Introduction

Almost any PC user, which is equipped with a printer, probably already faced the same problem: where the printer?

At a computer desk, this problem is usually quite easy to solve, in traditional desks or other work surfaces, it is then more difficult. And who has annoyed is not several times about the all too often too short printer cable, which unnecessarily complicate the seating and hold the printer in the immediate vicinity of the PC.

A solution to this problem comes from EPoX. With the BT DG02, EPoX delivers a small USB Bluetooth dongle, which equips every PC without Bluetooth. And also for the printer to get with the BT PA01 a Bluetooth printer adapter, which finally solve the annoying problem of cable and a free seating is to guarantee. We looked more closely both products in this review.

The dongle: BT-DG02

In addition to the actual dongle is a USB extension cable, a driver CD and a quick reference guide in English in the small packaging. The Bluetooth dongle is suitable for Windows 98/ME/2000 and XP as also MacOS and Linux. Therefore, Windows 95 is not supported. Positively, the quick reference guide and the on the CD and also in English user guide fell to that step refer to the installation and the different features, so that the entry is easier even inexperienced users. The manual is there but to the EPoX website (direct link) in the German language.

The technical data of BT DG02 looks as follows:

• Connection: USB 1.1 (USB 2.0)
• Size: 80 x 30 x 15 mm (L x W x H)
• Power supply: 2.7V to 3.3V
• USB dongle: + 5V
• Frequency: 2.400-2.497 GHz
• Antenna: Built-in
• Sensitivity: Better than 70dBm
• Power: 4dBm maximum (class 2)
• Range: Up to 30 M (line of sight) – typical: 10 meters
• Transfer rate: 1 Mbps
• Compatible with Bluetooth specification version 1.1
• Pico network: point to point and point to multi-point compatible
• Channels: 79 channels to 1 MHz
• Security: Full support of Bluetooth security functions, includes, inter alia the 128 bit hardware encryption
• Certifications: FCC part 15 c, CE

Because the dongle supports the Bluetooth standard v1.1, it is compatible devices to all current Bluetooth. It eight Bluetooth can connect devices. We will illuminate how holds in particular, the indication to reach, what promises EPoX, and how it is affected by walls and other obstacles, at a later date.

Although we want to address adapter from EPoX in this review mainly the combination of Bluetooth dongles and printers, but much more can the dongle (BT-DG02) and offers a number of other features that we want to handle shortly in this section.

It is in principle for small data exchange and intended to communicate smaller devices with each other. His main field of application should therefore have the Bluetooth dongle in the communication between PC and notebook, PC and PDA, PC and mobile phone or notebook and mobile phone/PDA. Of course two Bluetooth dongle on two PCs can contact each other, however the buyer should not assume, that he can replace a home network so that.

In short, we can take a look at a newsletter from EPoX from August last year, which was on wireless LAN and Bluetooth:

≪ blockquote > originally posted

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compared

Both technologies use the ISM frequency band at 2.4 GHz, which more or less worldwide royalty-free is to be used. In the same spectrum “but also common household mikrowellengeräte send”, so that there can be problems as a result. Despite the common use of ISM band, Bluetooth and wireless LAN are not compatible because of use of different encoding methods, transfer rates, and topologies.

Bluetooth is suitable by a low power consumption for peripherals or mobile systems such as PDAs or mobile phones. PCs or notebooks can how the EPoX BT DG02 in Bluetooth environments be involved either by internal modules such as the EPoX BT-MD01 or external USB dongles. 600 Kilobits per second left in the field test about at a maximum transmission rate of a megabit per second. This shows clearly that suitable Bluetooth not for video streaming.

Small amounts of data such as phone cards or even a phone book from the phone should be transferred, Bluetooth is first choice. Up to eight devices can as Piconetz together themselves. Larger networks arising from overlapping interconnection of several Piconetzen or through the use of a Bluetooth access points. The range is determined by the type. Type 1 Bluetooth devices are specified for a hundred meters, while type 2 components for 10 metres range are designed.

With Bluetooth you will find more wireless LAN in Office environments. Be it, to include employees with notebooks temporarily in an existing wired network, or it, to provide a networking environments without technical effort in SOHO.

Below a short list and explanation of the various Bluetooth profiles supported the BT DG02:

• Universal access
• Service detection:
  • The device will automatically detect what services are supported.
• Dial connection setup:
  • Dial connection setup (dial-up networking) allows a modem that is physically connected to the Bluetooth server to use a Bluetooth client.
• File transfer:
  • The file transfer (file transfer) allows a wireless Bluetooth connection, which allows the computer to perform file operations such as browsing, drag & drop, open, print, cut, copy, paste, delete, rename, etc on another Bluetooth device.
• Information transfer:
  • It information enables a wireless Bluetooth connection between two devices transfer (information exchange) so that information such as calendar data, email can be exchanged messages or notes.
• Information synchronization:
  • Information allows sync a wireless Bluetooth connection between two devices, which can be used to synchronize data between the computers. So, for example, the data cannot be synchronized from Outlook with this function.
• Serial port
  • The serial Bluetooth port enables a wireless Bluetooth connection between two devices. This connection can be used by applications so as if a real serial cable would connect the devices.
• Network access
  • The network access (network) enables a wireless Bluetooth connection between the client and a server that is physically connected to a local area network (LAN). If the client has access authorization (username and password for the LAN), the wireless connection can be used so that the client with a hardware connection to the LAN is connected.
• Fax
  • Fax allows a Bluetooth client wireless to send a fax to a device that is physically connected to the server.

Thus, there are a number of ways that you can use the Bluetooth dongle. In our tests, there were no problems to connect between the Bluetooth dongle BT-DG02 and a mobile phone and notebook, which were already equipped with Bluetooth. However to achieve the full range of not always and especially for mobile phones you should remove himself not too far from the line of sight of dongles, since then, the signal of the mobile phone is too weak. This of course depends on the respective mobile phone. We could connect at any time in our tests inside a room with a distance of 10 metres with a Sony Ericsson T68i below. It was however impossible to a transfer by a wall with the Sony Ericsson T68i.

The transfer of data will work fine and easy. However, one should hope that not too much because you can transfer maximum about 70-75 KB / s depending on the environment and corresponding signal strength. In most cases you will not reach also these throughput, but the transfer rates for small amounts of data, the Bluetooth dongle is only intended for, enough yet.

Software

We want to briefly on the WIDCOMM Bluetooth software supplied with 1.2.2.9, which is to make the functions of the dongle in Windows easily manageable. This does it in fact also very good and fits an unobtrusive but well placed in the system and is available as always quickly and easily available.

However, the drivers occupy all available COM ports and so it may be, as we discovered in our testing, sometimes conflicts with other drivers, which also occupy the COM ports. In our test for example, the cFos DSL were overridden driver WIDCOMM Bluetooth software, because she cannot open the COM port you need. An Internet connection was no longer produced. Also a manual configuration of COM ports, in which we no longer use the COM ports in the cFos driver of the Bluetooth software left could not resolve the conflicts.

It must be therefore not always everything smoothly, although we have seen up to this conflict, no further problems with other drivers in our tests.

The following are a few impressions from the installation of the software and embedded in the system:

Installation:

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Software:

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The printer adapter: BT-PA01

He also is so small, but its effects can be so great. And even if he has only the task to replace the good old printer cable between PC and printer, but this can have decisive influence on the choice of the location of the printer.

The principle is simple: instead of Druckerkabels printer connects you simply the BT PA01 adapter from EPoX to the printer, connects this socket to the enclosed power supply and can now use a device equipped with Bluetooth, the printer. Preferably, EPoX provides for the combination with the just discussed dongle BT-DG02 here, of course. Nevertheless, the printer is adapter also to other Bluetooth compatible devices.

• Scope of delivery:
  • EPoX Bluetooth printer adapter
  • Manual
  • Power supply

Positively the small manual fell has occurred also in the printer adapter, this time is even multilingual and includes also German. Negative we suffered a price of more than 80 euros (determined via skinflint), which certainly provides material for discussion.

• Features:
  • Bluetooth profile supported: serial port
  • Printer interface: compatible with IEEE1284-B
  • Transfer rate: up to 115200 bits / s
  • CPU: ATMEL 89S52
  • Chipset: CSR BlueCore 02
  • Cache: 32 kb SRAM
  • Power consumption: 0.7 Watt, 6 Volt
  • Power supply: input voltage 100-240 volts (AC)
    Output voltage 0.048 (DC) at 1A
  • Frequency range: 2.4 2.4835 GHz
  • Channels: 79 channels to 1 MHz
  • Power: Max 4dBm (class 2)
  • Sensitivity: better than-80dBm
  • Antennenwiderstand: 50 ohm
  • integrated antenna
  • Range: approximately 10 meters (up to 30 M in direct line of sight)
  • Required: Pentium III processor or better. Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP (Mac OS/Linux)

The manual of the printer adapter explains how you have to configure the serial port of the Bluetooth dongle (BT-DG02) from EPoX, to establish a connection step by step. Only the printer characteristics after it the device reading the COM port used for the connection in the properties of the Bluetooth, you must assign this COM port in Windows. During a new installation of the printer, you can set the port during the installation, if a printer is already installed, you must switch the connection in the properties of LPT1 on the appropriate COM port. Now, you must disable only the bi-directional support of the printer and set the transfer rate to 115200 bits / s. Don’t worry, as this is done is explained step by step guide. The printer driver must be installed on any device print jobs should be sending. The adapter has by the way a LED that glows blue when a connection was found and purple, as soon as data is sent.

And that’s it already, now the connection can be made with the printer and nothing in the way of printing!

Nothing? Almost nothing!

Compatibility

A small, but crucial comment then found in the manual. It says:

&Lt; blockquote > originally posted

“The BT-PA01 adapter emulates a serial port.”The printer must therefore compatible to a serial port.“Check with your printer manufacturer, if this is the case.”

And that is unfortunately the only but sometimes even rather large for this awkward about the whole thing! Most users are likely to be not informed whether or not your printer is now compatible with a serial port. And sometimes this can be determined, as we discovered, also very difficult, because the printer manufacturer to specify this information appears only in the rarest cases. Xerox WorkCentre XE82 tested by us apparently does not have just this compatibility and could adapter (BT-PA01) be moved therefore unfortunately not to cooperate with the printer.

EPoX is a small assistance but at least in part, and has printed in the manual a list, in which the printer models appear, so far successfully tested with the BT PA01. We want to share course this list you:

• Hewlett Packard:
  • DeskJet 4000
  • LaserJet 4V
  • LaserJet 8100PCL
  • LaserJet 2200D
  • LaserJet 4050
  • LaserJet 8000PCL
  • LaserJet 4550PS
  • LaserJet 4100PS
  • Photosmart P1100
  • DeskJet 870CXI
  • DeskJet 1220C
  • DeskJet 850C
  • DeskJet 550
  • DeskJet 1120C
  • DeskJet 1125C
  • DeskJet 640C
  • DeskJet 920C
  • DeskJet 610C
• Compaq:
  • IJ600
• Samsung:
  • ML-1200
• Sharp:
  • AR-235
• Epson:
  • LQ-1010C
  • LQ-2080C
  • Stylus Color 1520
  • Photo 790
• NEC:
  • PIN writer P8000C +.

For the HP DeskJet 610C and 550, we can confirm compatibility. There no problems in our tests with the connection and the correct data.

Range

Of course we wanted to know also in our field, as it looks adapter (BT-PA01) than with the reach of our team from EPoX Bluetooth dongle (BT-DG02) and printer.

Within a space – as long as this allows no distance of 10 meters – there were no problems to establish a connection between the devices and to print documents. Continue to remove the signal becomes the weaker course.

The transfer by a massive wall of an old building at the end of the other room, as long as you also do not exceed the 10 M limit this, was possible, even though it here and on longer took something to the printer of our dongle found and could be a connection established. She produced but each time, even no problems encountered in the printing process.

General statements can meet of course difficult, because it depends on whatever from the quality of the building, whether a transfer is possible or not just. The transmission via Bluetooth through a steel concrete wall will certainly not be possible. Also the reach can of course vary because it is also dependent on other sources of interference. A placement next to a running microwave is, for example, extremely unfortunate.

Generally however, you can say that one should not exceed a distance of 10 metres with the EPoX products of class2 if possible, since then only in very rare cases, a connection is possible.

Conclusion

Overall the Bluetooth dongle BT-DG02 as well as the BT PA01 made printer adapters from EPoX a good impression and both are also ideally suited for their intended purpose. The printer adapter remains of course the somewhat bland taste in terms of compatibility and we can only recommend therefore every buyer, prior to the acquisition obtain information about its printer itself, to support a serial port on the part of the printer so in advance. Compatibility is guaranteed and it is moving in the range specified by the Class2 of 10 meters, the use of the adapter is fully and finally, the location of the printer can be selected independently of the enclosure.

You may expect but also not too much from Bluetooth. It is clearly not on the transfer of large amounts of data and can by no means replace a mature network. With the aim of exchanging small amounts of data for wireless communication between mobile phone, PDA, laptop and printer, or to synchronize it is however very well suited. In these cases, the range is also not necessarily decisive, because you placed, for example, the mobile phone with which you would like to contact, hardly within 20 metres, but directly next to on the desktop. The range can vary varying also depending on the design of the House, so that a transmission through a wall should be avoided where possible – it is not excluded but, as our tests showed!

For just 35 euros, the Bluetooth dongle BT-DG02 of EPoX represents a very good solution to easily go into the Bluetooth technology and the home PC with this ability to retrofit. Street prices for the dongle vary from dealer to dealer, a skinflint or other support pages views is therefore a good idea before making a purchase.

The BT PA01 fails not just cheap printer adapters from EPoX with a price starting from 80 euro and so everyone for themselves must decide here what the wireless freedom worth him. In any case, he is a useful addition for the computer.