Digi launches operating system-independent, serial-to-Bluetooth adapter

Minnetonka, MN—Digi International has launched its Wavespeed/S Wireless Serial Adapter, which uses Bluetooth technology to connect peripheral devices.

By Control Engineering Staff July 28, 2003

Minnetonka, MN— Digi International launched July 22 its Wavespeed/S Wireless Serial Adapter, which uses Bluetooth technology to connect peripheral devices simply and wirelessly. The company says its adapter is the first device suitable for mission-critical applications, such as industrial automation, retail/POS, catering and hospitality, healthcare and mobile environments. It offers instant EIA-232 serial cable replacement with a wireless alternative that increases user mobility.

Wavespeed/S enables wireless serial data transfer between peripheral devices and a host. For example, two Wavespeed/S adapters can be paired together to create a wireless link between a PC and a bar-code scanner, receipt printer, scale or other serial device. Alternatively, one unit can be used in server mode to communicate with a Bluetooth-enabled serial device such as a PDA, tablet PC or WAN radio.

In addition, Wavespeed/S offers secure and reliable wireless communication accompanied by useful features, including encryption, authentication and adjustable transmit range. The distance between peripheral device and host can be up to 328 feet (100 meters) for the Class 1 radio, or 32 feet (10 meters) with the Class 2 radio.

As an operating system-independent connectivity solution, Wavespeed/S can reportedly connect to any serial port with no changes in the host PC or application software. Its Windows-based configuration tool also makes it easy to set up.

‘We developed the Wavespeed/S as an easy-to-use wireless alternative to conventional cabled serial connections,’ says Stephen Popovich, Digi’s COO and corporate VP of Inside Out Networks, which is Digi’s subsidiary that manufactures the product. ‘As well as allowing the convenience of mobile use of serial peripheral devices, eliminating cables offers substantial time and money savings in a wide range of applications.’

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com