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1 Kilometer Bluetooth Link to Cell Phone

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the long-distance-wireless dept.

carbolic writes "WiFi-Toys.com has posted an article (with pics) about performing a Bluetooth connection over a distance of 1 kilometer. They claim it is a new world record. They used a Class 1 USB adapter modded using a kit from Bluedriving.com. The over-the-air connection went to an unmodified Sony Ericsson T610 at a distance of 'about 3,300 feet' and they transferred a few pictures. This test was to a paired device pre-configured for the built-in ObexFTP access, but the implication is that now it's easy to Bluesnarf without even being near the target phone."

13 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Beautiful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    Now, where's my little bluetooth remote controlled helicopter.

    *Rubs hands together in malicious glee*

    Now I can take pictures of people 1 kilometer away, and transfer them to my laptop....

    Eeeexcelleent..

  2. But.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    why? Doesn't bluetooth have its place, and 802.11x have a separate one?

    I guess it has a "cool" factor, but not quite high enough to overcome the redundancy factor in this case.

  3. Imperial conversion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    1 kilometer = 4.97096954 furlongs

  4. Oh the possibilities by f8ejf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Since bluetooth is in the 2.4GHz band, hams can probably use boosters of up to 200W legally, just like with WiFi.

    We here at the radioclub were able to cover considerable distances with decent directional WiFi waveguides and 10W amplifiers. I wonder if bluetooth would fare as well... Hmmm, something to play with during the holidays :-)

    1. Re:Oh the possibilities by LostCluster · · Score: 3, Insightful

      2.4 GHz is 2.4 GHz... the radio waves don't really know or care which protocol's being used. I'd be very surprised if Bluetooth can do anything WiFi can't or vice versa given the same power and directional constraints.

  5. The perfect Friday night story by FunWithHeadlines · · Score: 4, Funny

    So what do geeks do on a Friday night? They discuss extending bluetooth ranges in experiments and speculate on all the ways it could be used, both useful and silly. Now if they could just figure out a way to use bluetooth to get dates...

    1. Re:The perfect Friday night story by John+Jorsett · · Score: 4, Funny
      So what do geeks do on a Friday night? They discuss extending bluetooth ranges in experiments and speculate on all the ways it could be used, both useful and silly. Now if they could just figure out a way to use bluetooth to get dates...

      Actually, geeks spend their Thursday nights talking about how to use Bluetooth to get dates. I guess when their shortrange schemes fall flat, they spend Friday figuring out how to up the distance.

  6. $12 Walkie Talkies by aklix · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I used 2 $12 walkie talkies to control an RC car. Never tested it a mile because i wouldnt be able to see it (suposedly goes 2 miles) but it kept in great range, even when we used binoculars. Simple task too.

  7. Re:fantastic.. by jrockway · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > I hate mobile phones so I may be biased

    I hear you. I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to replace my computer with a phone. People were suggesting that in 3 years there would be no computers, just phones (in yesterday's article). That, to me, is rediculous.

    I personally quite like my PDA and Desktop and Laptop. I want a phone to make phone calls. I want my Desktop to run emacs and make. I want my Laptop to run iCal. Is there a problem with this?

    Do one thing and do it well.

    --
    My other car is first.
  8. Re:fantastic.. by Atmchicago · · Score: 3, Funny

    I want my Desktop to run emacs and make.

    Well, actually, I use emacs to run my cell phone. But that's just me.

    --

    You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it dissolve.

  9. Pfffft by Billobob · · Score: 3, Funny

    My tesla coil has a range of blowing up every light bulb within 5 miles MINIMUM...

    --
    If you have to ask, you'll never know.
  10. Pringles cans... by mikael · · Score: 3, Funny

    The over-the-air connection went to an unmodified Sony Ericsson T610 at a distance of 'about 3,300 feet' and they transferred a few pictures. This test was to a paired device pre-configured for the built-in ObexFTP access, but the implication is that now it's easy to Bluesnarf without even being near the target phone."

    And they haven't even started using Pringles cans yet.

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  11. Another ADVERTISEMENT by gnuber · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I hate it when /. posts blatant product advertisements as stories. This story was submitted by "Carbolic", whose given URL (mouse-over his name) is Wifi-toys.com. He talks about a wifi-toys.com story (in the third person), and links to the "kit from bluedriving.com". The small print on that page notes that Bluedriving.com is a member site of wifi-toys.com . The $99 "kit" linked to is just a $45 Linksys adaptor and a CD of freeware and drivers (you'd be better off downloading the newest versions from the net). A fool and his money are soon parted, I guess. This is the second time this week that Carbolic has posted a story linking to his site.

    I won't fault Carbolic for pimping his site, particularly since he isn't hiding his affiliation. But the /. editors should filter this spam out.