【 BLUETOOTH 】What is it, how does it work, types, devices ▷ 2022

Do you know what bluetooth is? Since when can we use it? Why does it appear? How does it work? Despite the fact that we have all used it on occasion, few know how to answer the above questions.

This is, in short, a technology that establishes a short-range communication protocol between two or more devices that include it, achieving the transmission of voice and data wirelessly.

However, surely you are interested in knowing much more about BT. For this reason we have designed this informative post in which you will learn where did it come from, when, what exactly is it, how does Bluetooth work, what types exist, what are the dangers of its use and how it differs from another wireless connection technology.

What is Bluetooth and what is it used for? Origin and evolution

Bluetooth is a short-range radio wave communication technology for low-power devices that appears in the year 1994. This allows the transfer of information (both voice and data) between devices over short distances. For this it is uses a radio frequency link which occurs, initially, in the ISM band, at 2.4 GHz.

With this it is intended facilitate communication both between teams and between users, at zero cost (once we have our devices with integrated technology) and without cables.

This specification is created by Bluetooth Special Interest Group, Inc.., a consortium of companies Ericsson, Toshiba, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Sony, which expressed interest in developing it.

According to its technical specifications, we have:

• communication channel What defines this technology is 720 Mbit/s maximumwith a gross capacity of 1 Mbit/s.
• The initial optimal range for effective connection between devices is 10 meters. Of course, this is expanded over time, although it is still recommended for perfect communications.
• repeaters allow us to multiply this range by 10, reaching 100 meters.
• radio frequency used is among the 2.4 and 2.48GHz.
• can stream to 1600 jumps per second.
• These are given up to 79 frequenciesexisting intervals of 1 MHz.
• It is estimated a 1 mW transmit power output at 10 meters and between 100 mW and 1 W in the case of long range.
• Its baseband protocol includes packet switching and circuits that move in different hops so they don’t get messed up.
• Synchronous channels transmit 432.6 kbit/s in a bidirectional way.
• Asynchronous are faster in one direction (up to 721 kbit/s) but much slower in the opposite direction (up to 56 kbit/s).

How do Bluetooth connections work?

The communication between two or more devices that integrate this communication protocol given by radio frequency, without the need for alignment of these.

• The first thing that happens when we enable the BT connectivity option is that our device detects those others that also have theirs enabled.
• For the connection to be possible, a analysis of physical characteristics of the devices, so that it is known if there is compatibility.
• Similarly, it will be necessary that both share communication protocolbecause it is the way in which the information can be correctly interpreted.
• Given the case, data is defined that you want to send as well as the estimated waiting time. This is done by the device itself when choosing the files to be sent.
• The connection is made using the ISM low power radio frequency standard at 2.4 GHz. With this, the transmission speed is maintained, transferring data quickly and consuming few resources.
• So that communication is not interfered tiny signals are sent, up to 1 mW; with this the range of action is limited but communication is respected, which cannot, as we say, be interfered with.
• Devices do not need to be aligned as is the case with infrared. These can, in fact, be found in different rooms, separated by walls.

Bluetooth types and standards

It is the capacity of the channel that determines the different types of bluetooth that we have had and currently have. To date we have found five official versions launched on the market, which are v1.2, v2.o+EDR, v3.0+HS, 4.0 and 5. These have a 1, 3, 24, 32 and 50 Mbit/s bandwidth respectively. Even so, work has been done with others, highlighting:

BT v1.0 and v1.kb

They brought more problems than solutions, so interoperability of the products was often not allowed. These, by the way, they had to include the address of the device when transmittingwhich was a flagrant violation of privacy and anonymity.

BT v1.1

• East, released in 2002it solved many of the errors that were presented previously.
• One of its main characteristics is the adding support for channels that were not encrypted.
• The received signal indicator was also included.

BT v1.2

• Launched in 2003.
• Provides compatibility with the USB v1.1 port.
• The connection is significantly faster, with a ideal transmission of 721 Mbit/s.
• Includes Discovery to detect other devices with BT.
• The frequency jump that occurs causes a Bigger resistance to interferences radio.
• Extended synchronous connections are included that detect corrupted packets and drop them for better voice quality.

BT v2.0+ERD

• Launch in 2004.
• Compatible with version 1.2so that “old” and “modern” devices coexist.
• EDR is introducedan optional enhanced data rate that speeds up data transfer, nominally from 3 Mbit/s and the practical one, of 2.1 Mbit/s and that requires lower energy consumption in a reduced work cycle.

BT v2.1+EDR

• Appears publicly on 2007.
• Secure Simple Pairing included (SSP), which allows better pairing of devices.
• Also includes EIRextensive research response, which gives more information for more efficient filtering before connecting to them.

BT v3.0+HS

• It appears in 2009.
• It has a theoretical or ideal speed of 24 Mbit/s between devices that all include this version.
• The data transfer is not carried out with this connection, but only the establishment occurs with it; the traffic happens to be done with an 802.11 link.
• The novelty that makes this stand out version is AMP or Alternate MAC/PHYwhich is precisely the addition of said link for high speed.

BT v4.0

• Appeared in 2010.
• It combines the three types of bluetooth known so far: high speed, classic and energy efficient (consumes 97% less).

BT v5.0

• is thrown in 2017.
• Double the speed.
• It is more reliable.
• Increases range of coverage.
• It is 8 times more capable than the previous version.

BT v5.1

• It allows you know the location of the devices with whom we connect

What range do bluetooth wireless connections usually have?

Bluetooth, since its initial release, has been described as a efficient wireless technology up to 10 meters away between devices involved. There are factors that can cause this to be reduced, although it is not conventional.

With the different versions and the corresponding evolution, this aspect has been improved and we find, today, devices with class 1 bluetooth, whose ideal range is 100 metersaccompanied by a power of 100 mW.

What are the differences between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio technology?

Both technologies are In other words, they do not require cables to connect devices and share various information between them and they also work in bands. But otherwise, these are totally different.

First, we have the function:

• WiFi is the technology designed to receive network signal, that is, to connect to the internet. this option should be offered by the router to which the internet signal reaches. However, it is also essential that the device in which we want to enjoy the internet connection has a WiFi network detector; it “reads” the waves and looks for the connections that are being emitted to try to connect to one of them.
• In the case of bluetooth we see that this is used for connect devices that are at a similar level in terms of the information they send to each other. For example, with a smartphone we launch an audio track to a sound bar or with a tablet we launch a game to watch it on TV while we play.

In addition, we have that the range of action is very different:

• the bluetooth we have already seen that it is short rangebeing useful up to 10 meters away between devices as long as there are not too many obstacles.
• Wi-Fifor his part, has a radius of action wider, quadrupling the distance to which bluetooth works in cases where the router is in a closed space with obstacles and being up to eight times higher if it is in an open space.

Other different but not very important aspects are that WiFi connections require prior configuration while bluetooth allows us to connect with strangers quickly or that the output power of WiFi is much higher.

List of most used devices that use Bluetooth technology

If you are asked about any device that has this technology, surely the first thing that comes to mind is the mobile phone. However, there are many others, more and more, because in a technological society like the one we live in, connection to devices is mandatory.

Some of them are:

• mobile phone and tablet. The king of bluetooth (and his sister). When this technology became known, we were like crazy passing ringtones with mobile phones. It is true that, a few years later, and after going out of fashion, many corporations chose not to include it in their new models. Although, the new possibilities and its current lower cost mean that, once again, we all enjoy this connectivity option on our smartphones.
• Sound bars and towers. Technology is included for convenience, allowing us to comfortably launch audio tracks to play them instantly and without the need for cables, continuously changing the music we listen to from the phone or tablet.
• music equipment. Idem. We release music without the need to insert CDs, tune in to the radio, etc.
• MP3 players. An easy way to skip tracks without the need to connect the player to the computer.
• car radio equipment. We can do the same but to listen to the music from our devices through the radio of our vehicle.
• Wireless speakers. Again, the function is the same, launch music tracks to listen to them from a better device in terms of power and sound quality.
• printers. Bluetooth in printers was born to avoid starting and using the intermediary: the computer. Being able to send the files to be printed from another device with this technology makes it unnecessary, making the process faster and lighter.
• scanners. The same goes for scanners, but in reverse. We digitized a…