Have you ever bought a monitor or audio device and wished later on that it came with Bluetooth connectivity? Perhaps you got a pair of Bluetooth headphones and wished you could use them with all your devices. Thankfully, you can, by using Bluetooth transmitters and receivers. These allow you to add Bluetooth functionality to non-Bluetooth devices without modifying the hardware.
How Bluetooth Transmitters & Receivers Work
To add Bluetooth functionality to non-Bluetooth devices, you’ll need:
- Bluetooth transmitters and receivers
- Non-Bluetooth device should have at least one of these: USB port, auxiliary port (AUX), or a 3.5 mm audio socket (female).
You’ll also need to understand the two distinct modes in which Bluetooth engages with non-Bluetooth devices.
1. Transmitter mode (Tx): the audio of a non-Bluetooth source device is transmitted for real-time playback on a Bluetooth device.
The transmitter mode allows you to play music from a TV, PC, home entertainment system, or in-flight entertainment system on a modern Bluetooth headset or speaker. For Tx to work, your Bluetooth device should have at least one AUX port. The non-Bluetooth device must have its own 3.5 mm audio socket, or a USB port in the case of a laptop/PC.
Receiving an audio signal wirelessly on a non-Bluetooth device requires a different communication format. This is where you convert a non-smart device to a smart one.
2. Receiver mode (Rx): the audio of a Bluetooth source is received on a non-Bluetooth target device.
The receiver mode allows you to play music from your smartphone, iPod, tablet, and laptop on a TV, older laptop or PC, sound system, car stereo, or home speaker.
Next, you’d need the actual Bluetooth transmitter and receiver or Bluetooth adapter. Get a Bluetooth transmitter that can plug in to your audio output. These are special devices that plug in to a 3.5 mm audio/AUX interface, listen to what’s coming down the line, then broadcast it using a Bluetooth chip inside. Because it handles all the Bluetooth connectivity, you can turn any non-Bluetooth device into a Bluetooth-enabled one.
If you do a cursory search for Bluetooth transmitters, you’ll also find receivers mixed in with the results. Most Bluetooth adapter devices contain both the transmitter and receiver.
Tip: learn what to do when Bluetooth will not connect to the end device.
How to Add Bluetooth to Non-Bluetooth Devices
Bluetooth is added in the following ways to various non-Bluetooth devices.
1. Add Bluetooth to a Laptop or Desktop
If you have an older laptop model or PC that doesn’t have Bluetooth, you can make it Bluetooth-ready using a USB Bluetooth Adapter for PC.
When you insert a dongle into a USB port on your computer, it will install the Bluetooth drivers in the background. This allows you to connect it in Rx mode with Bluetooth headsets, mice, keyboards, and smartphones/tablets.
There are many USB Bluetooth adapters to choose from. Truth be told, they’re really a dime a dozen. If you want one with maximum backward compatibility, check out this nano-sized plug-and-play device by TP-Link, which is compatible with Windows 7 computers and later.
Tip: learn how to set up and manage Bluetooth devices in Windows.
2. Add Bluetooth to Your TV
To add Bluetooth to a TV that doesn’t support it natively, use a two-in-one transmitter and receiver adapter.
In Tx mode, the adapter connects to the auxiliary port of a Bluetooth device and the 3.5 mm sound port of the TV. You can also use it in Rx mode with your smartphone or tablet. When the connection is established, you will receive a Bluetooth pairing request and must complete it using your TV remote.
One drawback of Bluetooth adapters is that these little gadgets don’t tend to have screens, which makes pairing your audio devices with them quite unintuitive. They tend to communicate via flashing lights to let you know when they’re charging, pairing, paired, or low on battery.
As such, it’s a good idea to keep the devices in sight to learn what they’re trying to tell you.
FYI: follow this guide to learn how to set up Bluetooth on Linux.
3. Add Bluetooth to an iPod or Smartphone
If you still own an iPod Classic or a much older smartphone, it may not have any Bluetooth features. To add Bluetooth to older iPod models, use a music streaming adapter, such as SYN2837A by Motorola. This has to be connected to an iPod Classic USB port and operates in Rx mode to control the iPod remotely.
Most Android devices from version 4.4 onwards are already Bluetooth-compatible, so you don’t need an adapter in most cases. Old smartphone users can use a 3.5 mm AUX stereo device. It can go inside a dual transmitter-receiver adapter, such as this model by UGreen, in Rx mode.
4. Make Your Earbuds or Headphones Bluetooth Compatible
If you have an older set of earbuds or headphones, they are equipped with a 3.5 mm connector cable. To interface them, you need a Tx device with AUX port, such as this model by Avantree Relay. It’s a Bluetooth 5.3 adapter that works with almost all in-ear devices, including airline headphones and AirPods.
To ensure you’re able to use earbuds or headphones for a long time, choose an adapter with a long battery life.
5. Make Speakers Bluetooth Compatible
While Bluetooth speakers are the norm today, older multimedia speakers may require an intermediary device to be Bluetooth compatible. This model by Golvery allows up to 20 hours of playtime. The connection happens in Rx mode using the speaker’s 3.5 mm audio ports. All you need is a modern tablet or smartphone, and you’re good to connect.
As detailed above, with a Bluetooth transmitter, you can turn any audio output into a wireless connection. Moreover, you can even send signals to a receiver if you want to ditch the cables.
You may have wondered what Bluetooth is and how it works. We have covered the basics. You may also want to learn about the Bluetooth metered connection error on Windows devices.
Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
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