no serial port over bluetooth

chqzeng · 25 Jun 2015

Hi, I am new to this forum and I have a question when using bluetooth to connect an external device (Blueport XP). This external device requires a serial port for communication, but I don't see the bluetooth on my laptop had assigned a port.

I would like my bluetooth to work as the following mode:

When I search online, I find other people who faced my case have difference hardware (Left is others, right is mine):

They have the "Standard Serial over Bluetooth Link (COMXX)" under the Port catergory, while my "Device manager" don't have a such a Port category.

I think that is the reason when my external device can be successfully connected (using passcode), but still not assigned the com port and thus no later communication. (Left is others, right is mine):

I have checked my laptop configuration, my bluetooth is : Intel 7265 AC/B/G/N Dual Band Wireless + Bluetooth Version 4.0

So my question is: Does my bluetooth not support serial port profile (SPP)?
If it does support SPP, how can I make it work?

Thank you,

GokAy · 25 Jun 2015

Hmm, I don't have much information about this subject but perhaps your laptop needs to support the serial port and not the Bluetooth in particular. Not all laptops have a serial port. Sorry, can't provide anything more in this regard.

However, check How to Create a Bluetooth Virtual Serial Port | eHow. Maybe it will help.

chqzeng · 26 Jun 2015

Thank you, GokAy.
I think you are right, quite possibly is my laptop does not have a serial port.
However, I notice I can add virtual com ports by: [device manager]--> [Action] --> [add legacy hardware] -->[Port(Com&LPT)]... but the added com port has an yellow exclamation mark on it.

The link you provided " How to Create a Bluetooth Virtual Serial Port | eHow" is the step I given in the last picture shown in the post. It does not have a com port number, although a com port is added. thus it still does not work.

GokAy · 26 Jun 2015

While searching I saw that there are USB serial port converters, but people were complaining about the compatibility issues and general consensus was that they are not very good. Maybe someone else can shed some light into this.

fireberd · 26 Jun 2015

I have a USB/RS232C converter that works. Many do not and the one I have will not work in Win 8/8.1.

I don't think an RS232C port in the PC is needed. I have the port disabled in the BIOS on my desktop and it still works.
Here is the adapter I'm using.
Amazon.com: Plugable® USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Adapter (Prolific PL2303HX Rev D Chipset): Computers & Accessories

I don't have any info or experience with a Bluetooth RS232C adapter. Can you list the Manufacturer and Model number of the Bluetooth adapter so I can research it. I don't know about the Bluetooth adapter but many RS232C devices will not work with an adapter because of needed handshake (control) signals that are not in most adapters.