this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2025
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Approximately EUR 8 including shipping. Still sealed (probably - if not re-sealed).
There's definitely some more stuff in the box like a manual and driver disc that I can hear moving around. After all, the boxes are fairly large compared to what you'd get today.

I'd want to unpack them... but I also don't because they survived so long. I don't know. Maybe if I'll get yet another one...

Here's a look at the entire box:

Specs:
Bluetooth 1.2 Class 1
USB 1.1

Minimum requirements:
300MHz CPU
128MB RAM
Windows 98SE

So what about the Class 1?
Typically the devices you use are Class 2 with Tx power of up to 2.5mW and range of around 10m.
Class 1 can go up to 100mW with range of around 100m. Assuming both ends are same class. Otherwise you're just causing more interference on 2.4GHz.
https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Bluetooth_Specification.html#Bluetooth_Classes_and_Ranges

It also has an external antenna giving it some cool factor.

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[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 27 points 2 weeks ago

Dang where are you getting 128MB RAM in this economy?

[–] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 20 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Mmm I really like Windows XP-era hardware. It's neither trying to be a fashion product like today, nor a beige box like in the 90s. Just, kind of, techie and nice. And plasticy. This is true about XP itself actually.

Also, the little antenna on this dongle is cute.

[–] glizzyguzzler@piefed.blahaj.zone 16 points 2 weeks ago

Hell yes make 2.4 GHz absolutely unusable for your neighbors

[–] Davel23@fedia.io 12 points 2 weeks ago

Speaking as someone who worked at CompUSA when these were new, those seals look original to me.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 weeks ago

I remember throwing one of these in ewaste once.

Pita to get working in ndiswrapper

[–] Romkslrqusz@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That is wild, I don’t even recall anything using bluetooth that long ago. At the time, was this fairly niche tech for people who had palm pilots?

[–] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

There were also some Bluetooth APs similar to WiFi. I've been wanting to get one.

I have 2 pictures of this one. The green one comes from a review I wish I had archived because I can't find it anymore and it's possibly gone now.

But there's a review of a similar product from Belkin: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=1773

There's also like 3 different Bluetooth profiles for networking. LAP (LAN access profile), DUN (Dial-up networking profile) and PAN (Personal area network).
I need the PAN one, that works fine with modern devices.

[–] monk@lemmy.unboiled.info 1 points 2 weeks ago

Just run these services on a normal PC...