Bluetooth antenna ’upgrade’ did I waste my time and money?

[TGuelker]

I ?have a HP II with the audio output jack connected to a Mii bluetooth transmitter which feeds bluetooth earbuds.

The HP II and Mii are at one end of the house. I lose signal at the other end of the house which is about 40 feet away with 3 walls.

if I leave the doors open the audio doesn't drop as much as when the doors are closed.
The Mii has short external antennas connected to a miniPCI connector.
I replaced the 3” antennas with 16” 10dbi antennas.
The range is the same.
Is bluetooth limited so even if I connected my Tram antenna it wouldn’t improve?
Any ideas other than relocate everything to the middle of the house?

 

[a417]

I replaced the 3” antennas with 16” 10dbi antennas.

even if I connected my Tram antenna it wouldn’t improve

...


What model of this Mii thing are you using? I would like to see the specifications online.

 

[wtp]

<l.......l

i did something like that for an ex-girlfriend with wifi
a 90 degree aluminium foil 'wall' to get father out to a bedroom. it worked.
at least it is cheap to try. and adjust the distance a bit between the wall and the transmitter.

 

[TGuelker]

...


What model of this Mii thing are you using? I would like to see the specifications online.

it is the B03

The range actually decreased with the longer antennas.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

it is the B03

The range actually decreased with the longer antennas.

Can you provide a link or better part number?
This week I tore down a TP Link C7 WiFi Router that suffered lightning damage. I was surprised to find the three big vertcal whip antennas actually were for the 5 GHz radio which was on a daughterboard with PCIe connector. the 2.4 GHz antennas were J Pole antennas made of brass and stuck inside in 3 corners with sticky tape. so my wifes efforts to optimise the signal with foil parabolas was a wasted effort as the 2.4 GHz anteenas were inside, horizontally polarized, and obscured by other equipment on the shelf. you very well may have an antenna for the wrong band and those things are wired with coax thinner than RG174 which is crap.

 

[mmckenna]

it is the B03

The range actually decreased with the longer antennas.

Unless it was a tuned antenna designed for 2.4GHz, it's unlikely to make a difference, and could reduce range.

Bluetooth was only designed for a 30 foot range.

 

[GdogsNE]

I've been using a Miccus RTX 2.0 for 3 years + and am impressed with the clarity and range for this rig about the size of a deck of cards with a single 3 in antenna. No internal battery power. USB 2. Transmits from the basement to anywhere in a 2 story house. I do move it to the main floor to get a clean reach while mowing the yard. Works good with a variety of earbuds. Just lucky shopping as I did consider the Mii also.

 

[TGuelker]

These are the antennas I bought. States they are bluetooth.

@GdogsNE I ordered rhe Miccus. Specs are impressive. Thanks!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

As mmckenna says; 30 feet.

Even if the antennas were properly tuned, the 10 dBi gain focuses the signal and that may not be the best situation inside your home where no line of sight path exists. The BT signal is likely scattering off of metal objects like mirrors, refrigerator, metal doors. Sometimes a more diffuse signal will end up being most effective.

Try the antennas outside in a line of sight condition. Does range improve? If not they are junk.

 

[mmckenna]

And you won't get quality antennas at a "2 for $9.99" price.
I agree, radiation pattern on a dual band high gain antenna is going to be pretty tight.
Modern building materials get in the way.

Bluetooth was designed for 30 foot range. It was never intended to be a long range radio service. Ideal is that the limited spectrum can be reused by more people.
At work, we switched most of our users to DECT based phone headsets to get more range. Bluetooth was designed for a headset and your phone in the same room.

In other words, wrong tool for the job, no matter how many cheap antennas you stick on it.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

For a similar setup, from my car scanner to the me nearby. I have considered buying a UHF broadcast IFB setup from e-bay. These are designed for a bit longer range. There are other solutions like "assisted listening devices" which are a small FM broadcast transmitter to a dedicated receiver.

 

[prcguy]

Those are nowhere close to 10dBi, maybe half that at best.

These are the antennas I bought. States they are bluetooth.

@GdogsNE I ordered rhe Miccus. Specs are impressive. Thanks!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Those are nowhere close to 10dBi, maybe half that at best.

Chinese 10 dBi = 10 dB referenced to an icicle.

 

[TGuelker]

The Miccus improved the range about 15 feet which is all I need.

The antennas are going back.

Thanks for the education.

 

[GdogsNE]

You're welcome. I often use a GETIHU 3A 10,000 mah portable charger as the power supply for the Miccus and to recharge bluetooth buds. Was lucky to find a power bank that even stays on to charge or operate low draw devices, understandable as most power banks seem to be sold as high speed phone chargers. Thank you for the op to share here. Back to learning from all of you.