Cisco-Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter

I did some reading beforehand, but this device was easy to set up for broadband connection sharing and hot sync. Here's what I was using:* Windows PC, SP I* Cable Modem* Verizon Treo 650I found the instructions for "Reverse DUN" on the Palm Addict web site. I won't duplicate step by step instructions here, but this is what it takes at a high level:* Install BT Adaptor* Cange PC's LAN settings to be shared* Pair Treo and PC* Configure new BT trusted device on Treo* Switch Treo to use new BT connection for network* Have PC allow Treo to connect* Fire up Blazer and go!This is set up under the "Network" profile. You have to run the wizzard twice - once for what service the computer will provide and once for specifying that the Treo will be using the service. The wizzard makes it very easy to accomplish this.I have read where it is recommended that you set up network sharing prior to hot sync. I don't know that this is a hard requirement, but I did it this way with no problem.Setting up hot sync afterward was easy as the Treo bluetooth set up actually guides you through this quite well. I did notice that performing hot sync this way is considerably slower.So, after all was said and done, I'm sitting downstairs in the living room surfing the wireless web while using the broadband internet connection on my PC upstairs. Here's the best part - the only cost to surf this way is the one-time price of the Linksys adaptor.

I don't know if I just have bad luck or worse (maybe I'm cursed). I saw that people had problems with this product and Windows XP SP2 but I got it anyways (since I had read all the KB and other hints on how to easily get it to work in 5-10 minutes even with the hassle of having to update the drivers to the Linksys supported from Microsoft's.I tried many, many times to install said adapter. Tried everything, and different combos of different things. I kept getting it to partially install and then it would malfunction and the "device" would become "lost". I would get error code 10 which when trying to research would only have something show up for if you were using Windows 2000.... not XP SP2. I uninstalled each time, rebooted when needed, and even a few other times (hence the 20 installations by the very end), and even tried on fresh new USB ports...I gave up and decided to try on another computer using Windows XP SP1.This computer did the same thing. After several trys, I asked Amazon for a replacement product (still need to send that 1st one back).Second adapter was much better. I started off this time with the XP SP1 comp figuring if I couldn't get it to work on that one, then the XP SP2 would be a lost cause...I managed to get MUCH further in the installations, and even got it partially working. But not totally... Again, like the first adapter, it would not automatically install several key items that I had to go and install manually with "add hardware wizard". So I decided to try it out on the Win XP SP2 comp (since this is our main computer and is the one with out network router etc) which is the one I would rather have it on anyways...What happens? I get the same install, go "add hardware", though I'm sure I didn't need to have some of the installed items re-done since after doing a clean uninstall/remove program etc you still have a lot of Linksys/BT stuff leftover on your computer. I managed to get more installed this time/computer and again running with my PDA (Dell Axim X50). I even got the LAN access set up and would only stop when it got the error (can't remember what it was, normal windows style code with a bunch of #'s and one or 2 letters). This came up when trying to connect. And the only thing I could see really wrong on the main computer side was that it would not let me see my device (and then to pair it, though it was paired with my PDA from PDA's side).This is due to the fact that it would never install the Bluetooth Radio section under Bluetooth Devices. Sorry, never say never. It did it once on my main computer with the old malfunctioned adpater. ONCE. Thats it. And with this adapter, I end up with problems with the bluetoothstackserver.exe file, that has to "end task" itself when I log off my user account etc. I have looked everywhere for that damn radio stuff. Nowhere to be found. Even checked my install log (which I found by accident looking for said BT Radio item(s). I scanned through it which covered ALL installs I had done on that computer with BOTH adapters and was dated. Counldn't remember the date so was just trying to find it mentioned. IT NEVER WAS. Though I swear it had installed and then lost it ONCE before...Anyways, I am now going to return this adapter back to Amazon (I wonder if I could send them both back in the same box or if I would have to send them separately - hah) and get my money back. Then I will go buy Belkin's Wireless Travel Router (3 in 1 actually and would work better with my set up and what I want to use it for anyways), from Dell (because it's cheaper there).This could be a very good product, but I just wouldn't know. Yes I did contact Linksys about it, and while live chatting with a guy that knew less about what I could try than me (and I managed to attempt, and have work, much more afterwards by myself) I told him off and said a rock could be more helpful than him, since I could at least use it to smash the adapter apart.I curse all those that had good luck with this item, and pray for any that (like me) decide to go ahead and buy this item *after* reading all the reviews for it and the problems you can (possibly) have installing it...

The compatability issues with XP Service Pack 2 are known and well documented ... what's unknown is why Linksys has chosen not to address them by updating their USBBT100 drivers and removing the hoops and hassle users of this common Windows OS must endure to install their product.If, like me, you are considering the Linksys USBBT100 as a way to hot-synch data between your Palm or smart phone (I recently purchased a Treo 650) and you are running XP SP2, think again. It's not impossible, but the end -- hours on the phone with support, multiple installs and uninstalls -- may not justify the means. I can't tell you how long it will eventually take, nor can I confirm it is actually possible, because I never got there.Despite the lack of any existing documentation on the Linksys site or in the product packaging providing instructions how to set up the USB adapter with a wireless device like a smart phone, I did eventually get to the point where I could do a single one-click data synch. But it was more of a try-everything, hit-or-miss path to get there ...However, every time I booted up my PC, I had to unplug and re-plug the adapter to get my phone to recognize it -- again, a known and documented issue. When I followed the XP SP2 step-by-step instructions in the website FAQ for fixing this, it made matters worse, not better.My first doubts were raised when I searched the Linksys site for the most recent drivers and discovered that the last update was in 2003. Not a good sign.No one at Palm or Verizon was able to help me. Having called Linksys support in the past, I wasn't even about to go there. At one time I spoke with a second-level support technician at Palm that questioned why I would want to hot-synch via Bluetooth in the first place, because it was much slower than using the cable.Hmmmm. Good question ... and one whose answer eventuallly led me to stop spending my time, and tolerance capital, seeking a solution to this problem instead of simply returning the Linksys adapter to Amazon and spending my money on a Treo 650 docking cradle instead.This is not a knock against Bluetooth or Linksys. Bluetooth technology is great for wireless phone headsets, and Palm keyboards, etc., but apparently not for hot-synching data. And in spite of its challenges with end-user direct support, Linksys is a great company that I know and trust. I own about four Linksys products and they have all been rock-solid and straightforward to install and set up.My advice is to carefully evaluate your specific requirements and decide if the USBBT100 is something that meets your needs -- or is something you need in the first place. It may be that a cable or docking cradle is cheaper, easier and provides a faster data transfer rate.