IOGEAR USB 2.1 Bluetooth Micro Adapter (GBU421)

by Iogear

• IOGEAR Bluetooth USB Micro Adapter offers Bluetooth connectivity at a fraction of the size of normal Bluetooth USB adapters
• This Bluetooth Class 2 adapter is also compatible with both Mac and PC computers, and offers a wireless range of 30 feet (10 meter)

Product Details

• Item Weight: 0.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0018O9JIG
• Item model number: GBU421
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (832 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #64 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Television Accessories > Wi-Fi Dongles
  • #97 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Networking Products > Network Adapters
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 30, 2008

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

IOGEAR USB 2.1 Bluetooth Micro Adapter GBU421

The IOGEAR Bluetooth USB Micro Adapter offers Bluetooth connectivity at a fraction of the size of normal Bluetooth USB adapters. About the size of an adult fingernail, the IOGEAR Bluetooth USB Micro Adapter allows users to connect to all the latest Bluetooth devices like cell phones, PDAs, mice and keyboards. Because the Micro Adapter is so small you can easily plug it into your computer without blocking any surrounding USB ports. The Micro Adapter also features Bluetooth EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) technology for transfer rates that are 3 times faster than traditional Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2 adapters.

The Micro Adapter allows users to connect up to seven Bluetooth devices together and transfer even the largest files quickly and easily. With the Micro Adapter's lower power consumption, you can enjoy longer battery life on your notebook computer. This Bluetooth Class 2 adapter is compatible with both Mac and PC computers, and offers a wireless range of 30 feet (10 meter). It is great for both home and mobile networking needs.

Key Features

• Allows any computer with a USBport to become a Bluetooth enabled computer
• Ultra portable - tiny enough to stay with your laptop
• BluetoothEDR (Enhanced Data Rate) - 3x faster than current Bluetooth (1.1 or 1.2) products; up to2.1 Mbps
• Supports A2DP stereo audio wireless streaming
• Up to 30 ft (10m) maximum wireless range
• Wirelessly communicates with Bluetooth-enabled computers, printers, PDAs, cell phones, headsets, and more
• Built-in security to assure the privacy of your communication-pairing, encryption, and authentication
• Supports the following services:Generic Access (GAP), Serial Port (SPP), Dial-Up Networking (DUN), Fax (FAX), LAN Access (LAP), Object Push (OPP), File Transfer (FTP), Headset (HSP), Advanced Audio Distribution (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control (AVRCP), Synchronization (SYNCH)
• Backwards compatible with Bluetooth 1.1, 1.2 & 2.0

Easy Operation

Requirements:
Hardware Requirement: Available USB Port

Operating System Requirement:

• For PCs: Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7
• For Macs: MAC OS X v10.3.9 or later

What's in the Box:
Bluetooth to USB adapter, Driver/Manual CD*, Quick Start Guide, Warranty / Registration Card

Warning:*The included CD is a mini size disket, and it is recommended not to insert the mini size CD into the slot-loading CD ROM drive to avoid damaging the slot-loading CD ROM drive.

Warranty:
3-year warranty

About IOGEAR

IOGEAR headquartered in Foothill Ranch, CA, offers innovative Consumer Electronics and IT solutions that enable convergence through connectivity in the home, at the office and on the go. Founded in 1999, the company provides a broad range of products that help integrate technologies in everyday life, share resources, decrease clutter and energy consumption, and reduce electronic waste.

The company is environmentally-conscious and emphasizes conserving natural resources to employees and customers through its GREEN initiatives. In addition, IOGEAR has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant one tree for every product purchased on its Web site or by members of its GREEN initiative partner program.

IOGEAR distributes throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Product Description

IOGear GBU421 Bluetooth 2.1 USB Micro Adapter, the IOGEAR Bluetooth 2.1 USB Micro Adapter offers Bluetooth connectivity at a fraction of the size of normal Bluetooth USB adapters. About the size of an adult fingernail, the IOGEAR Bluetooth 2.1 USB Micro Adapter allows users to connect to all the latest Bluetooth devices like cell phones, PDAs, mice and keyboards. Because the Micro Adapter is so small you can easily plug it into your computer without blocking any surrounding USB ports. The Micro Adapter also features Bluetooth EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) technology for transfer rates that are 3 times faster than traditional Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2 adapters. The Micro Adapter also allows users to connect up to seven Bluetooth devices together and transfer even the largest files quickly and easily. With the Micro Adapter lower power consumption, you can enjoy longer battery life on your notebook computer. This Bluetooth Class 2 adapter is also compatible with both Mac and PC computers, and offers a wireless range of 30 feet (10 meter). It is great for both home and mobile networking needs.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

218 of 239 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beware before installing with Vista January 6, 2009

By BikeStrong

Amazon Verified Purchase

*** My comments (below) are from January 2009. One of the more recent comments (April 2010) states that my issues are no longer valid. Just a heads up that things change/improve over time. ***

The product works (eventually) and is low priced and is tiny. But, before you install it, please consider the following. Customer care by Iogear is horrendous.

The first hurdle is bad instructions. Step 1 for Vista says you MUST insert the device. Then step 8 says DO NOT insert the device. 8 is correct, by the way.

Still, the included ver. 5 drivers do not work with Vista. When you contact the vendor for help, they'll tell you where the ver. 6 drivers reside. They're marked 221 thru 321 so you think they don't work with the 421, but they do. Oh, you need the revised instructions, too. By the way, the included disc says nothing about the software version. You have to watch for it after launching setup.

So, get ver. 6 drivers or later, get the latest instructions, and don't plug in until the drivers are fully installed in Vista.

I asked if the drivers were necessary since Vista wants to provide its own, and tech support said yes, you need to install them.

I tried tech support's live chat. They pointed me to newer instructions that said to wait before connecting, but they said nothing about the ver. 5 drivers and Vista incompatibility. After wasting 2 hours installing and uninstalling, I emailed to tech support. I wrote at midnight and when I got up bright and early, I had a URL for the proper drivers and instructions. The final installation was flawless and the device works fine.

83 of 88 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not working with Windows 7, no support December 11, 2009

By Joe Pambianco

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am very frustrated with this product and the poor customer support I am recieving. I was able with difficulty to get this product working on my PC with Vista. We were using it to synch the PC to a Palm device. When we upgraded to Windows 7, it no longer worked. Ok, so I went to their website, downloaded and installed the driver that says it supports Win 7. It installs, but doesn't work. I have called tech support on two separate occasions and held for 20 minutes at the end of that time, it sends me to voicemail. That's frustrating. What's more frustrating is that they haven't bothered to call me back. I've only had the product for a few months. If they want to be in this business, they have to support Windows 7 and they have to support their customers. They have certainly lost my business and I recommend you steer clear as well.

112 of 124 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Full Review: IOGear vs. Cirago November 1, 2008

By BOGY.

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have purchased both the Cirago and this IOGear. Both work perfectly with Windows XP and Vista. The Bluetooth drivers auto load and it makes sharing files and pairing very easy. On your task bar will be a BT icon that you right click for a list of options. The IOGear claims to work with MAC but the Cirago doesn't. I don't have a MAC so I do not know if this is true or not (Sorry). The Cirago has a brighter blue light than the IOGear. Also, the IOGear is smaller (But not by much). Both are so small in size they can be left in the USB slot and not removed. The IOGear is easier to remove from the slot than the Cirago (it is the shape of the exposed area that determines this). Here is one other interesting thought. Take a look at the picture of the IOGear. When plugged into the USB the metal part slides all the way in so only the black plastic area is sticking out. That is nice, eh? The Cirago goes in the same but sticks out just a little more than the IOGear (Some metal exposed). However, both function perfectly with USB BT 2.0 and early versions 1.0 & 1.1! Both are backwards compatible. The range doesn't seem to be different - I have tested both from 20 feet and they work (Document sent to printer). You choose.

67 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and tiny, It works on Vista 64-bit December 15, 2008

By etibau

Amazon Verified Purchase

This bluetooth dongle is very nice and small, it has a blue led on it but its not too bright as to bother when used on a laptop.

I use it with my plantronics 520 bluetooth headset on skype and it works good, I can't use it too far from the computer (< feet) because I start to get static but that might be the headset I dont know.

I don't know why the other reviewer is saying it doesn't work on Vista 64-bit, I use it on my new HP dv4t with 64-bit Vista Home Premium with no problems at all.

UPDATE: I contacted IOGEAR tech support and they gave me this url ([...]) you should be able to download an update to get Widcomm version 6.x drivers. This is necessary to use Nokia PC Suite on Windows Vista for those Nokia users like me :)

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars SOLUTION for Windows XP (and others), good value if it worked out of the box January 31, 2011

By Alexander Brasowski

Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't normally write reviews but I think it is worth it to help the many people who may be as frustrated as I was with this product. Skip below to "INSTRUCTIONS" for how to get this product to work.

This device would be great if it actually worked out of the box. I tried installing it on a Dell 700m running Windows XP Service Pack 2. First thing I noticed, according to the instructions Windows XP should have bluetooth drivers already configured...I have SP2 and it did not have drivers for bluetooth anywhere. Windows would not recognize the device as a bluetooth headset nor configure it by just plugging it in.

So I went to option 2 which was use the install [mini]disk to load the drivers. My computer would not read the CD at all, I'm assuming because the CD was blank when I explored it in My Computer :/ So no drivers on the CD. As an alternative, I went to IOGear's website to download the appropriate drivers. Typed in my product info and started the download...... 4 hours it took!!! This is incredibly unacceptable considering the file was "52Mb" according to the website. Anyway, when it finished installing I unzipped the files and ran the Setup.exe. It appeared to load the "BTW" bluetooth software properly, and windows recognized the usb adapter as a bluetooth device, but the bluetooth manager would not allow me to do anything. I would go to "add new bluetooth device" and it would say "no bluetooth devices detected. Make sure they are powered on and connected" I got so frustrated and spent 3 hours searching the web for answers and none fit my problem.

Enter the solution:
I noticed when you install the BTW software package/drivers from IOGear's website, it download broadcom/widcomm drivers for bluetooth. But these don't work for some reason.... So I did a little research and came upon broadcom's website and downloaded THEIR bluetooth software package/drivers and it works great now. I guess the IOGear USB dongle uses drivers from broadcom, but the ones they have listed on their website re way out of date or incompatible.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Go to Broadcom's website and download their USB Bluetooth Driver/Install Package
[...].

During the install you will notice it looks different than the useless driver package IOGear tried to supply. When you start the install package make sure the USB dongle IS plugged in so it can be detected and the driver package will take care of the rest.

NOTE: you don't have to worry about un-installing any old bluetooth drivers on your computer. The broadcom driver package will remove them automatically and replace them.

Hope this helps all of you that had trouble. My choices were to write a review on amazon or write a nasty letter to IOGear! Read more ›