Bluetooth Modes

Pre-requisites: Bluetooth, Different versions of Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a technology that almost every device is using in today’s world, it was the most popular and safe way of sharing data in the early times. Bluetooth uses a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks. Bluetooth holds a transmission limit of up to 2.5 milliwatts, the reason for its short-range transmission.

Bluetooth Modes

1. Discoverable Modes:

• Limited Discoverable: In this mode, the Bluetooth devices are discoverable only for a limited period or we can say for a specific event, or during temporary conditions. However, there is no host controller interface(HCI) command to set a device directly in this limited mode. Users can do it indirectly when a device is set to the limited discoverable mode, it filters out non-matched IACs and reveals itself only to the matched ones.
• Discoverable: as by the name we guess with this mode enabled, the devices are only visible to other Bluetooth-enabled Devices. in our daily life we all use this mode whenever we are pairing our listening devices or other output devices to our primary devices for example; pairing a mobile phone with earphones. If a device attempts to connect to another, the device attempting to connect must search for only devices that are in discoverable mode.
• Non-discoverable: this mode is useful when you don’t want any insecure or new devices. However, it remains visible to users and devices that you previously connected or paired with. 

2. Pairing Modes:

• Pairable Mode: with this mode enabled, a Bluetooth device will be accepting pairing requests and establish a connection with a device that requests or attempts to connect or pair. 
• Non-Pairable Mode: when this mode is enabled, any request for pairing or attempts to connect will be directly rejected by the device.

Advantages of Bluetooth

• As it comes in each small device and system, this makes it affordable.
• it is easy to use and configure.
• it does not require any type of wiring management as it’s wireless.
• it is energy efficient because it operates at a very low power.
• Users can create a own personal Area network.

Disadvantages of Bluetooth

• The major disadvantage of this network is that it is significantly slow if you are trying to share a large amount of data, as compared to other technologies like WIFI, LAN’s and Fibre optic cables.
• it only offers you to share and communicate in a short-range distance.