Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:13:07 +0100 (CET) From: Oliver Fromme <olli@lurza.secnetix.de> To: freebsd-bluetooth@FreeBSD.ORG, plunky@rya-online.net, ad@sourcinggate.com Subject: Re: Bluetooth Adapter-Connect the World by Wireless Network Message-ID: <201002021113.o12BD7So086955@lurza.secnetix.de> In-Reply-To: <1265057664.840883.13472.nullmailer@galant.ukfsn.org>
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Iain Hibbert wrote: > lovelyting88 <ad@sourcinggate.com> wrote: > > > I want to know the different from bluetooth adapter and wireless network > > "Bluetooth adapter" is a radio device that plugs into your computer and > provides access to other Bluetooth radios using Bluetooth protocols. > > "Wireless network" is a network that doesn't use wires for connectivity > > So, you can operate a wireless network over various transports (Bluetooth, > WiFI, IrDA, pigeon carriers, sound waves, laser beams, ...) but a > Bluetooth link does not necessarily imply a wireless network. I'm just guessing here, but maybe the OP wanted to know the basic difference between Bluetooth and WLAN (which is the most common incarnation of a wireless network). Basically, both are wireless data transfer technologies, and both can be used to provide network connectivity. But apart from that, they're much different. The purpose of Bluetooth is to provide connectivity between two devices (it's point-to-point). It can be used for connecting peripheral devices to a computer, for example keyboard, mouse, headset, mobile phone and so on. In a certain way it can be regarded as a kind of "wireless USB". Another application of Bluetooth (though less interesting as far as FreeBSD is concerned) is to connect two devices with each other, without a computer. A typical example is connecting two mobile phones to exchange ring tones or vcards or whatever. Another typical example is to use a wireless headset with a phone. There are also printers that can receive images from digial cameras via Bluetooth. So, Bluetooth is a technology that can be used for almost anything that requires near-range wireless data transfer at moderate bandwidth requirements. Most devices operate in the range of about 10 meters maximum, but there are some that can go up to 100 meters, depending on the surroundings. While WLAN, in theory, could be used for all the same purposes, it's specialized in providing wireless network connectivity between two or more computers (and optionally an access point). After all, that's what the "N" in WLAN means. There are also a few devices that support WLAN, such as surveillance cameras or wireless media players. However, I'm not aware of any device or application that uses WLAN for anything else than IP connectivity. Best regards Oliver -- Oliver Fromme, secnetix GmbH & Co. KG, Marktplatz 29, 85567 Grafing b. M. Handelsregister: Registergericht Muenchen, HRA 74606, Geschäftsfuehrung: secnetix Verwaltungsgesellsch. mbH, Handelsregister: Registergericht Mün- chen, HRB 125758, Geschäftsführer: Maik Bachmann, Olaf Erb, Ralf Gebhart FreeBSD-Dienstleistungen, -Produkte und mehr: http://www.secnetix.de/bsd "To this day, many C programmers believe that 'strong typing' just means pounding extra hard on the keyboard." -- Peter van der Linden
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