Limited Bluetooth Range in 15" Al PowerBook- fix or USB workaround?

Recently picked up a used 1.5GHz AlBook (2 years left on Applecare). Just discovered that the built-in Bluetooth range is VERY limited- less than 2 feet. I can take it in for Applecare when I have the time to do without the machine for a week, but in the meantime, is there a way to turn off the internal Bluetooth so I can use my (more reliable) USB bluetooth key instead?
Has anybody run across this issue before?

Wow! That's an incredibly short range! I understand that parting from your computer is something hard, especially if that the only computer you have.
Anyway... if you go to System Preferences>Bluetooth>Settings you'll find a way to turn it off.
But never mind what the built-in bluetooth is, just connect your dongle and it should work right away. You will notice, if you keep an eye on the settings (route above mentioned) that the button to toggle Bluetooth on and off will change for an "unclickable" message as long as the dongle is plugged in.
I bought one of those for my brother's HP laptop, and tried it since it claimed to have a 100-meter range.

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Limited bluetooth range - less than 3 feet!

as posted here (archived now): http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=264856
regarding limited bluetooth range on the 15" Al powerbook g4.
i have this same problem. has anyone else had it and determined the source? i still have time left on my 1yr applecare from when i bought this powerbook, but i have had bad luck with them. basically, i'd rather hold it under the kitchen faucet and look for a replacement than have apple bumble my hardware again.
i am a computer engineer. i'm hoping to find some prior knowledge before i open this up and start probing with my O-scope. i'll post what i find here regardless, but if you've had this problem as well, i'd appreciate the added knowledge of your experience.
thanks,
-jared
15" PowerBook G4 Al Mac OS X (10.4.6) never once been happy with Airport range, now bluetooth is bad too

A few of things…
1) Are you using wireless network connections as well. If so, oes you Bluetooth range increase if you turn it off?
2) Do you have any sources of interference…
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58543
… that can be causing issues. Even though the Knowledge Base Documnet refers to Airport intereference the principles are the same. If yu do, again, turn them off to see if things are any different.
3) How many Bluetooth devices are you using? If you are using more than one does your range change when using ONLY one?

Lost Bluetooth range after 10.4.7 update

Using salling clicker and basic browsing and file transfer in OS X, on my 15" powerbook 1.25ghz
I used to have the normal 30 foot average range. I could work in the kitchen and control itunes via salling clicker.
after the update my bluetooth range is now no more than two feet.
also to connect from computer to phone or vice versa, I have to turn off/on bluetooth on my powerbook.
what gives?
the update isn't worth the frustration. Is there a way to reverse update?

Sorry I forgot,
I'm using a sony ericsson w600i

Nokia N9 bluetooth range

I'm trying to use Nokia N9 with long range bluetooth headset (Motorola HX550).
It doesn't seems to me that it works up to 100 m.
Motorola stated that the phone must be BLUETOOTH® RANGE Class 1 compatible.
Is Nokia N9 Class 1 compatible?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Alexander_S wrote:
Is Nokia N9 Class 1 compatible?
Pretty sure that it isn't.
Happy to have helped forum with a Support Ratio = 42.5

Sony Xperia Z3 very poor bluetooth range

Hi, I own a Sony SRS X5 personal speaker which connects trough bluetooth to my Xperia Z3. The problem is that it disconnects when I have the phone 3 feet away, or sometimes less.. Is there a problem with bluetooth range on the Xperia Z3?? I had an Xperia ZL which had great range and worked well with said speakers. Anyone else have this problem???

Do you experience bad bluetooth range with other accessories as well? It would be great if you could try some headset or something to see it the problem is related to the phone, the speaker or a combination of the two.

SBH-70 very low bluetooth range

Hi. I bought the new SBH-70 Bluetooth Headset. I like this item very much. But the bluetooth range is really bad. Already at 2 m or less distance from the phone, the connection gets really worse and the Headset starts to have noise interferences. Before I used the SBH 50 Headset and the bluetooth connection was much better and mor stable with this model. You think there is something wrong with my SBH-70? Or has it really such a poor Bluetooth range? Thanks for your help. Reimer

do you experience the same while on safe mode?
How to boot on safe mode.
http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/FAQ/How-to-boot-your-phone-into-safe-mode/m-p/348008#U348008

HT1414 My IPad freezes while typing emails. Touchscreen keyboard as well as Bluetooth keyboard. How do I fix this?

My IPad freezes while typing emails. Touchscreen keyboard as well as Bluetooth keyboard. How do I fix this?

It may certainly matter that the account is IMAP. Try the following variation of the procedure to re-create the index:
1. Quit Mail if it’s running.
2. In the Finder, go to ~/Library/Mail/. Make a backup copy of this folder, just in case something goes wrong, e.g. by dragging it to the Desktop while holding the Option (Alt) key down. This is where all your mail is stored.
3. Locate Envelope Index and move it to the Trash. If you see an Envelope Index-journal file there, delete it as well.
4. Move the “IMAP-” account folder to the Trash. Note that you can do this with IMAP-type accounts because they store mail on the server and Mail can easily re-create them. DON’T trash any “POP-” account folders, as that would cause all mail stored there to be lost.
5. Open Mail. It will tell you that your mail needs to be “imported”. Click Continue and Mail will proceed to re-create Envelope Index -- Mail says it’s “importing”, but it just re-creates the index if the mailboxes are already in Mail 2.x format.
6. As a side effect of having removed the IMAP account folder, that account may be in an “offline” state now. Do Mailbox > Go Online to bring it back online.
Note: For those not familiarized with the ~/ notation, it refers to the user’s home folder, i.e. ~/Library is the Library folder within the user’s home folder.

Any way to boost bluetooth range

Now I know this is not a typical issue, but I was hoping some of you may have some solutions. I just purchased an iPhone 4 for my brother. He loves it, but the problem is he works in harsh environments (namely, on top of roofs in FL needless to say in sweltering heat). What he would like to be able to do is keep the phone in an airconditioned place like a car or home at a workshop where possible, and use a bluetooth headset for music and calls. Of course, this runs into the problem of range. I have looked, but I haven't been able to find any type of 'bluetooth signal booster' for something like an iphone (although there are apparenly such things for Macs and PCs with USB ports).
Anyone know of anything like that, or any other ideas for solutions?
BTW, he's got the toughest case we can find on the market yet and the film, but he's still not comfortable taking it with him on some jobs for obvious reasons.
Thanks!

Unfortunately even if there was a Bluetooth Booster, it wouldn't reach the headset. In most first floor to second floor to another measurement is 20 feet give or take. Some documented as 10 feet each. We'll say 20 feet each
Depending on how many floors to the roof (say two/three floors from level 1) it's 40/60 feet.
Bluetooth signals reach up to 30 feet in most devices other than the i4. You can equip a sound out to a bluetooth ranger but that varies in how wide it can without messing with the i4. But you'll lose controls on the i4.
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2004/07/extendingbluetooth_rangefrom.html

IOS 4.2 Still NO Fix for USB Car Audio (AVN726E)

With the Release of iOS 4.2.1; I rushed to update hoping that it would fix my USB to Car Audio, but it doesnt, what exactly is Apple trying to accomplish by removing functionality..
I own an Eclipse AVN726E which I've come to learn is also the system that Toyota/Lexus uses in some of their vehicles..
Granted I can play audio through the Bluetooth Audio selection but then the devices doesnt charge..
I plug in my iPhone 4 and it just hangs on "Reading..."
Does anyone have any ideas or anything that I can try to make this work..
Or is this all in the hands of Apple..

I've got a Kenwood KDC-MP345U and had the "Reading" hang problem after doing the 4.2.1 update. This worked for me...
I simply did a full restore using the Restore button in iTunes. It will ask you if you want to back up your phone first -- cancel out and do it! Then hit the Restore button again. This will restore the iPhone to factory settings. The phone then will update itself to the latest operating system (4.2.1). Finally, restore your own settings from your last backup. When I plugged in the phone into the MP3U, I got the "Reading" message for about 2 seconds and then everything went back to normal. Also, all my settings on the phone are exactly as before -- don't skip the backup immediately before the Restore.
Hope this helps someone else...

I have recently upgraded my iBookG4 from Tiger to Leopard 10.5.8 and find my Bluetooth USB adaptor no longer connects. The Bluetooth pane says inactive. Does Leopard require USB 2.0. I've had the adaptor for some time so may be USB 1.0

I have recently upgraded my iBookG4 from Tiger to Leopard 10.5.8 and find my Bluetooth USB adaptor no longer connects. The Bluetooth pane says inactive. Does Leopard require USB 2.0. I've had the adaptor for some time so may be USB 1.0

Bluetooth icon on menu bar shows bluetooth off. When opening bluetooth preferences it shows the devices I've connected previously,( my mobile phone), and other devices I've attempted to connect but not very successfully: my iPhone and MiniMac. The bluetooth dongle in the USB port shows a continual blue light but does not react and the iBook does not recognise that it is there. There is absolutely no reaction when I try to pair my mobile phone, which I've done successfully before upgrading to Leopard, either by the iBook or the mobile phone.
I assumed that Tiger was not bluetooth compatible with the iPhone or MacMini running SnowLeopard and hoped by upgrading to Leopard I could achieve some file transfers between the three devices (iBook, iPhone and MacMini)

Best UK iPad 3 case supplier w/Bluetooth v3 rechargeable keyboard that uses standard Apple USB-30 pin connector to charge

Hi
I know this has been the subject of some debate but I am getting a new iPad 3rd Gen today so have been researching iPad 3 cases w/keyboard over the last 3 days and I cannot seem to find a UK dealer / distributor for a (White pref.) iPad 3 case with an integrated bluetooth v3 rechargeable keyboard that DOESNT use micro USB to charge but DOES use the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable. Is anyone using such a specific thing or know of anyone who makes such a thing and is UK based. Or someone that ships to the UK? I feel something like this shouldnt be expensive (i.e. >£75/$110)
Thank you
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_JnKir_PWU
Was about to ask whether anyone tried this with their Stream 7/8, I hope you don't mind me putting this here since our goals are the same. So did anyone try this? I might do it soon, but I just bought an OTG cable, so maybe next time. It just requires a microusb Y cable and a female adapter, no dismantling/cutting/soldering necessary.

Did 4.1.2 fix YOUR USB Audio problems? Not mine...

I'm curious to hear from the other folks who were having issues with 4.1.1 freezing/sluggish while using USB speakers or USB audio converters. I have a Xitel USB-to-SPDIF converter that has worked flawlessly since 10.3 in EVERY app...until GB 4.1.1. I was expecting 4.1.2 to fix it for me as suggested, however there seems to be no change for me. If I select either USB Audio in GB preferences, or "System Setting" (which is always my USB Audio), GB is totally hosed. Spinning beachball, freezing, can only Force Quit. If I select Built-in Audio (internal speaker), then all is well. If I switch back to USB Audio, totally hosed again. What's unbelievable is that there isn't even a 3rd-party driver in the mix here, the Xitel uses Apple's built-in generic USB audio device support!!
Did 4.1.2 fix YOUR USB Audio woes??
Apple, still more work to do! Please help!

I'm also having audio issues on my new late 2013 iMac via the USB headset. Audio starts playing fine and then static starts creeping into the audio until it drowns out the sound. Only way to fix is to unplug the headset and then plug it back into the USB port.
I've tested the headset on other PCs and my older iMac and the issue doesn't show up.
I've re-installed Mavericks on the iMac, without nuking my data, but that still doesn't solve the issue.
I've logged a case with Apple support and they had me run a program which gathered up a bunch of information to send to their engineering team. No updates yet so far.
Just one question for those that also have this issue. Did you restore your data from a Time Machine backup, or is this issue also happening on the Mac that's fresh out of the box?
I'm wondering if this issue could be caused by restoring data from my Time Machine, but I don't want to go through the hassle of nuking my entier hard drive and having to reinstall everything from scratch just to fix this issue.

How to open computer hp 2000 to fix loose usb port connector?

how to open computer hp 2000 to fix loose usb port connector?

Here is the Manual:
Manual
The usb ports on the right, next to the power jack, are on a daughterboard and fairly easily replaceable but the left usb port next to the HDMI is on the motherboard. The only way to repair it is to resolder it to the motherboard. Good luck.
If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.

Bluetooth range

I have an bluetooth enabled Satellite M60. The problem I i have is that the bluetooth mouse (Logitech V270) stops working if i move it further away then 7-10 centimeter from the right side of the laptop. When i move it back again within the 7-10 cm radie, it starts working again. According to Logitech, the mouse should have a range of 3 meter. Anyone with an idea what the issue might be?

Hi again and thanks for the suggestions and answers. Sorry deepblue, my knowledge within the field of bluetooth is limited so i don't really understand your pairing question.
However, all i can say is that if I open up the Bluetooth Manager, it clearly indicates that the device (mouse) is connected and working properly. Everything works fine except for the range. It still indicates as paired, connected, working properly etcetera from a distance of more than 2 meters but the problem still persist in the fact that the pointer refuse to respond if I move the mouse further away the 5 centimeter (1 inch) from the right side of the laptop.
Any further ideas on how to fix this problem is highly appreciated.
// BosseBus

Bluetooth broken? I have a fix.

Bluetooth is still broken in version 4.0.0.19550. Not surprising. Thankfully, unlike previous versions of Skype, there is a way to make Skype THINK it's a professional app in this version! You heard it here first, folks! The Skype Gods really have been listening to our prayers, and bestowed upon us a version of Skype that--while still broken--is slightly less broken than previous versions! Glorious day! As a consumer, I am humbled to know that the developers not only listen to us, but recognize and fix the problems we find for them!
Alright, so, let's get this started, shall we? How do you get your Bluetooth headset working on your Skype phone, and why isn't your phone/headset working properly?
I'll tell you now, that it's probably got more to do with Skype than whatever ROM/kernel you're running. I tried this on my stock 4.2.2 Nexus 4, and on CM10.1 stable, running Franco's Kernel r151, and a Nexus 7 that's been through so many different ROMs and kernels, I couldn't begin to tell you. The headset I'm using is the LG HBS730, which has served me well in all tasks on my phone other than Skype for Android. This is a long-standing problem I've had with Skype; the conspiracy theorist inside of me wants to believe it's because Microsoft wants to push their Windows phones by purposefully making their Android client stink, but the realist in me hopes that's not true (what with the wide range of Android hardware that the Skype Client would have to support).
Okay, to get the headset working, I've done the following.
1. Make sure your headset's paired. And, before you start skype, turn your bluetooth headset off and wait until it disconnects.
2. I turn my phone's Bluetooth off and on again. Do not reconnnect the headset yet.
3. Sign into Skype (I'm using the version that was updated on July 10, 2013 (version 4.0.0.19550).
4. Join the call that your friend(s) are in. You will start to hear them over your phone's loudspeaker or the regular speaker.
5. Turn your Bluetooth headset on, wait for it to connect. When it connects, Skype should automatically recognize it, and start using both the mic and the earphones on the headset, and you should be able to talk normally. You will notice the Bluetooth icon has now appeared in place of the loudspeaker icon.
Here are some things that will annoy you, though:
When you get a regular phone call, the Skype call will be put on hold. When you end the phone call and try to rejoin the Skype call, Skype will still see the headset as connected, but will continue to use the phone's speaker and microphone.
This is going to happen a lot, and here's how to fix that:
1. Leave the call, and sign out.
2. Close the app from the little task manager thingy (If it's a Galaxy SIII, just hold the home button and swipe it away).
3. Disconnect the Bluetooth headset. You can turn your bluetooth on your phone on and off again real quick if you think that helps--I have yet to determine if it does.
4. Sign back into Skype, and join the call.
5. Turn your headset back on again, and Skype should connect to the headset.
5b. Sometimes, the bluetooth icon will appear active, but you will get sound from the phone and it will be using your phone's built-in mic. Start from step 1 if this happens.
Sadly, for some bizarre reason, I have not been able to connect my headset to my phone, and sign into Skype with the expectation that anything will work, at all. I wish it weren't so complicated, but it is.
Oh, and FYI, don't bother with Skype premium. Group video doesn't work on Android phones OR Windows phones (even from Windows desktop to Windows phone, my friend and I tested; way to sell broken services, Microsoft!), so if you're on-the-go a lot, it's a total waste of money. Also, if you're bike riding, you're probably just going to anger off your friends in the Skype call with all the ambient noise. The mute feature on my headset is not recognized by Skype, so I have to dig my phone out of my pocket to mute it from the screen, but since Bluetooth headsets don't work at all on Skype for Android, I'm not going to hold the muting thing against them.
I hope this helps, but more than that, I hope that one day, Microsoft will restore my faith in Skype. But considering it took them this long to revise their app to the point where Bluetooth even pretends to work, I'm not crossing my fingers. Exhausted from the endless consumer-abuse, I'm looking for alternatives.
Hope this helps, 'fellas.
Gaius C.

Hmmm.. thinking the conspiracy theory of Microsoft nobling Android to sell their own phone operating sys is a good one as I can see no reason why Skype have not fixed this long standing, and very important issue. I have tried various versions of Android on various phones and headsets, the problem seems to be with all, only common factor, Skype on Android. I have seen no official response from Skype on any of the multiple forum threads discussing this problem. All I can say, in my opinion, is Skype is the problem, not an Android one, it's on your doorstep! Plantronics, who have supplied me most headsets, can only offer the advice that it worked fine on Skype Ver 2, and not worked properly since (when did Microsoft buy Skype?). I pay Skype for a service but they are leaving me with no alternative but to vote with my feet, Viber works and I think I need to start looking at all alternatives. Maybe I should look at Linux on the PC too!

Limited Bluetooth Range in 15" Al PowerBook- fix or USB workaround?

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