Iogear GBU311 Bluetooth To USB Adapter

by Iogear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006AZ4ZA
• Item model number: GBU311
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 2, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

IOGEAR’s Bluetooth to USB Adapter allows any computer with USB connections to become a Bluetooth-enabled computer, and communicate with other Bluetooth-enabled computers and devices without cable connections. It complies with Bluetooth 1.2 and USB 1.1 specifications, and provides users with a 723 Kbps data rate at ranges up to 330 feet. It also enables wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connectivity to Bluetooth enabled devices such as PDAs, printers, cellular phones, computers, etc.

This Bluetooth Class 1 adapter is compatible with both PC and Mac. It is easy to install and use, and very portable. It suits for both home and mobile networking needs.

Features

• Bluetooth specification 1.2 compliant to reduce interference between wireless technologies
• USB specification 1.1 compliant
• Allows any computer with USB connections to become a Bluetooth enabled computer
• Eliminates cables between your computers
• Enables your computer to connect to your Bluetooth printer and Bluetooth enabled mobile devices (such as PDAs and mobile phones) wirelessly
• Enables wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connectivity
• Class 1 Bluetooth device enables you to connect your hardware up to 100 meter (330 feet) away
• Backward compatible with Bluetooth Class 2 and 3 devices
• Up to 723 Kbps data rate
• Small form factor makes it easy to carry and place
• Easy, fast, and intuitive installation and setup
• Built-in security to assure the privacy of your communication -- paring, encryption, authentication
• PC and Mac compatible

Product Description

DescriptionIOGEARs USB Adapterwith Bluetooth wireless technology allows any computer with USB connections to become a Bluetooth-enabled computer, and communicate with other Bluetooth-enabled computers and devices without cable connections. It complies with Bluetooth 1.2 and USB 1.1 specifications, and provides users with a 723 Kbps data rate at ranges up to 330 feet. It also enables wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connectivity to Bluetooth enabled devices such as PDAs, printers, cellular phones, computers, etc. This Bluetooth Class 1 adapter is compatible with both PC and Mac. It is easy to install and use, and very portable. It suits for both home and mobile networking needs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Adapter, March 28, 2005

By 

Jeffrey Liss (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iogear GBU311 Bluetooth To USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

This bluetooth adapter works like a charm on my Dell PC, with XP, SP1. Set up was simple. What I like most about this adapter is how intuitive it is to use. For instance, all I need to do is right click on any word document or MP3, and I can easily send it to any bluetooth enabled device, whether it's my Palm, SE T610 cellphone or laptop. Bluetooth Version 1.2 was important to me because I have a wifi network set up in my house and I needed as little interference as possible.

I've also been able to surf the web via the Bluetooth modem and hotsync my Zire 72 and T5 via Bluetooth. Very cool.

There's lots of other things I plan to do via Bluetooth, like sending faxes.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good little adapter!, March 25, 2005

By 

Carsten Dreesbach (Alexandria, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iogear GBU311 Bluetooth To USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

First of all, contrary to what a previous reviewer has said about "checp laptops reaching 50 degrees C easily" - this is tru, but it does not matter! This is USB adapter, and as such is ouside your laptop, i.e. at room temperature. So, unless the laptop's air exhaust is blowing straight over the USB ports, this is not an issue!

Now, the adapter uses the WIDCOMM BT commans stack, which is apparently one of the better ones out there (certainly seems to be better than Windows XP's default one!). I'm no expert on BT, but a little research on the web seems to confirm this. This stack is quite compatible with Skype, which is the whole reason I bought this adapter and the Logitech MobileFreedom headset in the first place... ;]

Points of note:

1. The headset needs to be connected from the computer, not from the headset side. It uses the audio gateway stack by default to communicate over Skype (configure Skype to use your Bluetooth Audio device rather than the default one - this option is available as of version 1.2 at least, maybe earlier). If you try and use your headset's call pickup button, likelyhood is that it'll connect and then disconnect because there's no phone app to pick up the call (Skype is not BT-compatible by default).

2. There is a Skype third-party add-on (http://www.skypeheadset.co.uk/) that should work with this - have not tried it yet, but the comms stack is supported, so it should be OK.

3. Range: wow! I walked from one end of the office to the other, had continous good, clear connection with this adapter and headset combo. Impressive!

Altogether I'm quite happy with it. Now if only Skype had more built-in support for BT headsets and voice-activated dialing, I'd be truly happy! ;]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Be careful with headset, March 13, 2006

By 

aqua_crystal (Torrance, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iogear GBU311 Bluetooth To USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

This is my first time reviewing product and I do it because I really feel I have to warn others about it. This is also my first time returning a product to Amazon.

It works great for synchronizing. I have Windows XP SP2 and Sprint PPC-6700. However I cannot get it to work with my headset, Bluespoon AX. I know the headset works because I have been able to use it with Targus BT USB. I bought the IOGear because connection with Targus is dropping every 5 minutes or so. IOGear is worse though. It connects to the headset but it doesn't have Audio Gateway service. I have no idea how other people get it to work with their headset. I notice that the reviewers that get it to work with their headset use Logitech. So if your headset is not Logitech, you might want to consider another product.

I am also disappointed with what I believe a marketing problem in IOGear. I admit that it is my fault that I didn't pay attention that Amazon does not list Audio Gateway service on this IOGear. But the funny thing is if you buy this product, the packaging has a picture of this USB connecting with some peripherals, one of them is a headset. However if you go to IOGear website and search for this product, the picture in the web is slightly changed. In the place of the headset, it shows the USB connecting to a camera. A problem with headset?

My last annoyance with this product, although this might be Microsoft fault, Targus fault or a combination with all three, is the software. This IOGear comes with its own BT implementation. It looks like it might work better, but I will never know since I cannot use the product. The problem is I cannot uninstall the software completely. It doesn't appear in Add/Remove Program but it is still there. I bought another Targus BT USB and the software from IOGear keeps appearing and taking over Targus software. I have uninstall/reinstall several times. For example, if I turned off the Targus BT or plug it off, the IOGear software takes over. The problem is the software from IOGear doesn't have Audio Gateway service hence it won't connect to my headset.

All said, I think BT has a lot of holes in its implementation. Try at your own risk.