Bluetooth dongle recommendation
from astrozoli@linux.community to linux@lemmy.ml on 09 Dec 2023 20:04
https://linux.community/post/297324

Can you recommend a Bluetooth dongle that support s version 5.3, not too terribly expensive and available in Europe? Preferably works out of the box on Ubuntu LTS, but compiling my own kernel is also acceptable.

For context my last attempt ended with one that only works with Windows 10, when no other Bluetooth receiver is connected. Cherry on top it needs troubleshooting wizard after each reboot.

#linux

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[deleted] on 09 Dec 2023 20:43 next collapse

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sloppy_diffuser@sh.itjust.works on 10 Dec 2023 16:06 collapse

Reddit post also states its been kept up to date with the last update in October of this year. Good find.

redcalcium@lemmy.institute on 09 Dec 2023 21:02 next collapse

Actually I haven’t been able to get Bluetooth 5 dongles to work on Linux. I only have success with Bluetooth 4 dongles.

What are you going to use the Bluetooth dongle for? Connecting Bluetooth peripherals, or headphones? If it’s exclusively for Bluetooth headphones, using a Bluetooth audio dongle (which is detected as a USB audio device in Linux) works much better than using the Bluetooth 4.0 usb dongle for audio purpose because you can use low latency aptx codex and Bluetooth 5 without messing with random drivers from some github repos

Blisterexe@lemmy.zip on 10 Dec 2023 00:29 next collapse

Would this give latency comparable to wired?

redcalcium@lemmy.institute on 10 Dec 2023 14:25 collapse

No but it’s way better than the standard SBC codex. The latency is supposed to be ~32ms: soundsightheadphones.com/…/bluetooth-5-0-codecs-a…

Blisterexe@lemmy.zip on 10 Dec 2023 18:37 collapse

Thanks !

astrozoli@linux.community on 10 Dec 2023 04:51 next collapse

I would like to connect Bluetooth headphones and a DualShock controller to my PC for gaming purposes. Cables are annoying

redcalcium@lemmy.institute on 10 Dec 2023 15:56 collapse

I’m pretty sure you can use aptx codecs using a Bluetooth 4.0 dongle and pipewire/bluez5. Just be aware when using them for gaming, if the game is cpu-bound and starved the system out of CPU time, the bluetooth audio might start to stutter. A Bluetooth audio dongle never stutter because they have their own independent Bluetooth stack, but they’re about 10x more expensive than a Bluetooth 4.0 dongle (~$50) and can only be used for audio only.

astrozoli@linux.community on 10 Dec 2023 05:55 next collapse

This is super helpful, thanks!

maiskanzler@feddit.de on 10 Dec 2023 07:21 next collapse

Neat, didn’t think of that!

YaBoyMax@programming.dev on 10 Dec 2023 18:47 collapse

The Asus BT500 dongle works quite well in my experience as long as you’re running a kernel from the last 1-2 years, it’s only BT 5.0 though.

StrangeAstronomer@lemmy.ml on 09 Dec 2023 21:34 next collapse

Maybe check here: linux-hardware.org

astrozoli@linux.community on 10 Dec 2023 05:43 collapse

This seems like a good resource for main components, I’ll definitely use it when I upgrade. Seems like for dongles I should need to know the chipset which is not listed on store pages.

avidamoeba@lemmy.ca on 09 Dec 2023 21:40 next collapse

I don’t know what’s available in Europe, but I’ve used Pluggable and StarTech dongles. They both work fine with Ubuntu without configuration. One of them is a Class 1 device, the other one Class 2. The Class 1 receiver has much better range and better connection stability. So the only useful thing I have to say is - look for a Class 1 receiver if you want the best range possible.

RedWeasel@lemmy.world on 10 Dec 2023 00:11 next collapse

Does your laptop have a replaceable wireless card by chance? Could get a combo board with wifi and bluetooth like the intel ax series of boards if you can. I use a m.2 ax200 in my desktop.

astrozoli@linux.community on 10 Dec 2023 04:55 next collapse

It’s a desktop and it’s too old to have m.2. However thanks for the suggestion, it’s something I’ll consider when I upgrade

RubberElectrons@lemmy.world on 10 Dec 2023 08:28 next collapse

I believe there are m.2 to pcie adapter boards. It’ll feel weird putting laptop components in a desktop, but the important thing will be that it works.

astrozoli@linux.community on 10 Dec 2023 18:26 collapse

You know what is weird selling desktop components which are laptop components with an adapter www.asus.com/…/pce-ax1800/

RedWeasel@lemmy.world on 10 Dec 2023 09:45 collapse

If your system has a free PCIe slot you should be able to find a wifi card that will work. I personally am using an intel wifi board for bluetooth and have not had any problems with bluetooth. Their driver seems to be really stable on linux and in kernel and should be stable on windows as well. I got my m.2 card for about $20(usd) and wouldn’t expect that big of a difference for a standard PCIe card.

Good luck in whatever you end up doing.

maiskanzler@feddit.de on 10 Dec 2023 07:21 collapse

I can really recommend those cards! They come in several sizes for laptop and desktop. I am not sure about USB. Just make sure you get the regular PCIe version and not the CNVio version (unless you have a compatible Intel Mainboard and somewhat recent processor). They differ in the naming, e.g. AX210/AX211 if I remember that right.

K_REY_C@beehaw.org on 10 Dec 2023 11:59 next collapse

No clue about Bluetooth 5.x, but your no hassle bet is always to start at ThinkPenguin. www.thinkpenguin.com/…/networking-gear-gnu-linux

thayer@lemmy.ca on 10 Dec 2023 16:09 collapse

It seems that BT 5.3 in USB format is a challenge to find, let alone support under Linux. If 5.0 is acceptable, the TP Link UB500 uses an RTL8761B chipset which has been supported since around kernel 5.16.

I have a few UB500 and UB400 adapters and both have worked OOTB without issue under Fedora.