How Does Bluetooth Phones Work
In the back of our minds, most of us wonder just how many of the things we use everyday work. How can I talk on a phone that isn’t connected to a line? We are going to take a look at the technology used to allow your Bluetooth enabled (hands free) mobile phone to work.
Much of the information in this article was garnered from an on line article at Scientific American.com written by Michael Foley, the executive director of Bluetooth.
“The Bluetooth/RF transceiver accesses the ISM band” which is not unlicensed, meaning that nor person or corporation has control of usage. Bluetooth uses the same frequencies used by WiFi and microwaves.
“A group of devices” that are synchronized “forms a piconet” which “contains one master and up to seven active slaves”. Your cell phone would be the master and your headset, GPS receiver, MP3 player, car stereo and so on.
These devices use “a frequency-hopping pattern” located by the master; in this case your mobile phone.
We are so used to having to plug in our phones, computers, TV’s, etc. that we are puzzled by mobile phones, wireless Internet access, etc. However Bluetooth uses a scanning method known as an inquiry scan. These devices “listen in on known frequencies for devices that are actively inquiring”. For instance if you want to send a picture to a nearby printer. Your phone would send the picture to the scanning device (your printer) and would show up on your phone as ready to accept the connection and prints the picture.
Of course the printer must be on. You’d be surprised by the number of people who complain they can’t access their printer and when you ask “Are you sure your printer is on?” will tell you they didn’t realize that it had to be on.
If you are concerned about how to pair your Bluetooth headset and phone, ask the people at the phone store to do it for you when you buy your headset and Bluetooth enabled phone.
If they can’t or won’t help, first shop elsewhere or ask a teenage in your life, they can do this stuff in their sleep. Do you drive a lot for business or pleasure? If so you need a Bluetooth phone since more and more states and cities are banning hand held cell phone usage.
Get your teenager who just got her license a Bluetooth enabled phone and headset since you know she will be talking on her mobile phone despite any warnings from you. Let her know she must use the hands free phone when driving or she loses both the phone and use of the car.
The availability of cell phones for the general public is one of the greatest inventions and has become even greater with the advent of Bluetooth technology, which has improved on that.
I carry my mobile phone and Bluetooth headset all the time, especially a night when I walk the dog.
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