‘What is Bluetooth?’: A beginner’s guide to the wireless technology
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- Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows the exchange of data between different devices.
- While Bluetooth uses wavelength to transmit information, it generally only works within a short distance for the devices to stay connected.
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Chances are good that you are familiar with how Bluetooth technology works – you probably have used it to pair your iPhone with your AirPod or connect your favorite music program with a speaker.
In the simplest terms, Bluetooth is the technology that enables exchange of data between devices within a short amount of distance.
What separates Bluetooth radio waves from the broadcast sent out by your favorite pop station is the fact that Bluetooth waves don’t travel very far and are constantly switching frequencies.
Most Bluetooth devices have a maximum connectivity range of about 30 feet, and that distance is reduced when obstacles (such as a wall) are present.
Now, as for the constant frequency changing? That’s another part of the story entirely.
Bluetooth connections are secure wireless connections
Devices connected through Bluetooth are generally secure and safe against hacking.
This is because they operate on any of various different frequencies, and the devices hop between these frequencies hundreds of times per second.
It’s called «frequency hopping spread spectrum,» and it all but ensures that your Bluetooth devices can’t be hacked – not by way of the Bluetooth signal, at any rate.
What Bluetooth is used for
As mentioned earlier, Bluetooth is often used to pair mobile devices with other mobile or fixed devices. This could be your earbuds, your car, and your smart fridge. But it is often also working in ways that are less immediately apparent, such as linking a printer or mouse to a computer.
Because Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are often complementary, working at the same time and offering much the same connectivity, you may not always know which hardware is pairing with which devices. Just know that if in range, devices previously paired via Bluetooth will try to automatically connect.
Because you often won’t even realize when devices are connecting to one another via Bluetooth, it’s a good idea to occasionally pop open your settings app on your phone (or any other device with Bluetooth connectivity), head to the Bluetooth tab, and take a look at all the devices that could potentially connect and note anything that is, in fact, already connected.
And if you ever get rid of a Bluetooth device or plan not to use it for a long time, by all means opt to «Forget this device» in your Settings app so you know you are maintaining control of the connection.
What Is Bluetooth Wireless Networking?
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Bluetooth is a radio communication technology that enables low-power, short distance wireless networking between phones, computers, and other network devices. The name Bluetooth is borrowed from King Harald Gormsson of Denmark who lived more than 1,000 years ago. The king’s nickname meant «Bluetooth,» supposedly because he had a dead tooth that looked blue. The Bluetooth logo is a combination of the two Scandinavian runes for the King’s initials.
Using Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology was designed primarily to support networking of portable consumer devices and peripherals that run on batteries, but Bluetooth support can be found in a wide range of devices including:
- Cell phones
- Wireless headsets (including hands-free car kits)
- Wireless keyboards
- Printers
- Wireless speakers
- Computers
How Bluetooth Works
Two Bluetooth devices connect to each other by a process called pairing. When you press a button or select a menu option on the unit, a Bluetooth device initiates a new connection. Details vary depending on the type of device.
Many mobile devices have Bluetooth radios embedded in them. PCs and other devices can also be enabled through the use of Bluetooth dongles.
Bluetooth networks feature a dynamic topology called a piconet, which contains a minimum of two and a maximum of eight Bluetooth peer devices. Devices communicate using network protocols that are part of the Bluetooth specification. The Bluetooth standards have been revised over many years starting with version 1.0 (not widely used) and 1.1 on up to version 5.
Radio signals that are transmitted with Bluetooth cover only short distances, typically up to 30 feet until the most recent standard. Bluetooth was originally designed for lower-speed wireless connections, although technology advancements over the years have increased its performance considerably. Early versions of the standard supported connections below 1 Mbps while modern versions are rated up to 50 Mbps.
Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi
Although Bluetooth utilizes the same standard signal range as conventional Wi-Fi, it cannot provide the same level of wireless connectivity. Compared to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth networking is slower, more limited in range and supports fewer peer devices.
Bluetooth Security
As with other wireless protocols, Bluetooth has received its fair share of scrutiny over the years for network security weaknesses. Popular television dramas sometimes feature criminals pairing their Bluetooth phone to an unsuspecting victim’s, where the criminal can then eavesdrop on conversations and steal private data. In real life, of course, these attacks are highly unlikely to happen and sometimes even not possible in the way they are portrayed.
While Bluetooth technology incorporates its fair share of security protections, security experts recommend turning off Bluetooth on a device when not using it to avoid any small risk that exists.
You can connect up to eight Bluetooth-equipped devices simultaneously. However, some Bluetooth devices may conflict if they use the same profile to connect.
A personal area network (PAN) is a network organized for personal use only. For example, you can use Bluetooth PAN to create a network with wireless links between computers, phones, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Class 2 Bluetooth devices, such as headsets and headphones, have a range of approximately 30 feet (10 meters). However, the range may vary depending on obstacles, such as walls.
Bluetooth Technology Overview
One key reason for the incredible success of Bluetooth ® technology is the tremendous flexibility it provides developers. Offering two radio options, Bluetooth technology provides developers with a versatile set of full-stack, fit-for-purpose solutions to meet the ever-expanding needs for wireless connectivity.
Whether a product streams high-quality audio between a smartphone and speaker, transfers data between a tablet and medical device, or sends messages between thousands of nodes in a building automation solution, the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and Bluetooth Classic radios are designed to meet the unique needs of developers worldwide.
The Bluetooth Classic radio, also referred to as Bluetooth Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR), is a low power radio that streams data over 79 channels in the 2.4GHz unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band. Supporting point-to-point device communication, Bluetooth Classic is mainly used to enable wireless audio streaming and has become the standard radio protocol behind wireless speakers, headphones, and in-car entertainment systems. The Bluetooth Classic radio also enables data transfer applications, including mobile printing.
The Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) radio is designed for very low power operation. Transmitting data over 40 channels in the 2.4GHz unlicensed ISM frequency band, the Bluetooth LE radio provides developers a tremendous amount of flexibility to build products that meet the unique connectivity requirements of their market. Bluetooth LE supports multiple communication topologies, expanding from point-to-point to broadcast and, most recently, mesh, enabling Bluetooth technology to support the creation of reliable, large-scale device networks. While initially known for its device communications capabilities, Bluetooth LE is now also widely used as a device positioning technology to address the increasing demand for high accuracy indoor location services. Bluetooth LE now includes features that enable one device to determine the presence, distance, and direction of another device.
LE 2M PHY: ≤-70 dBm
LE 1M PHY: ≤-70 dBm
LE Coded PHY (S=2): ≤-75 dBm
LE Coded PHY (S=8): ≤-82 dBm
Asynchronous Connection-oriented
Isochronous Connection-oriented
Asynchronous Connectionless
Synchronous Connectionless
Isochronous Connectionless
* Devices shall not exceed the maximum allowed transmit power levels set by the regulatory bodies that have jurisdiction over the locales in which the device is to be sold or intended to operate. Implementers should be aware that the maximum transmit power level permitted under a given set of regulations might not be the same for all modulation modes.