Just a quick one: I have a lovely new PC but I am using all its USB ports. My question is simple: can I use a Bluetooth mouse and at the same time listen to music from my PC to a Bluetooth speaker? I’ve seen conflicting reports on my web searches.
ATM – Bluetooth music and Bluetooth mouse
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I think so
I’m no expert, but I can’t for the life of me think why not?
I use my Ticwatch and Sony Headphones which are connected via Bluetooth at the same time, so I can’t see a problem. But there are exceptions.
The data rate of a mouse is miniscule (1Mbps, or USB 1.0 in old money), so I can’t see why not.
Beyond the usual BT “quirks” (deciding not to pair, etc).
If you have a spare PCI slot, USB hub cards with 4 or 5 USB ports are pretty cheap.
BT Quirks… sounds like someone who was on the Stiff roster in about 1980.
PCI Slot had a BT Quirks-produced 12″ mini-album on Charly.
I do, also a Bluetooth keyboard.
If you are using a USB port for your keyboard, get a powered USB hub, unplug your keyboard, plug the hub into the free USB port and plug both keyboard and mouse into the hub, thus leaving your Bluetooth for just the speaker. A 4-way USB3 hub will cost about £16 and give you a couple of extra connections for later.
When I buy a PC (a laptop, these days) I go for one with plenty of USB ports, having been caught out in the past.
Is the right answer. I have a 10 port powered one which works a treat.
So do I, or similar, but the fact remains that Bluetooth will cope with mouse and speaker as per the OP (and keyboard if you have one).
I would say it’s ‘a’ right answer. If you really only expect to use the ports for keyboard and mouse, there’s really no need to have a powered hub (which obviously needs another spare mains socket). An unpowered one like this:
will be fine. Of course, if the thing you’re plugging in has it’s own supply, a powered hub is not required at all.
Depending on which devices you are using, though.
Mice and keyboards are (were) USB 1.0 devices and designed to draw no more than 0.1A from the USB 2.0 host port (which can supply up to 0.5A). But add a USB 2.0 memory stick into the third port and you could be in trouble. You could get a 1-in 2-out hub just for keyboard and mouse, of course.
PS the image above shows a USB 3.0 hub (blue plastic bits in the connector). If connected to a USB 2.0 (black plastic) host port it will still only be USB 2.0.
USB 3.0 (blue) host ports can supply more power, (without checking) I think it is 1.5A
Portmanteau response to the above:
I’m trying to get away from adding stuff, not introduce more stuff.
That USB port (and most of the ones I have seen) is really fugly. No thank you 🙂
One of these would do mouse & keyboard and can easily be tucked out of sight. I’ve also seen keyboards with USB hubs built in.
Nice try thank you, but if you look very closely you’ll see a wire there 😉
…but, to be fair, your OP suggested you were looking for a solution having run out of USB sockets. You didn’t say you were exclusively looking for a wireless solution!
Cheers folks. The online gonk at Currys said no, and I know that BT is normally a 1 to 1 connection, but I thought you lot would know better.
Better not mention macs then, where they don’t have any. Well, no normal sized ones, anyway.
They’re also divas when it comes to which devices they’ll pair with. Logitech keyboard, oui, JBL Charge speaker, non. Own-brand keyboard – coquettishly, accepting some keys but not others.
*hurls another dart into Tim Cook picture taped to door*
That’ll be the keys giving up the ghost. I’ve given up buying Apple keyboards. I’m a Satochi boy now.
My MBP connects happily to everything Bluetooth and stays connected. BUT: Airdrop a pic to it from my phone? Not a chance.
Satechi.
Bless you!
Hankie next time, please.
Satechmo, in the plural, with a silent e