Bluetooth GPS
Every company that offers GPS units talk about Bluetooth technology options, but first-time GPS buyers have to do some research before they fully understand what Bluetooth GPS is and how it can benefit them. This is because there isn’t a lot of space in a product description to explain the basics of Bluetooth and how it works. Before you buy a GPS device with Bluetooth capabilities, it is important to understand what makes Bluetooth so desirable.
The concept of Bluetooth is very easy to understand. Simply put, it is the wireless technology that replaces the cables that would otherwise be needed to connect portable communication devices to each other. However, without cables, every wireless device has to operate on a designated radio frequency. This can cost money and also expose communication between wireless devices to interference from third parties. Wireless Bluetooth technology is preferred for portable devices because it lets wireless devices communicate without compromising the security of the information being broadcast and because it is free to use. Bluetooth GPS is used worldwide by individuals and companies because of these properties.
Bluetooth technology operates in the unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band at 2.4 to 2.485 GHz, using a spread spectrum, frequency hopping, full-duplex signal at a nominal rate of 1600 hops/sec. The 2.4 GHz ISM band is available and unlicensed in most countries. This means that if a GPS user decides to use hands-free calling, the signal is available almost anywhere, and because it operates within this unlicensed band, there is no charge for any phone calls or text communication and also no reason to be concerned about the security of information that is sent over this frequency.
Any devices using Bluetooth can communicate with each other through short-range, ad hoc networks known as piconets if they are in the same proximity. These communication networks, or piconets, are created and dissolved as Bluetooth devices enter and leave radio proximity. The most commonly used radio in GPS devices is class 2, which uses 2.5mW of power. This is important, because if your device is running off batteries, using Bluetooth doesn’t take much of their power. As well, the chipset doesn’t take up much room in a smaller device.
This makes Bluetooth technology perfect for GPS devices. Bluetooth technology is also used to connect to almost any wireless device including mobile phones, portable computers, cars, stereo headsets, medical devices and has many more applications for both industrial and personal use.
Getting started with Bluetooth is easy. Once you have a Bluetooth branded product, you simply check the profiles available and connect it to another Bluetooth device with the same profiles. A good example of this would be connecting your wireless headset to your GPS device for hands free calling. Once the profiles of both devices are matched up, you can enjoy hands free calling or turn-by-turn voice directions from your GPS device with no wires involved. When you are on the road, your personal area network travels with you and allows you to connect to others.
Connecting to others works when a group of devices shares a radio frequency and are synchronized to a common clock and frequency hopping pattern. The device that supplies the synchronization pattern is known as the master and all other devices are known as slaves. The hopping pattern is a pseudorandom ordering of the frequency of the ISM band which prevents unsynchronized devises from interfering with communication but still allows them to communicate in the same physical area. This makes Bluetooth technology portable, safe and practical.
Bluetooth wireless can handle both data and voice transmissions simultaneously at a rate of 1MBS for version 1.2 and up to 3Mbps for version 2.0. This makes it ideal for hands free voice calls, faxing, and laptop and PDA transmissions.
Posted in General GPS Information
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