WiFi Extender & Bluetooth

Mike K

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Will a WiFi extender also help Bluetooth reception? I have a BT keyboard that only works when it is very close to my PC. i.e. within a cpl feet. l think it is interference from my usb 3.0 powered monitor.
 

Dodutils

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WiFi is not BT so no way it will improve your BT range
 

Dodutils

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Don't they use the same receiver? just a different frequency?
It's not a question of frequency but protocol/language, every human speak making sounds with their mouth but they do not all use same language and I do not know any Extender that Speak WIFi+BT (and thinking about it I do not know any BT Extender).

But... you may buy a small BT USB dongle and a long USB cable and then push away this receiver closer to your keyboard, how far is your keyboard from your PC actually ?
 
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Mike K

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the way i want to use it, it would be about 12 to15 foot from my PC. Is a BT dongal have a receiver in it or is it just software?
 
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I think that you cannot boost BlueTooth range, it is designed for a limited range and it is for security reasons.
 

Dodutils

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BT dongle is a receiver, it is something you use when your PC don't have integrated BT itself, this is something I also often use for WiFi whene I want to locate my WIFi antenna at a slightly better place than right close (oe inside) the PC top avoid electric disturb or also make the antenna have some "direct view" over the windows to outside in garden instead to have to "go" thru house's wall.

What is the model of your keyboard ?
 

Mike K

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BT dongle is a receiver, it is something you use when your PC don't have integrated BT itself, this is something I also often use for WiFi whene I want to locate my WIFi antenna at a slightly better place than right close (oe inside) the PC top avoid electric disturb or also make the antenna have some "direct view" over the windows to outside in garden instead to have to "go" thru house's wall.

What is the model of your keyboard ?
My keyboard is an Arteck model HB030B Bluetooth 3.0 It has good reviews on Amazon.

The KB does sync with my PC witch has a built in BT 4.0 but it has to be within about one foot of the PC.
 

Dodutils

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OK BT 3.0 is no as "strong" as BT 4.0 against other frequences disturbing and 1 foot is quite a short range.

But as many Amazon buyers you never read the negative reviews that are the only ones that are interesting (who cares about "I am happy", what I want is to know what other have found negative to see if I would consider it negative too, and here is what I've read :

"I was really excited about trying this keyboard. It was very short lived. I am highly disappointed with the keyboard, unless I was sitting right beside the computer it was useless. I sat less than 4ft away from my system and the connectivity was spotty at best, constantly loosing connection. If I could give a negative rating I would have."

So you'll have to deal with it and buy a new BT dongle and a few feets USB extender cable to connect dongle into.

ANd by the way this keyboard also exists under many other brandnames but I don't know who is the real constructor ...
 
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Mike K

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Well I have purchased a new Plug-n-play dongal. It arrives today. So i'll see if it is going to work with a USB cable. Otherwise, I will buy a new keyboard.
 

Mike K

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Just to wrap this up, I plugged the new BT dongal directly into my PC without the USB cable just to see if it might work, and after restarting the PC, it synced up with my keyboard and I'm typing this post just like it is supposed to.

Thanks to all for the assist.
 

Dodutils

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so this new dongle is more powerfull and/or more sensitive to let use your keyboard from longer distance ?
 

Mike K

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so this new dongle is more powerfull and/or more sensitive to let use your keyboard from longer distance ?
Apparently. I'm not sure why it works, but it is good from at least 10'. one problem however; I turned off the keyboard and it was not synced when I turned it back on. So I'm still exploring that problem>
 

Tizeye

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I may not be the one to reply as I gave up on Bluetooth. While my Logitech keyboard and mouse use Logitech's USB module, it is not Bluetooth but wifi and works great. Added Bluetooth as bought a very premium Bower and Wilkins headset and the nightmare began. Tried two different USB dongles, both used Broadcom drivers and never worked. Got a Gigabyte (same brand as motherboard) PC card with combined wireless wifi and Bluetooth. This Bluetooth had an Intel driver, and worked, except when it didn't as you described above. Go into Device Manager (shortcut "Window" "X" keys) and if you see Bluetooth opened and listing a component, there is a problem. Opening it will note a problem with the driver, and assuming you have the most recent driver, uninstall and let Windows re-install. It will work...until it doesn't, repeat, repeat, repeat. Finally got fed up and use the headset wired, and while the wireless wifi worked OK, given that wireless is slower anyway, went back to the wired connection. Wondering if is a Windows 10 issue. You may want to consider a non-Bluetooth keyboard.
 

Dodutils

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While my Logitech keyboard and mouse use Logitech's USB module, it is not Bluetooth but wifi and works great
For what I know there is no WiFi keyboard on the market because WiFi use too much power, Logitech use BT and also some "self-made" radio transmission. What is your Logitech's model ?
 

Tizeye

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You may be right as I tried to check specifications before posting, but appears most keyboards for PC use an RF signal on the 2.4 GHz spectrum (much like TV remotes, IR for 'line of sight' and RF for 'indirect - through walls/obstacles'). Logitech does make one (model K480) specifically labeled "Bluetooth" which is both PC and Apple compatible, and of course all Apples are Bluetooth based. My models are K800 keyboard with M525 mouse operating off a single USB dongle plugged into the back of my monitor. Wife has my former combo K520/M310. While the K800 is more expensive and would almost fall into the premium non-gaming category, I just liked its feel and quieter sound better. Stated range is 33 feet which I have never tested, but there is no cross interference between the two models probably 20 feet apart.

Also, looking at the dongle, it doesn't have the sharp/angular "B" logo of Bluetooth, as the matching logo on the dongle, keyboard and mouse is an orange square with a black asterisk as its wireless logo.
 
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Mike K

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Apparently. I'm not sure why it works, but it is good from at least 10'. one problem however; I turned off the keyboard and it was not synced when I turned it back on. So I'm still exploring that problem>
I'm Still not sure why the dongal fixed the problem but after the second restart of my PC the BT keyboard is now working perfectly every time I turn it on. I am suspicious that it might just be a comparability problem with Windows 10?
 

virtua.jdub

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Not sure if this helps - but if you have a laptop or any other computer, you could technically control your computer through WIFI using software like Input Director. I've used it in the past to control my HTPC from bed where I'm working on my laptop.
 
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