BT Connections

[stairman]

Is bluetooth capable of handling two connections at once? Specifically could I use a bt headset and a bt gps at the same time.

[AnswerDude]

Yes, you can, I think the maximum is seven connections.

[Npitlor]

Many of the Bluetooth devices out there are only capable of one at a time.

It seems that the most common problems with opening muliple BT connections at once is conflicting ports -- Make sure that each device is assigned to a different port (some device drivers won't allow you to change this).

For what it's worth, (as a trial) I was able to connect my Ipaq 4150 to my computer (activesync), and then connect it to my cell phone to dial a number.

I do know for a fact that my cell phone will only connect to one device at a time.

[Bokkie]

Nelson, AD, can I explore this further? Let's say I have one of those bt printers. If I have two devices connected/configured to use that printer and both initiate a print request at the same time, how does the printer resolve this?

In the Windows paradigm prints are queued but bt being a wireless transmission, probably needs some special consideration to control the printing without one print request getting in the way of another or worse still, data from one getting interlaced with the data of another. I've tried to understand how bt works by reading about it at www.howstuffworks.com but I'm still very uncertain how two devices communicate at the same time to another, if it's possible to do so in the first place?

TIA,

[Npitlor]

I've never used a BT printer, but I'm going to go out on a limb here...

I believe that BT printers will only connect to one BT device at a time.

There are two ways that a connection would work --

1- The BT connection is intiated when the non-printer device is told (by a user) to print something (as one of the steps, it initiates the connection)

2- The BT connection is established BEFORE the device is ready to print.

I assume that it is case #1 (based on my overall experience). My guess is that the second device trying to print would be unable to establish a BT connection with the printer, as the first would have already taken that connection.

The second device will either retry, or prompt the user for instructions (unable to establish a connection with printer).

You have to remember that the chances of BOTH devices connecting at EXACTLY the same moment are pretty remote -- I have no idea what would happen if this was the case, though...

Sorry I can't be more help.

[Bokkie]

That's ok Nelson and thanks for your perspective of it. It all adds to my very patchy knowledge of bt and near-simaltaneous usage of devices.