Bluetooth adapter

[allenf]

What Bluetooth adapters are known to work (or not work) with LabView / Win XP?

[tbob]

I have used Belkin's Bluetooth device before with Labview and TestStand. It uses drivers written by Widcomm and plugs into a USB port. I had a problem with TestStand 3 and its activation code. Occasionally the driver would get screwed up and the only recourse was to re-install the driver. The physical address of the Bluetooth device would change upon re-install, which would change the computer ID, and it would no longer match the activation code. I would have to get a new code with the new computer ID. A real pain in the rear. I haven't used other BT devices but I suspect that there is a better one out there. Forget trying to get support from Belkin or Widcomm. I couldn't.

[sfrosty]

MSI STAR KEY 2.0. I bought it from ONSALE.COM

Do not load any of the software that comes with it. LabVIEW only works with Microsoft drivers.

I'm using Microsoft Windows XP PRO SP2.

Most sources will tell you that the blue tooth drivers come with Microsoft Windows.

The thing they don't tell you is that the drivers are actually downloaded from Microsoft Update from the Microsoft Website.

The download is transparent to the user; it takes a few minutes.

Make sure that Windows is allowed to connect to Windows Update by looking in the Hardware tab under System Properties which can be accessed from the control panel.

I've used this device with the LabVIEW examples that ship with LabVIEW 8.20 so I know it works.

The bottom line is that the bluetooth device you purchase must be able to work with Microsoft Drivers. Many of the manufacturers, from my experience, are moving to their own drivers. So if your told that a device works, make sure you buy the model number that's specified, because newer models, made by the same manufacturer, may no longer work with Microsoft drivers.

Note: Kensington Model# 33348 does not work!