is possible that your computer does not have a Bluetooth module or that it has been damaged.

Update Bluetooth Driver on Windows

Drivers on Windows 10 are updated automatically through Windows Update , but you can manually force check for updates and install the latest driver. This is a useful solution when for some reason the module stops working after an update.

To update the drivers for the Bluetooth , go to Device Manager → Bluetooth and select the Bluetooth device (for example, Intel Wireless Bluetooth). The next step is to go to the Driver tab and select Update Driver. In the next step, you can choose to update online or specify the driver folder.

If, after updating the drivers, the Bluetooth module still causes problems, you can remove the device using Device Manager and install it again. Performing this action will reinstall the drivers.

Bluetooth USB or PCI adapter is not recognized by the system

Most proprietary and branded Bluetooth use the USB or PCI interface, for which Windows finds the drivers itself. Despite this, there are still Bluetooth adapters on the market for which Windows itself cannot find drivers.

In this case, you should go to Device Manager and select the local driver update option. An unknown Bluetooth module is identified as Unknown Device . Drivers are usually supplied with the device. You can also find them on the manufacturer's online support site.

How to find a Bluetooth receiver on your computer

If you have a laptop, then you can check if you have this module. To do this, find the Bluetooth icon on the keyboard, it is usually located on the F3 key.

To turn it on, press the combination Fn + F3.

In ordinary stationary PCs, this module is installed extremely rarely and is present in rare assemblies. To check this you just need to go to the device manager:

1. Right-click on “Computer”, which is located on the desktop.
2. Select "Property".
3. Next, click “Device Manager”.
4. In the network adapters section or a separate section, there should be the name Bluetooth. Sometimes this module is present, but the driver is not installed. It will be located in the “Other devices” section.

If it is not there, then you need to start making a choice.