| Belkin F8T001 Bluetooth/usb Adapter, Desktop |
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Model: F8T001
Brand: Belkin
Manufacturer: Belkin Components
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 35
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Bluetooth
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| Features: |
Allows you to work at distances of up to 100 meters with 0 to 20 dBm output power
Built-in security uses 128-bit encryption and authentication
Supports Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP
Compatible with Mac OS S v10.2 and higher |
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| Description: |
| The Bluetooth USB Adapter adds Bluetooth technology to your existing USB PC or notebook to let it work with all devices enabled with Bluetooth v1.1 technology. Wirelessly print, synchronize your PDA information, and create dial-up connections through a mobile phone. From up to 100 meters away you can effortlessly transfer data to other Bluetooth devices such as desktop or notebook computers, PDAs, scanners, printers, and even mobile phones-wirelessly. Connect with up to seven other Bluetooth devices at a time. |
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| User Reviews (35 total): |
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There is a much better alternative., August 18, 2007
By Brain Doc (Houston, TX)
I should have read all of these bad reviews before I bought the Belkin Adapter. I had the same problems with XP installation. Then I went and bought a TREDNET bluetooth adapter Compact Bluetooth USB CLASS2 Adapter Win Range 32.8FT 2.4GHZ. Installation went without a glitch. In less than 10 minutes I had installed the adapter, paired it with my Palm TX and was successfully syncing my Palm. I highly recommend this alternative.
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Difficult to install but the Tech Support came through, September 2, 2006
By James Yoh (Great Neck, New York)
The installation process was very difficult in the beginning. After four attempts, I was unable to get the Bluetooth adapter to work at all. It continued to clash with Microsoft's driver. And even after I disabled and uninstalled the Microsoft Bluetooth driver, my Belkin adapter failed to function. I finally decided to call Belkin's Tech Support. The right Tech Support department was not easy to find. After 20 minutes traveling through different layers of bureaucracy, I was talking to a human being. The Tech Support gentleman work on the installation process with me and 30 minutes later the Bluetooth Adapter was working properly. My suggestion to anyone who wants to buy this product is to call Belkin Tech Support FIRST- BEFORE the installation (Belkin is not going to happy about this) and let them walk you through the installation. Their number is 800-2-belkin.
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Tricky setup with XP & SP2, September 21, 2005
By Sequence (USA)
Expect many issues when installing the Belkin software onto a Win XP, service pack 2 OS. The Microsoft enumerator wants to take over and will continue to haunt you unless it is disabled and stopped in admin-tools/services. Expect many reboots. Belkin has come out with a revised version 2 with a different set of problems, just as many reboots. Be ready to call Belkin tech support. Works great once it is installed.
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Software issues., July 31, 2005
By 1 (Milwaukee, WI USA)
I had the same problem installing the software as some of you. "Invalid licence...etc.etc." The thing is, this bluetooth dongle works with my SP2. In fact when I plug it in, XP finds it, installs its drivers and it works fine. I can connect it to my Palm Tungsten E2 and sync with no worries. However, I wanted to see about surfing the net with it, and from what I have read online, one way to share an internet connection is with this Belkin/Widcomm software.
Bottom line: It works, but is not worth the trouble to me to waste time trying to share an internet connection. I use it to sync with my palm so I don't have to plug it in and nothing else.
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Understanding Windows Service Pack 2 etal., July 29, 2005
By Derald R. Grimwood (Eugene, OR 97404)
Regarding previous reviews. Most installation problems are related to SP2. Which came out after the drivers were written. Simply install the new software and ignore errors. Reboot. Go to the device manager and remove the Windows Bluetooth Device. Make sure you actually have the Belkin drivers installed. If necessary, select update drivers and tell it to install the belkin drivers.
Regarding range. The prior reviewer probably was trying to connect to another BT device with a 10 meter range. Both devices have to be 100 meter to achieve the expanded range.
I've had a blast with mine. I can connect my computer to my PDA and my phone. Win98 dialup is more reliable than XP dialup. I'm still looking at those issues.
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Works fine, June 11, 2005
By Philip A. Spicer (Broken Arrow, OK United States)
I bought this adapter after having trouble with a similar product from Linksys. The Belkin adapter has not given me any problems. If you are running Windows XP Service Pack 2, I don't recommend installing the software that came with the adapter. I just plugged in the adapter and it worked fine. The range is also very good in my house.
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The dreaded "license.dat" error..., May 29, 2005
By Bill Barrick (Washington, DC USA)
This device is not easy to install. The error "Your license does not permit use with this device" is entirely misleading because the problem is actually that the Microsoft generic drivers have been installed instead of the Belkin set. The other symptom is that the Bluetooth Configuration control panel won't work. The following is for those familiar with the Device Manager:
If the drivers fail to install properly, the instructions say to install through the driver update pathway by pointing to the bin folder in the Belkin program folder. This will not work in XP. There are a number of threads on the Internet but they boil down to: 1. In Device Manager, right-click the "Belkin Bluetooth Adapter" and select "Update driver" 2. Select "Install from a list or specific location Advanced)" -> Next 3. Select "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install" -> Next 4. There should be two options: "Belkin Bluetooth Adapter" and "Belkin Bluetooth Device". "Belkin Bluetooth Device" is not digitally signed. Select it and click Next.
The software worked properly after this maneuver but it took hours to get there.
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100 inches, not 100 meters, March 4, 2005
By M. Vaughan
Don't waste your time or money. I can't belive this adapter is rated to 100 meters. I tried 2 different units, and neither worked beyond 10-15 feet. I do have a wirless mouse, but I swapped it out for a wired one with no difference, so interference wasn't the problem.
In addition, the setup is a pain. Not really Belkin's fault, but XP home "hijacks" the installation process and installs Microsoft drivers without giving you the chance to install the Belkin driver.
You may or may not get "invalid license" errors, in which case you have to uninstall and reinstall.
Finally, I got a consistent "network cable disconnected" error icon in my systray. Please explain where this disconnected "cable" is in a Bluetooth network.
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DO NOT BUY THIS IF YOU HAVE A PC!, February 18, 2005
By Dennis (Atlanta, GA)
DO NOT BUY THIS ADAPTER FOR A PC. While the adapter might be OK the included WIDCOMM software is terrible and the tech support is a joke. After 3 days of trying to get it to work all I can get is "Incorrect License Type" and "Bluetooth stack service could not be started". I know this is the WIDCOMM software because I had the same problem with the Kensington Bluetooth USB adapter which uses the same WIDCOMM software. One Belkin tech support rep actually told me to format my harddrive and reinstall WindowsXP ?!?!?!? What a joke and he was completely serious. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT! also do not buy the Kensington Bluetooth USB adapter which is even worse. I am a software engineer and have 20 years of PC experience and I have never encountered such a terrible combo of device and software.
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Wont Detect My Phone 99% Of The Time. Very Horrible Range., January 30, 2005
By HoreInYaEar! (Bronx, NY USA)
Well let me start off by saying this is my first usb bluetooth adapter and bluetooth capable mobile phone. I recently purchased the Samsung D500 along with the Belkin F8T001 bluetooth usb Adapter, the adapter costed me like $43 wit tax and with my discount the regular price is $55 with tax. But im still mad though and as you see our discount sucks!!!
But anyway, since im getting a great phone, i wanted to get a great adapter, and i have 1 or 2 belkin products already. No real problems with them, and at my jobs website, i saw good reviews. So i purchased it, i was gonna get the cheaper 10 meters one, but i live in a 2 family house. I wanted the wireless freedom of 100 meters ive heard so much about. So i go and buy it asking one of my co-workers (a computer tech) is it a good *bluetooth usb adapter*, and he shook his head NO! I really should of listen to him. The cd software installed easy enough, so i follow the instructions, plugged the adapter in and it detected the adapter, WINDOWS XP-SP2 installed its own drivers, telling me that it couldnt locate drivers on the cd. So everything appeared to work on the restart, but the adapter didnt detect my phone, saying "BLUETOOTH DEVICE NOT FOUND. PLEASE VERIFY THAT YOUR BLUETOOTH DEVICE IS PROPERLY CONNECTED AND TURNED ON. My phone detected the pc, and oddly enough i could transmit files from the pc to the phone. But i couldnt take stuff from the pc, and the range of the adapter is a joke. For the file to transfer, i have to be right on top of the pc instead of the advertised 100 meters away.
In conclusion thats why this horrible device gets 1 star, if i could give it -5 stars i would. *DONT BUY IT, IF YOU WANNA TRANSFER DATA FROM YOUR PC TO YOUR PHONE, OR FROM YOUR PHONE TO YOUR PC* I will be returning it tomorrow, and getting something else (but we dont really carry many other brands of usb adapters) or going somewhere else, maybe like COMPUSA. For the Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter.
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Transform your PC into a BLUETOOTH machine!!, January 27, 2005
By kimsv (NY, New York, USA)
Bluetooth is a very splendid thing! Now with its exposure of its versatility, this little gadget is just was Bluetooth lovers have been loving for, but didn't know existed!
THE PROS.......
1. Small and Portable. This adapter is about the size of a large paperclip. It comes with a little cover to protect its connection just in case you need to remove it from your PC sometimes.
2. Easily recognized. This adapter was found the moment I connected it to my laptop. **I have Windows XP**
3. Works better than my cell phone's suite! For transfering photos, ringtones and MP3s onto my Sony K700i cell, it works faster and better than the actual suite that came with my phone!!
4. Blue blinking LCD light lets you know that its working.
5. Allows you to connect to all Bluetooth-enabled electronics. Presently my Palm Pilot and cell phone are recognized and work very well with this Belkin product. NEXT: I'm going to get a Bluetooth-enabled printer, and I am GOOD to GO->>>
THE CONS ..........
1. Limited Help manual. The booklet that comes with this product is very small and doesnt include a "How-To-Do" section for what I initially wanted out if it, which is to set up my Networking and use my cell phone as my modem. I am still trying to figure it out. ( SO presently, my phone line's the only wire I have connected to my lappy!!)
Oh well...maybe you know how to do it!!!
But beside that, and until I figure this out, I am very satisfied with everything else I can accomplish nevertheless.
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Despite the other reviews..., November 30, 2004
By David N. Wiggins (Midlothian, VA)
This works just fine with XP, SP2. Used it both on a VAIO PCG-F540 as well as a Toshi P35-S629. Both 'tops connect instantly to my Moto v600 phone, and using the Mobile Phonetools software (one other reviewer downgraded the Belkin because he could connect to but not browse his phone - What, Belkin is supposed to include software for that?), viola - bluetooth bliss. I withheld a star due to the fact that though Belkin does include the Widcomm drivers, they do NOT include all of the Bluetooth profiles.
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Several problems with Windows XP, October 6, 2004
By dash-o
There are some issues with this Belkin bluetooth adapter and wanted to warn potential buyers. I purchased this adapter a a local retailer despite warnings from other reviewers here.
Mac OS 10.3.5 - Works perfectly as every other bluetooth adapter I've tried.
Windows XP SP1a, SP2 - Works right after installing the WIDCOMM bluetooth drivers. Stops working after the first restart. Continue to get "invalid license key" "shutting down bluestackserver"--or something similar.
The inconclusive problem is that while it works, it detects other bluetooth devices fine on my HP work computer. However, on my computer (with Asus P4C800-E motherboard) it fails to detect a Nokia N-Gage QD several feet away while a Nokia 6620 was detected. Using the bluetooth drivers in Windows XP SP2 fixes the problem detecting the N-Gage QD, so it appears the problem surrounds the WIDCOMM 1.4.2.10 drivers on the CD--the latest by the way.
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Belkin F8T001 has XP SP2 Root Canal, September 8, 2004
By Terryble (Virginia)
I purchased the Belkin Bluetooth F8T001 USB Adapter so that I could synch my IPAQ 1945 PDA. However, after software installation, I could only get "BTTray: Incorrect License type" and "Error - Unable to start Stack Service."
When I contacted Belkin Tech Support, I was told that the problem was caused by the Microsoft Service Pack 2. According to Belkin, Microsoft has included their own version of Bluetooth in SP2, and it is not compatible with the Belkin adapter. When I asked for their suggestions, they replied that I should "uninstall SP2." They told me that SP1 "works with some devices," and XP works with everything. I asked when they were going to update their drivers to work with this adapter, and they said that they didn't know. "Microsoft had not yet published their interfaces." My feeling was that as far as the company Tech Support was concerned, the device works OK with XP original, so any problems I am having are just my tuogh luck.
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Toothless Bluetooth, August 2, 2004
By W. L Stone (TN. USA)
I have a Dell Axim x30 and hoped to communicate with by Dell windows xp desktop through this device. After many hours of trying the only service that works is the file transfer. Bluetooth through this USB adapter is not ready for primetime.
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it works, it's just a little clunky, June 1, 2004
By jose_monkey_org (ann arbor, mi, USA)
i picked this up for the same reason several other readers did: i wanted to be able to move pictures, sound, and my phonebook from my phone to my laptop and back. i use a thinkpad x31 using windows xp for this task.use the supplid drivers from the cd, they're much better than anything windows will attempt to do. and it will just work, unlike what windows may create. browsing with the supplied belkin software is clunky and ackward, not nearly as fluid as it could be. it's most definitely not as smooth as it is under Mac OS X, but hey, that's what you get. it works, i get to move pictures around on my phone and my contact list without a cable. but it's prone to fits of delays and ackwardness. i'm wishing there was better integration with windows xp right now, xp sp2 supposedly has smoother bluetooth software and browsing. i wish the belkin sofware worked as nicely. as it stands, this isn't the convenient device i hoped it would be, but i'll keep using it.
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Belkin F8T001, April 27, 2004
By unknown
I bought this to use in conjunction with my wife's Sony Clie UX50. The device configuration was a snap, and paired successfully to the Sony, but I had problems configuring it to Hot Sync, Belkin support was terse at best, but the Sony support was great, and had the problem resolved in 20 minutes. It works as expected.
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Does NOT work & HORRENDOUS customer service, April 9, 2004
By unknown
I have never been more dissatisfied with a product and customer service. F8T001 does NOT work with my Nokia 3600 phone - despite 8+ hours with customer support from Nokia & Belkin. The people at Belkin - save 1 - were unhelpful to extremely rude.
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Works Great! - Work and Home., March 2, 2004
By jgruss01 (The Woodlands, Tx United States)
I have an HP iPaq 1945 that has built-in Bluetooth. I have an HP N1000C and use the F8T001 to sync with my iPaq. Works great! I keep my notebook in my office and I can still stay syncronized with my notebook while I work in a lab next door (50+ feet away and 3 walls away). I also loaded the software on my home system so that I can wirelessly sync my home Outlook (Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, etc.) with my office. You can also browse with my iPaq wirelessly using the Bluetooth connection, both at work and home. I'm running XP Pro on my work and home systems and had no, none, zip, nothing... go wrong. For those people that have had problems I don't know what to tell you. I had none of the issues you have mentioned. J. Russell
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I love it, January 16, 2004
By unknown
I bought this adapter during my lunch break. In my office I installed the software that was very easy to find on the Belkin website. During installation I was asked to connect the adapter to my computer. I followed the instruction exactly as prompted on my laptop. Less than 2 minutes later the adapter was installed and I was syncing my Ericsson T610 with my outlook 2002. This adapter also found another computer equiped with Bluetooth on my floor.As for you mr Admin up there stop lying you dont know what you are doing. I very highly recommend this Bluetooth USB adapter and in fact I am going to buy another one for home.
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