List of NXT Compatible Bluetooth Dongles

I originally posted this list to the NXT Step, but I’m posting here to make it easier to find. Updates will be posted to this page on Robot Square only.

This page is a list of Bluetooth Dongles that are confirmed to be compatible with the NXT. Contributions were made to NXT owners from around the world, so keep in mind that this is not an official list. There may be many more compatible Bluetooth sticks, of course, but this is just a suggested list. If you have a different Bluetooth stick that works, add it to this list.

External Bluetooth Dongles

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
ABE Bluetooth Dongle
2. Price:
$40 (US) – 32 Euro (Europe)
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
5. Notes:
This dongle is officially supported by LEGO, but quite expensive.
———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Super Mini Bluetooth 2.0 Adapter Dongle
2. Price:
$1.80
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows 7
———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
MSI BToes 2.0 (3X Faster)
2. Price:
Approx £15 (In Europe)
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows XP, Windows Vista

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Cellink BTA-3100
2. Price:
10 euros
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows XP, 7
5. Notes:
Uses Microsoft BT stack, works well

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
D-Link DBT-122
2. Price:
$20
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows Vista Home Premium

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Not specified
2. Price:
$15
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Esense D600
2. Price:
430 NTD
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Ubuntu
———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Anycom Mini USB-500
2. Price:
Approx £15 (In Europe)
3. Where to get
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows XP, Windows Vista,Windows 7, Linux
———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Speedlink VIAS nano Bluetooth adapter
2. Price:
14,99€ (Germany)
3. Where to get: Saturn (Germany)
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Linux 2.6.35 (tested on Ubuntu 10.10) 64bit, Windows 7 64bit
———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Rocketfish Bluetooth 2.1 EDR USB Adapter
2. Price:
$26.99
3. Where to get: Best Buy
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Ubunutu (10.04)
5. Notes (if applicable):
Tested with python-nxt and ROS nxt. Follow this to get it working
———

Internal Bluetooth

Some laptops and computers have built-in Bluetooth connectivity. Often, this does not work well, or not at all! If this is the case, try to disable the built-in Bluetooth and use one of the external dongles as listed above. However, some users have confirmed that their internal Bluetooth did work. Those instances are listed below.

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Dell Inspiron 1545 built-in BT module 365
2. Price:
n/a
3. Where to get:
Dell.com
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Win XP, 7, Ubuntu

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Mini Card (integrated)
2. Price:
35 €
3. Where to get:
Dell.com
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows XP, Vista, 7

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth 2.0 Wireless Technology
2. Price:
N/A
3. Where to get:
In a HP laptop
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Win XP
5. Notes:
Only tested with BricxCC

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Integrated MacBook Pro
2. Price:
N/A
3. Where to get:
Apple
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Ubuntu and Mac OSX Snow Leopard
5. Notes:
Only tested with nbc/nxc.

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle
Built in of iMac
2.Price:
N/A
3. Where to get:
Apple Store
4. Confirmed compatible operating system.
Mac OS X Versin 10.6.8

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
ASUS N71J built-in
2. Price:
n/a
3. Where to get:
ASUS
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Ubuntu (only tested with leJOS so far)

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 from Toshiba in a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo XI 3650 Laptop
2. Price:
N/A
3. Where to get:
Fujitsu Siemens
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows Vista
5. Notes:
Is capable to switch between 32 devices (monster chess)

———

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
Broadcom BCM2070 Bluetooth 3.0 + HS USB Device
2. Price:
N/A
3. Where to get:
Built-in Samsung RF711 laptop
4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
Windows 7
5. Notes (if applicable):
Tested with NXT-G and BricxCC

———

Contribute to this list

If you find out that one of these does not work, let me know, and I’ll remove it from here. To add a confirmed compatible Bluetooth Dongle to this list, leave a comment with the following set up:

1. Brand/Name of Dongle:

2. Price:

3. Where to get:

4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:

5. Notes (if applicable):

23 Responses
  1. Eric Steenstra

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
    build in Bluetooth 2.1 from Toshiba in a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo XI 3650 Laptop
    2. Price:
    N/A
    3. Where to get:
    Fujitsu Siemens
    4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
    Windows Vista
    5. Notes (if applicable):
    Is capable to switch between 32 devices (monster chess)

  2. Riley Johnson

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle
    Built in bluetooth of computer
    2.Price:
    N/A
    3. Where to get:
    Where ever you bought your computer
    4. Confirmed compatible operating system.
    anything
    5. Notes (if applicable):
    Comes with any laptop that says it comes with it.

    1. Riley Johnson

      oops didn’t read a little bit of main post
      let me try again:
      1. Brand/Name of Dongle
      Built in of iMac
      2.Price:
      N/A
      3. Where to get:
      Apple Store
      4. Confirmed compatible operating system.
      Mac OS X Versin 10.6.8

  3. Bert Lindeman

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
    Broadcom BCM2070 Bluetooth 3.0 + HS USB Device
    2. Price:
    N/A
    3. Where to get:
    Builtin in Samsung RF711 laptop
    4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
    Win7
    5. Notes (if applicable):
    Works on NXT-G and BricxCC, did not use Lejos yet.

    Splendid list, Laurens

  4. Tamara

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle: MSI Btoes 2.1 Bluetooth Micro Dongle

    2. Price: CAD 10

    3. Where to get:

    4. Confirmed compatible operating systems: Windows XP

    5. Notes (if applicable): After pairing, right click the NXT icon on the BlueSoleil application that comes with the dongle and choose “Connect Bluetooth Serial Port”

  5. Rob

    This is such a joke – the brick should work straight up with standard Bluetooth. It’s only Blutooth, not rocket science. I have had all the trouble and all the bizarre behaviour in the world with this. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t; system says a com port is assigned to the NXT but no connection; works on XP not on win7, etc.
    Lego should do themselves a favour and make this work on the Bluetooth of most laptops. How come some Macs work well?

  6. NeXT-Generation

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
    Microsoft BlueTooth 4.0 integrated adapter.
    2. Price:
    N/A
    3. Where to get
    In a HP Pavilion G6-1D46DX LapTop.
    4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
    Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit, Windows 8 64-bit.
    5. Notes:
    This laptop is normally available for ~$400, but has been on sale for as little as $200. Works with RobotC, NXT-G, and BricxCC.

  7. Yoda

    This one definitely doesn’t work so far: (have tried a million and one things and it still doesn’t work -see Notes)

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
    ASUS USB-BT211 Mini Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
    2. Price:
    Forgot (got it a while ago) -but somewhere around $10-$15.
    3. Where to get
    http://usa.asus.com/Networks/Accessories/USBBT211_Mini_Bluetooth_Dongle/
    4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
    Microsoft Windows XP (32/64), Microsoft Windows Vista (32/64), Microsoft Windows 7 (x64/x86)
    5. Notes:
    Don’t think it is compatible with Mindstorms??? Software (NXT-G) can’t find NXT using it. When I go into the “Bluetooth Suite” (the program that came with it), it CAN see the NXT. But the NXT-G doesn’t seem to want to find it.

    Any help would most definitely be appreciated!

    1. Yoda

      I think it doesn’t work because it doesn’t use a CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio) chipset. All of the ones that I have seen work have had a CSR chipset, so I think that that is the problem. Will keep you posted on what I find out!

      1. It is recommended to use one with a CSR chipset. This is what I got a while ago from a LEGO employee who works on MINDSTORMS software: “Most Dongles with the CSR Bluetooth radio and Widcomm or Microsoft drivers. (If the operating system has other OEM, like Toshiba, Bluetooth drivers installed, they have to be removed). “

  8. Rob Buttrose

    1. Intex mini-bluetooth dongle Chinese
    2. 500-700 Serbian dinara about US$5-7
    3. Belgrade Serbia but I am sure readily available elsewhere in Europe
    4. Windows 7
    5. Worked in RobotC once Windows picked up NXT (which was a real hassle for some reason). Dongle uses CSR chipset.

  9. Jamie

    Has anyone managed to use the Bluetooth on an iPad/iPhone or Android phone to control their NXT robot? If so what software/app have they used?

  10. LegomindstormsEV3geek

    My project is I couldn’t get the right Bluetooth but I’m going to try
    To connect a wireless wii nunchuk to the Dexter Industuries NXTChuck Adapter and maybe
    Get a wireless remote

  11. Legolomaniac

    1. Brand/Name of Dongle:
    Kinivo BTD-400 Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter
    2. Price:
    UKP9.79
    3. Where to get:
    Amazon
    4. Confirmed compatible operating systems:
    Vista
    5. Notes (if applicable):
    Worked straight away using microsoft update, didn’t use supplied drivers.

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