Cisco-Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter

When I first bought my iPaq 2215, my intention was to purchase an 802.11b compact flash network card to be able to connect to my home wireless network. I wasn't sure about the built-in Bluetooth capability of the PDA or what I could do with it. I did some research and decided maybe this technology could give me what I wanted - to connect to my home PCs and surf the 'Net from the PDA. Additionally, a Bluetooth dongle would be portable so I could take it to work and connect to my PC there. I got the Linksys USBBT100 and simply followed the provided installation instructions. I configured the services I wanted and the PDA connected worked exactly as planned. I now carry the Bluetooth dongle to work to transfer files or connect to the 'Net there and I bring it home so I can connect to a PC there. The range is much better than I ever expected. I can go anywhere in the house and maintain the connection. I have great range around the office, too. It works anywhere in our 4000 square foot office. It even works outside the office into the lobby of the building. The only issue I had was in the configuration of services on the PC so that I could connect to the 'Net. The Bluetooth driver warns that it may cause the PC not to be able to connect to other PCs but that hasn't been the case. Running IPCONFIG shows the Bluetooth network IP address of 192.168.0.1. Apparently, this isn't configurable but this hasn't caused any problems with either network I use the device on. All in all, this was a great purchase. I see no need in getting the 802.11b network card for my iPaq. Now, I can keep both the compact flash slot and the secure digital slot open for other accessories and I have wireless connectivity, too. Now I'm sold on Bluetooth and I'm looking into other Bluetooth devices - a Bluetooth cell phone will be next. Great product, great price.

I did some reading beforehand, but this device was easy to set up for broadband connection sharing and hot sync. Here's what I was using: * Windows PC, SP I * Cable Modem * Verizon Treo 650 I found the instructions for "Reverse DUN" on the Palm Addict web site. I won't duplicate step by step instructions here, but this is what it takes at a high level: * Install BT Adaptor * Cange PC's LAN settings to be shared * Pair Treo and PC * Configure new BT trusted device on Treo * Switch Treo to use new BT connection for network * Have PC allow Treo to connect * Fire up Blazer and go! This is set up under the "Network" profile. You have to run the wizzard twice - once for what service the computer will provide and once for specifying that the Treo will be using the service. The wizzard makes it very easy to accomplish this. I have read where it is recommended that you set up network sharing prior to hot sync. I don't know that this is a hard requirement, but I did it this way with no problem. Setting up hot sync afterward was easy as the Treo bluetooth set up actually guides you through this quite well. I did notice that performing hot sync this way is considerably slower. So, after all was said and done, I'm sitting downstairs in the living room surfing the wireless web while using the broadband internet connection on my PC upstairs. Here's the best part - the only cost to surf this way is the one-time price of the Linksys adaptor.

I don't know if I just have bad luck or worse (maybe I'm cursed). I saw that people had problems with this product and Windows XP SP2 but I got it anyways (since I had read all the KB and other hints on how to easily get it to work in 5-10 minutes even with the hassle of having to update the drivers to the Linksys supported from Microsoft's. I tried many, many times to install said adapter. Tried everything, and different combos of different things. I kept getting it to partially install and then it would malfunction and the "device" would become "lost". I would get error code 10 which when trying to research would only have something show up for if you were using Windows 2000.... not XP SP2. I uninstalled each time, rebooted when needed, and even a few other times (hence the 20 installations by the very end), and even tried on fresh new USB ports...I gave up and decided to try on another computer using Windows XP SP1. This computer did the same thing. After several trys, I asked Amazon for a replacement product (still need to send that 1st one back). Second adapter was much better. I started off this time with the XP SP1 comp figuring if I couldn't get it to work on that one, then the XP SP2 would be a lost cause... I managed to get MUCH further in the installations, and even got it partially working. But not totally... Again, like the first adapter, it would not automatically install several key items that I had to go and install manually with "add hardware wizard". So I decided to try it out on the Win XP SP2 comp (since this is our main computer and is the one with out network router etc) which is the one I would rather have it on anyways... What happens? I get the same install, go "add hardware", though I'm sure I didn't need to have some of the installed items re-done since after doing a clean uninstall/remove program etc you still have a lot of Linksys/BT stuff leftover on your computer. I managed to get more installed this time/computer and again running with my PDA (Dell Axim X50). I even got the LAN access set up and would only stop when it got the error (can't remember what it was, normal windows style code with a bunch of #'s and one or 2 letters). This came up when trying to connect. And the only thing I could see really wrong on the main computer side was that it would not let me see my device (and then to pair it, though it was paired with my PDA from PDA's side). This is due to the fact that it would never install the Bluetooth Radio section under Bluetooth Devices. Sorry, never say never. It did it once on my main computer with the old malfunctioned adpater. ONCE. Thats it. And with this adapter, I end up with problems with the bluetoothstackserver.exe file, that has to "end task" itself when I log off my user account etc. I have looked everywhere for that damn radio stuff. Nowhere to be found. Even checked my install log (which I found by accident looking for said BT Radio item(s). I scanned through it which covered ALL installs I had done on that computer with BOTH adapters and was dated. Counldn't remember the date so was just trying to find it mentioned. IT NEVER WAS. Though I swear it had installed and then lost it ONCE before... Anyways, I am now going to return this adapter back to Amazon (I wonder if I could send them both back in the same box or if I would have to send them separately - hah) and get my money back. Then I will go buy Belkin's Wireless Travel Router (3 in 1 actually and would work better with my set up and what I want to use it for anyways), from Dell (because it's cheaper there). This could be a very good product, but I just wouldn't know. Yes I did contact Linksys about it, and while live chatting with a guy that knew less about what I could try than me (and I managed to attempt, and have work, much more afterwards by myself) I told him off and said a rock could be more helpful than him, since I could at least use it to smash the adapter apart. I curse all those that had good luck with this item, and pray for any that (like me) decide to go ahead and buy this item *after* reading all the reviews for it and the problems you can (possibly) have installing it...

I do various testing for security with Bluetooth devices and found this adapter to be better than most non-commercial grade Bluetooth adapters in terms of range. It was very easy to use and installed automatically on my Macbook Pro running OSX 10.8.3 Mountain Lion operating system. I have also used it without issue on virtual machines running Ubuntu Linux 10.04, Backtrack Linux, and Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. I would definitely recommend this adapter to people looking for the best Bluetooth signal in their homes. If all you need is a Bluetooth adapter for something that will sit right by your computer then it would not be worth spending the money on this adapter but if you are looking to interact with devices that are not sitting right by your computer then this Bluetooth adapter is for you!

If you read the reviews for this device you will notice that half of them are, "Works Great!" and the other half are, "Never worked." Now I know why. The first problem with this product is with the drivers. After spending too much time trying to install the device I went online seeking answers. It seems that the SP2 upgrade for windows created driver conflicts for this device (which explains why SP1 owners worked great, until they upgraded). This required you to forcefully update the driver and avoid all automatic detection by manually pointing to the Linksys Driver. Linsys has a tech support article explaining how to do this on their web site. Go to "Easy Answers" and search for "USBBT100 SP2". Microsoft has a KB article as well. The second issue is in the hardware. If you were unlucky enough to receive a defective dongle, like me, then you will be in for some frustrating hours of agony. It's not that the device just doesn't work... it is that it doesn't work depending on the phase of the Moon and the alignment of the stars (not really, but do I need to say that?). This intermittency of working/not working/half working is what will make you think you've got it working, and then you don't. My opinion here, but after being a lifelong loyal customer of Linksys, I think their third world manufacturing has taken a nose dive here. My second shipped dongle worked fantastically right out of the box (after installing the drivers correctly). I was making Skype calls using my Bluetooth headset and walking all around the house with great reception. However, the antenna would not rotate. I knew that the antenna was supposed to rotate because my previous one did (and the product photo shows it rotated). I actually broke one of the tiny little plastic nobs that hold the antenna on while trying to rotate it. Once again... incredibly poor quality control in the manufacturing process. Now, I need the antenna to rotate due to the location of my USB slot. So, once again I asked for a replacement. I received this response from Amazon, "As it seems that the problem with this item is more widespread than we originally thought, we are not able to send another replacement. We will investigate and remedy the situation with the item; however, I cannot guarantee when the error may be fixed." And last, I would like to mention that Amazon has the best customer service I have ever encountered. They immediately shipped my second replacement at no cost, gave me no grief, and were apologetic throughout the whole process. So, if you order this product, know that they will treat you right and take care of you should you want to exchange or return it.

Step 1: Got it, installed the software, plugged in... nothing happened. Step 2: Uninstalled, plugged in... nothing happened. Called tech support. The guy on the phone was polite and knowlegeable, but he led me through the step 2 three more times before agreeing, an hour later, that I must have indeed gotten a defective gadget. After that, it was almost a cakewalk. Amazon made no fuss about replacing the product and sent me a replacement a week later. That one worked the first time. I use it to Skype with my Jabra headset. It works fine all over the first story of my house, and even out in the backyard. The only trouble is that I keep forgetting to mail the defective one back. I can see why Amazon would require its return, and the shipping is free, but I'm about to be charged for it, which wouldn't have happened if it worked the first time.

Let me start by saying that this bluetooth adapter works great under Windows XP and Mac OS X once is setup correctly. If you are using Windows XP SP1 then there is nothing to worry about. Make sure to first setup the drivers from the software CD, and then insert the adapter when setup requests it. The new Windows XP SP2 generic bluetooth drivers detect and install this adapter, however, there are some caveats if one wants to expose services to bluetooth devices, which instead requires the drivers on the software CD. Make sure not to plug-in the adapter or setup the software before reading Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 840635 "Cannot install a Bluetooth device after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2." See [...] Mac OS X 10.3.5 was a non-event--just connect the adapter to the computer and the bluetooth icon will appear on the system menu, then click on the icon to pair the device and discover it's services. If you are planning to synchronize contacts and calendar entries make sure your phone is supported by iSync (1.5 as of this writing.) No that if your phone model is not explicitly listed ([...]) it will probably not work--as I found out with my Nokia 6620. Something to note is the antenna is a little fragile and will probably break from the excesive handling some of us give to memory sticks. Update Oct 6, 2004 - I was forced to return this adapter as "defective" today. I am not sure if I got a faulty unit or if there are compatibility problems between it and some motherboards--Asus P4C800-E. This is what I wrote to customer service: "The Linksys Bluetooth Adapter does not work after a computer cold boot. Windows detects a new device "CSR Generic Bluetooth Adapter in DFU State." Researching the problem found the device goes into "firmware update mode." Reinstalling Windows does not fix the problem. Tried both WIndows XP SP1a and SP2." Note this adapter works fine as long as it is plugged/unplugged while the computer is still running.

Hi, I bought this device to transfer my cell phone address book to my computer. With this in mind, I heartily recommend the Bluetooth USB adapter. The only negative point of this product is the high price. Read my detailed comments below: Easy to Install --------------- The installation was really easy! I just popped in the CD and followed the directions! I have Windows 2K, by the way. Actually Works -------------- Better yet was the cool way that the transfer worked w/o any whack errors! Familiar User Interface ----------------------- There is a set of "folders" called something like "Bluetooth neighborhood" that shows up in the explorer bar. This shows you the devices connected by Bluetooth to your PC etcetera! My limited use has already made me so happy, that I am DYING to find out what else I can use Bluetooth for. Still Costs Too Much --------------------- The only bad thing is the PRICE. It seems like something like this should cost like 5 bucks. But I guess Linksys has to pay for Research and Development or something. I think the price should drop, though. So if you are on a budget, wait a few months.