Bluetooth serial
bridges are an important, though little discussed, component of
Bluetooth wireless networking. Bluetooth wireless technology has
revolutionized local wireless data transfer and wireless
connectivity.
Initially little
more than a cable replacement technology, Bluetooth has grown and
expanded considerably with consumer usage continuing to increase
near exponentially. One potential drawback to using Bluetooth
wireless technology in certain situations has been the distance
limitations of the technology. Bluetooth serial bridges help to
solve that
limitation.
A Bluetooth serial bridge is an electronic networking device.
Bluetooth network technology allows Bluetooth devices to connect to
other Bluetooth devices through bridge devices. While any Bluetooth
device can act as a network bridge device, for practical reasons a
dedicated serial bridge is necessary in large
applications.
The Bluetooth
serial bridge serves as a bridge between serial adapters to extend
the communication range of the Bluetooth network. Serial ports are
not even included on some newer computers and serial technology
usage has dwindled in the computer world. However, serial port
technology is still used in industrial and medical settings.
Bluetooth serial bridges are not often used in the home setting.
Most home networks are within the 10 meter range of a Class 2
Bluetooth network or well within the 100 meter range of a Class 1
Bluetooth network. However, many medical and industrial
environments exceed the 100 meter range of even a Class 1 Bluetooth
network.
Since many
industrial and medical facilities span multiple buildings or
multiple floors in a building users may often find themselves out
of range of the Bluetooth network. Many medical and industrial
applications still use serial ports for data communication between
devices. Until recently these serial port connections have required
a cable connection to connect the devices
together.
Thanks to the
advent of Bluetooth technology though, many of these devices can
now be connected wirelessly with Bluetooth serial adapters.
Bluetooth serial bridges allow these medical and industrial users
to greatly expand the range of their Bluetooth wireless
network.
Bluetooth serial bridges provide many advantages to certain
wireless network users. The option to extend the Bluetooth network
range is certainly preferable to needing to run cable throughout an
entire facility.
Bluetooth serial
bridges can considerably extend the range of the network as well.
Some Class 1 Bluetooth serial bridge units boast a range of 100
meters standard with an increased range of 1 kilometer with an
optional antenna installed. Few medical or industrial facilities
will need to broadcast more than 1 kilometer with their Bluetooth
network.
Bluetooth serial bridges are available from many Internet retailers
and networking supply companies. There are several manufacturers
that produce Bluetooth serial bridges. Most Bluetooth serial bridge
devices use dip switches to allow the user to set network
preferences on the device.
Bluetooth serial bridges serve an important role in the industrial
and medical wireless networking environment. While home users are
likely to find a Bluetooth wireless serial bridge to be overkill,
the devices allow for the expansion of wireless technology in large
scale environments. These networking devices facilitate a large
step forward in wireless technology
implementation.