Can You Test a Device's Bluetooth Strength?

Are you experiencing Bluetooth dropouts? This seems to be an ongoing problem, and a Bluetooth test device or strategy may be the answer. “Bluetooth is the foundation for transformative wireless connectivity,” according to Bluetooth’s “How It Works” Page. There is no denying Bluetooth equipped devices are innovative and amazing.However, it can be very frustrating when you continually have issues with your device’s Bluetooth signal strength. This can be due to a number of problems. And there is a test device and other solutions you can easily employ to remedy them.Let’s examine why your Bluetooth strength may be weak, as well as potential fixes.

What is Your Device’s Bluetooth Strength?

It seems that nearly every smart device on the market is equipped with Bluetooth. From computers to smartphone earbuds, Bluetooth is nothing short of common. In fact, PCWorld noted that, “The technology ships in more than 19 million devices every week, according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a trade association dedicated to advancing Bluetooth technology.”Bluetooth strength is rated on a scale of 0 to -90 according to CNET:

• Good = 0 to -60
• OK = -61 to -70
• Poor = -71 to -90
• Bad = less than -90

Poor Bluetooth strength could be a device hardware or software issue. You can use a test device like a phone diagnostic tool to troubleshoot those internal issues.A weak signal can also be a number of outside factors, such as environmental conditions and your surroundings that is weakening your device’s signal as well.

Common Bluetooth Signal Strength and Connection Issues

Bluetooth uses radio frequencies (RFs), to send signals between devices. When wireless connection is blocked, your Bluetooth strength will weaken or drop out altogether.Common reasons for poor Bluetooth strength include:

• Wireless Devices and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi routers often use the same bandwidth as Bluetooth, causing signal issues. Other Bluetooth devices can also impede connection.

• Interfering Radio Frequencies. Interfering radio frequencies are unintentional RF radiators that interfere or block your Bluetooth signal. Power lines, electric railroad tracks, and even your microwave oven can cause Bluetooth issues.

• Actual Physical Barriers. There are a number of physical barriers that can cause your Bluetooth signal to drop out or become weak. Anything metal, like filing cabinets, refrigerators, or metal wall studs are at the top of the list. Plaster, concrete, marble, bricks, and bulletproof glass can also affect your Bluetooth strength.

• Bluetooth Channel Hopping. Bluetooth is smart, and if it picks up interference on one channel, it will hop to the next. However, during the change, your signal can be poor or dropout.

Improve Bluetooth Strength with These Solutions

First you will need to run a phone diagnostic check to ensure your device’s software and hardware is still compatible with Bluetooth. This will save you a lot of time, since a test device takes less than two minutes for a full comprehensive report.If your software and hardware checks out after a test device runs diagnostics, it's time to begin troubleshooting signal strength and possible outside factors.The following are a few troubleshooting measures you can employ after a test device diagnostic:

• Ensure Bluetooth enabled devices are not too close together.
• Switch your Wifi router to a different bandwidth.
• Try not using multiple Bluetooth devices at once.
• Devices may have reset causing security issues, so reinstall those devices.
• Check device batteries for charge, damage, and corrosion.
• Check transmitter sensors or antenna for damage or corrosion.
• Ensure there are no metal objects interfering with Bluetooth signal.
• Use a USB Bluetooth signal extender for computers.

You can certainly test your device’s Bluetooth strength. It is best practice to troubleshoot your devices in a time efficient way. Use a test device to run a full diagnostic test to ensure your device is operating perfectly. Next begin looking at outside factors that may be interfering with your signal.