Bluetake BT007SX EDR Bluetooth USB Adapter - Using the Device
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The software installation was easy. The standard installer can be used in several different languages. It’s a very straightforward process; choose an installation language, accept the license agreement, and select a few basic install options.
The entire installation took under a minute on my machine but that process can differ from machine to machine based on your current hardware setup. When setup completes it will ask you to restart your computer to finish the installation. This is because the BlueSoleil software installs several system services.
After a reboot, I was ready to go. I plugged the device into the USB port and watched as Windows XP SP2 automatically detected it and set it up for use. A notification icon in the system tray showed me that a new network connection was set up.
The next step is to add your Bluetooth enabled device. This can be done automatically, if the device is supported, or manually. The BlueSoleil software provides a setup wizard either way.
In my case, two different AV Headphones I used were automatically detected and installed. Connecting the device may differ depending on the device. Follow your device manufacturer’s instructions.
An icon representing your device will be shown. Select the device and then click the icon representing the service type that you want to enable. In this case, I choose the Bluetooth AV Service which supports the use of wireless headphones instead of speakers.
The first time I enabled the headphones, they connected with no problem but I did not hear any sound. I had to manually change the system audio device to the Bluetooth adapter. However, this may have been a glitch on my system. The BlueSoleil software has changed this device for me when enabling/disabling the headphones every time since then.
The sound output was very good. I was using high quality headphones and the sound was comparable to my system speakers. It was crystal-clear with no static. The use of other wireless devices in the room seemed to have little or no effect on the performance of the USB adapter.
With a nice play list set up, I decided it was time to get up from my desk. I walked all through the office and experienced very good performance. Certain areas in the office resulted in some static but that’s mostly due to the layout.
Bluetooth does require line of sight to some degree with the transmitter. In my office I have about 30 feet at most that I can go before I reach walls or doors. I was able to walk into another room inside the office with no problem. The rooms are separated by interior walls and doors so the signal may not have been affected much.
At this point I tried to walk out of the office. I was able to go outside of the large hardwood door. While I was getting some expected static at this point, the device did not disconnect until I walked through yet another door.
Keeping in mind that Bluetooth is not intended to work through walls in most cases, I was pleased with the results. Unfortunately, I don’t have anywhere where I could have 300 feet of open space, but I’m confident that this adapter would work within the advertised range.
Next: Conclusions >>
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