In this digital age, the need for wireless internet connections is greater than ever before. Bluetooth is an invaluable tool when it comes time for staying connected digitally between devices like computers and smartphones without having all those pesky cables get tangled up every five minutes.
It is now common for laptops to have this feature, which revolutionized wireless communication. Windows-powered laptops are no exception and most on the market come standard with a built-in module. The only exceptions are some new models of cheap PCs that don’t offer it as an option out of the box and those outdated ones.
Bluetooth technology is becoming increasingly popular in the world of computers. However, when you purchase a new desktop it’s rarer to find these features right out of the box than in a laptop because they’re not often included especially on lower-end products. Fortunately for those who want this feature, there is an easy way to add them with just a few clicks!
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using radio frequency (RF) energy. The technology allows devices such as cellular phones, computers, and PDAs to interconnect easily with each other using a short-range wireless connection.
Software that utilizes the Bluetooth protocol is becoming increasingly common and there are many applications that utilize it, especially in the world of mobile phone connectivity.
In most computers, the Bluetooth technology is built into the motherboard and can be accessed via a very small wireless card plugged into one of your computer’s PCI slots or external USB ports.
Different Types of Bluetooth Modules
Optical (also known as IrDA)
This type uses a beam of light to communicate between two devices and is useful for line-of-sight applications only. This means that you cannot hide objects – such as walls or desks – between the devices and they must be within line of sight.
Radio
This is the type used in most mobile phones, computers, tablets, etc. This technology has a longer range (10-100 meters) but cannot penetrate walls well. It can also result in communication errors due to interference from other wireless signals like Wi-Fi and ZigBee.
Single-mode (SM) and multi-mode (MM)
There are two categories of radio frequency protocols: single mode and multi-mode. SM is used for applications requiring high-quality communications at a longer range, whereas MM is better suited for devices that need to be connected within close proximity.
How do you know if laptop has Bluetooth?
There are a few simple ways you can check to see if your laptop has Bluetooth capabilities.
- Open Control Panel via the Start Menu and select System.
- On the left side of the window, you’ll see Device Manager.
- Click on it to expand the list.
- Under “Other devices” click Bluetooth virtual COM port adapter.
This is a good indication that your computer has Bluetooth capabilities and should appear if you have a wireless card installed. If not, check again to make sure that it’s not disabled.
If you don’t have an older laptop then chances are pretty good that your computer has built-in Bluetooth support and just needs to be enabled via the BIOS.
Can Bluetooth be Installed in a Laptop?
If you need to install Bluetooth on your laptop, but it doesn’t have that capability built in, there is a way!
If you want to be able to connect your laptop wirelessly with other Bluetooth-enabled peripherals, install a USB Bluetooth adapter on it first.
The installation wizard for the adapter should walk you through all of the steps needed in order to get everything up and running so that those devices can start being connected as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Bluetooth is an increasingly popular wireless technology that allows devices to connect with each other within a short range. This technology can be useful on laptops to allow for wireless connection of cell phones, PDAs, etc.
There are a variety of Bluetooth devices including: transmitters/receivers, adapters, input devices, headsets and more.
If your computer does not already have the capability for Bluetooth built-in, it’s easy to add via a USB or PCI adapter!
