I have a Late 2013 27" iMac. I’m looking for recommendations for a device that would extend the range of the iMac’s Bluetooth connectivity.
It is running the latest macOS it’s able to, which is 10.15.7 (Catalina). I’m using it as a media server, and it connects easily over WiFi to an Apple TV and a MacBook Pro. It also connects reliably over Bluetooth to a portable speaker I use in relative proximity to the iMac. However, I have Bluetooth speakers on my patio which seem to be just out of range of the iMac. If I move it one room over (closer to the patio), it works fine, but there’s no space for it there (as well as that being my wife’s quilting room–visible technology gadgets are verboten).
I tried the Avantree DG80, but I think technically that’s just an additional Bluetooth-out point. It claims to have extended range, but didn’t work for me. From a little bit of research, I’m wondering if a product like the ASUS USB-BT500 would be better, since (from what I can gather), it would replace the Bluetooth function in the iMac altogether, and give it the enhanced capabilities of Bluetooth 5.0.
So just in case this got missed by someone who has experience with Bluetooth range extenders, I thought I’d give it one bump. Really appreciate any input!
I’m no expert here (so please assume there are significant misunderstandings below).
I’d guess that the range you can achieve via Bluetooth depends on the obstacles between the iMac and the patio speaker, and the power of the radio equipment at both ends.
I say both ends, because although it might seem that the communication goes only in one direction, from iMac to speaker, I think that Bluetooth will (always?) require bi-directional communication. Eg when the iMac is asked to show a list of available devices, it’ll need to hear radio comms from the speaker. And I’d expect that the iMac would need to hear acknowledgements of audio transmissions, etc.
I understand that the power of the radio in Wi-Fi devices (which can use the same radio frequency as Bluetooth) is limited to a certain maximum via regulation. I think Bluetooth will be similar - Wikipedia on “Bluetooth classes and power use” has a table of four different radio classes, with a different maximum permitted power for each. I don’t see mention of radio class on the Amazon page for the ASUS USB-BT500, so I don’t immediately know how to be sure the device would actually allow higher power transmissions than the Bluetooth system built in to your iMac. And bear in mind that increasing the power at the iMac end may only be half the problem - the power at the speaker end wouldn’t be increased.
Another idea… could you perhaps use your Avantree DG80 device, but connect it to the iMac via a USB extension cable, and put the DG80 nearer to the speaker? (Perhaps stick it on a wall? Or can you get it out a window?) I think that radio power here follows the inverse-square law, so reducing the distance might have a larger effect than you expect.
Or is it possible to set up a wired system instead? More hassle to install, but simpler and more reliable than wireless.
I thought about that, but then I thought this Bluetooth range extender device that I imagined existed (which I’m starting to fear is somewhat mythical) would install on one end, and both increase the transmission and reception capabilities of that device. So one wouldn’t need to boost both ends.
Really good point that I hadn’t considered. So any range extension might have to be accomplished by improving the antenna (I’ll check out the article you linked).
I hadn’t considered that. I’d have to look into the suitability of using the Homepods in a wet environment, since it’s not an enclosed patio. But there may be other outdoor speakers that can use WiFi.
I wouldn’t leave them outdoors in the rain, but you could just bring it outdoors when you want to use it and bring it indoors when you’re done. As a Wi-Fi device, you only need to deal with a power cord, which shouldn’t be a big deal.
