Can't connect to a Bluetooth device that needs pin #

[Carl Feller]

I am trying to discover my modem, request its services, then connect to it. When I get to the request services it always comes up with zero. I am making an assumption that it is because I need to send it the pin # because when I use windows to connect to it it prompts me for a pin # before showing me its available services and allowing me to connect. Can it be done with LabVIEW?

Thanks

[TylerS]

Carl,

What you're doing sounds interesting, but I have a lot of questions about the setup for my own clarification. Are you using a Bluetooth modem? I haven't heard of this. If you are, I guess it's a separate device that sits near your computer? Also, I've never used a Bluetooth device that requires a pin number. Is this something that you configured (i.e. is it something you can turn on or off)? You say that Windows usually prompts you for a pin, but is there a field for the pin in some connection dialog window or anything like that?

I apologize for all the questions, but as I said, what your doing sounds interesting.

Tyler S

[EdDickens]

A couple things to watch for that might help. I've found that Bluetooth connections have many small subtleties and the setup routine can be tricky.

If your Windows Bluetooth manager has a device setup wizard, on of the steps should be to setup device "Pairing". This is where the two devices initially exchange a PIN code. If your BT modem has an embedded PIN, you'll have to look that up in the devices documentation and enter it when prompted. If it doesn't have a PIN, you'll have to determine if the device supports a PIN.

If it doesn't require/support a PIN, you can usually "Skip Pairing" in the setup wizard and continue. If you skip the pairing, open the properties for the device and look for a checkbox that reads "Secure Connection" or something similar. Make sure and uncheck this box or it continues to try and pair using a PIN.

Hope that helps a bit.

Ed

[Carl Feller]

Tyler,

Yes it is a modem......The pin number is configurable and can be turned off but that would defeat the security I need. I am/will be developing tests to test comunnications between our own device and this OTS modem so pairing them in windows is a bit cumbersome each time.

If I use windows to talk to the modem it does promt me with a dialog window that requires the correct pin number before it will allow access to the modems services. I have given some thought to creating our own DLL to accomplish this but was hoping to find a simpler means.

Thanks for the interest.

[Carl Feller]

Ed,

I have discovered a lot of subtleties also. I am tring to avoid using windows in any way although it does work if I set it up in windows. This would not be a good solution because the end result of my actions is a MFG test that will quickly test whether our device can communicate to the modem that requires the pin. It would be very cumbersome if I had to pair it in windows first then test it with LabVIEW.

 I have discovered that LabVIEW is very picky about the bluetooth drivers for the dongles. Anything but windows drivers seem to have problems. I have had the most success with interchangeability by not installing any of the MFG drivers and just letting windows XP do it's thing.

Thanks for the thoughts.