Many of us have used Bluetooth to send or receive files at least once or twice in our lives. Most of us use Bluetooth in our daily lives, but don’t know how this wonderful technology works. Read on below to understand what Bluetooth is and how it works.
Before we begin understanding what Bluetooth is, it is good to know where the name came from. So, how did this popular technology get its name? Actually, Bluetooth got its name from a Viking. Back in the 10th century, there was a Viking king named king Harald Bluetooth who united the Viking tribes into the kingdom of Denmark. From this point, it’s pretty much clear that the founders of this life-changing technology derived the name from the king due to uniting the Vikings. After all, Bluetooth is all about ‘uniting’ electrical devices without the use of cords.
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What is Bluetooth
It is a technology that uses a wireless short-range communication standard to transfer data between two or more electrical devices. The technology works wirelessly by interconnecting gadgets within a radius of 10 meters. It can be found in several gadgets, from smartphones, laptops, printers, scanners, loudspeakers, headphones and more.
The good thing about this technology is that it does not rely on WiFi, a cellular network, or mobile data: as long as the devices are Bluetooth compatible, and within the range of 10 meters, they can engage in the wireless, two-way communication.
Bluetooth Technology Background
Bluetooth was invented in 1994. The creators of Bluetooth intended to replace cords and cables. The technology uses a radio frequency of 2.4GHz to transfer data, just the same as wireless devices in our homes and offices. The technology works by creating a ten-meter radius of a wireless network that is known as Piconet and the network can connect between two to eight devices.
Bluetooth technology does not use a lot of power and it’s cheap to install when compared to the WiFi. Consuming less power makes it less prone to interferences that may be experienced by other wireless gadgets within the same frequency band. However, Bluetooth transmission speeds are lower than those of WiFi.
How Bluetooth Works
Bluetooth works on a Wireless Technology Standard protocol. Wireless technologies require both the hardware and the software to function properly. The hardware is used to send the necessary signal via a radio frequency, while the software is used to determine what will be sent over that signal and how the other device will interpret it.
This implies that for a device to use Bluetooth, it must be embedded with a small computer chip that contains a Bluetooth radio.
Bluetooth Version Numbers
Since Bluetooth was invented, it has been going through an iteration of numbers that define the speed at which the Bluetooth can transfer data. The difference between these versions is the rate at which they can transfer data. The Latest version is Bluetooth version 5.0 which was launched in 2016 and is only available in the latest tech gadgets. The previous one, Bluetooth version 4.2 is more than capable of handling data transfer at very high speeds and is fine to use. Most of the phones in the market are embedded with the Bluetooth 4.2 chip.
How to Connect Bluetooth Devices
Connecting two or more Bluetooth devices is known as pairing. For successful pairing, one should ensure that a device is turned on and has the Bluetooth set to discoverable. Once turned on, what happens is that the device will broadcast its presence to any other Bluetooth enabled device that has its Bluetooth turned on, and as a user, you can select to pair with the device of your choice from the name or ID it displays on your device.
It’s wise to know that Bluetooth enabled devices are prone to proliferation, and it’s critical to know which device you are connecting to. There is usually a pin to enter to ensure that you are connecting to the right device. The pairing process varies when connecting to different devices.
Bluetooth has some limitations. One of the most significant weaknesses is the limited range. The other limitation which is very common among wireless devices is that walls and ceilings can significantly decrease its range. However, the limitations are minor and are often overlooked.
