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General discussion

bluetooth

Aug 5, 2004 6:48AM PDT

ok, so i just ordered an hp zt3000, with Intel 802.11b/g and bluetooth. I've heard some things about bluetooth possibly causing interference with the wireless, so i'd like to know the pros and cons of bluetooth and what exactly it can do.

Discussion is locked

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Re: bluetooth
Aug 5, 2004 6:50AM PDT

BT in today's setups will not do that. You may be thinking of about 2 years ago.

As to researching BT, you can use http://www.google.com

Bob

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Re: bluetooth
Aug 5, 2004 7:48AM PDT

I have not heard anything about bluetooth interfering with wi-fi. Wi-fi and 2.4ghz home wireless phones can interfere in certain conditions as they both use the 2.4mhz bandwith. I have not had this problem, however, using DSL and a D-link wi-fi router (and having 3 cordless 2.4 cordless phones plugged into a DSL line filter in each phone jack - from SBC).

If people have cordless phone/ wireless router interference they can either downgrade to a cheaper 900mhz Cordless phone or a more expensive 5mhz wireless phone (cell phones do not interfere only home wireless phones).

Please post your question also at X1000forums.com (for either X1000 / ZT3000 or nx7000 HP/Compaq Pentium M notebooks) as there are a number of 2004 purchasers who are using bluetooth for a wireless mouse or link for a PDA / cell phone. That is now only an $18 option when buying the Intel 2200b/g wifi that comes standard with the notebook.

This bluetooth option was not available in most of the 2003 models so those people have had to order and install the bluetooth themselves at a higher cost or use a USB adaptor for bluetooth (if needed).

The advantage of a bluetooth external mouse is that it does not require an external USB wireless transmitter to be connected to the outside of the notebook where it can be broken off or interfere.

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Re: bluetooth
Aug 5, 2004 8:46AM PDT

As Bob has posted for you, there should not be any interference between bluetooth and wi-fi as they use different bandwidths.

As you have the Intel 2200b/g with the bluetooth option you likely ordered this custom from HPshopping.

If so, make sure you get the PDF file rebate for $100 cash back on all custom order HP notebooks (and separate PDF for all custom order Compaq notebooks) from 2/1/04-9/1/04.

HPshopping lists a $30 rebate on the order screen for the Compaq X1000 and a $50 rebate for the HPZT3000 but the higher (and still valid through 9/1/04) rebate can be found at the home page of HPshopping at the bottom left under the mail in rebates link.

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Re: bluetooth
Aug 5, 2004 8:54AM PDT

An interesting bluetooth possibility:

If you have a newer digital wireless phone from T-mobile, Sprint, etc. that has the bluetooth feature built in (only a few models) you can learn on the X1000forums how to dial into a college access number (if you are a student) or possibly even your own ISP dial-up # and surf the web from anywhere.

Bluetooth allows you to have the notebook receive the signal from the digital wireless phone with no direct connection.

Of course dial-up is not as fast as DSL or cable but when away from the house or the wi-fi access area at college, etc. it is an interesting possibility.

The other main uses seem to be synching between your PDA and the notebook (address book, files, etc.) and the wireless bluetooth option for an external mouse.

And, there are some bluetooth wireless headsets out there for the matching bluetooth enabled digital wireless phones so you could use these as well with your notebook (but this usage would be more limited than the other uses).