Bluetooth Comparison Guide for Wireless Devices

PASCO Wireless Sensors now employ Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2!

Most of our wireless sensors have been upgraded to use BLE 5.2 protocol, featuring improved connectivity elements like:

• quicker device pairing
• higher data transfer rates
• extended range
• enhanced energy efficiency

Bluetooth Characteristics

		Classic 2.X	BLE 5.X
Connector/Charging Port Type: * * If there is no connector port, then the device is BLE.		Mini USB-B	Micro USB-B
Pairing Through:		First Device Manager, then PASCO Software	PASCO Software only

PASCO Wireless Device	Part #	Classic 2.X	BLE 5.X
550 Universal Interface	UI-5001	✓
AirLink 2 Interface [discontinued]	PS-2010	✓
SPARKlink Air Interface	PS-2011	✓
AirLink Wireless Interface	PS-3200		✓
SPARK LXi2 Datalogger	PS-3600B		✓
Wireless Spectrometer (Vis) [discontinued]	PS-2600	✓
Wireless Spectrometer (Vis) [NEW]	PS-2600A		✓*
Polarimeter [discontinued]	PS-2235	✓
Wireless Polarimeter [NEW]	PS-3237		✓
//code.Node	PS-3231		✓
//control.Node	PS-3232		✓
Smart Cart [Red/Blue]	ME-1240 ME-1241		✓

* The new Wireless Spectrometer uses BLE 5.X protocol, but it has a Mini USB-B connection.

To check a product’s Bluetooth protocol, visit its product page and view Connectivity under the Specifications tab. PASCO products featuring BLE connectivity are cross-platform compatible, allowing them to connect to any current model Chromebook, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android tablet or phone running our software or app. Additionally, any Windows 10 device with Creators Edition 1703 or later will also facilitate direct connection.

Older devices, like the Wireless Spectrometer (PS-2600), use BT Classic protocol, so they must be paired through your computer’s bluetooth device manager prior to pairing within PASCO software. Newer devices like the Wireless Spectrometer (PS-2600A) use either a BLE 4.X or 5.X protocol, so they pair directly through PASCO software.

All other Windows computers/tablets, older Macs, and Chromebooks without updated sensor firmware currently require the PS‑3500 USB Bluetooth Adapter to connect to any PASCO BLE device. See the chart below for PASCO's wireless product compatibility by platform. More detailed information can be found below the chart.

USB Bluetooth Adapter (PS-3500)

The adapter allows Chromebooks, Windows computers and older Macs to connect up to three devices that use Bluetooth 4.0 or later, such as wireless sensors, Smart Carts, or the AirLink interface.

* Determining Mac BLE Compatibility

The best way to determine whether your Mac device supports Bluetooth 4.X or later is to check your hardware directly using the following instructions:

1. Select Apple menu
2. Select "About this Mac"
3. Select "System Report"
4. On the left hand menu, expand "Hardware" and select "Bluetooth"
5. If LMP version is "0x6", the device is capable for Bluetooth 4.X and later
6. If LMP version is "0x4", your device will require our PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4.0 adapter

The only exception we are aware of is for devices with LMP version "0x4" that have been upgraded to the El Capitan version of Mac OS X (10.11.X). If this is the case please contact PASCO Technical Support for further instructions.

** Wireless Sensors and Windows 10

To use Wireless Sensors directly with Windows devices (without the USB Bluetooth Adapter) three conditions must be met:

1. A device running Windows 10 Creators Edition 1703 or later (Check or update your Windows version)
2. A device with Bluetooth version 4.0 or higher (Check your Bluetooth Version)
3. SPARKvue 3.0 or later or PASCO Capstone 1.10 or later must be installed

*** Wireless Sensors and Chromebooks

Wireless Sensors can now be connected directly to Chromebooks. But users MUST have the latest firmware updates for ALL wireless sensors in order to use them without the USB Bluetooth Adapter. Already using USB Bluetooth Adapters? Read the important information below.

New Users:

If you have purchased PASCO Wireless Sensors after October 1, 2018, you can simply pair them directly to your Chromebook using Bluetooth and perform your activity or experiment. You will not ever need to use a USB Bluetooth Adapter (PS-3500).

Existing Users:

If you have already been using our USB Bluetooth Adapter (PS-3500) with your Chromebooks and Wireless Sensors, you can stop using the USB adapter after you update the firmware of ALL* of the Wireless Sensors. We know that it can be difficult to manage all the devices at your school. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you keep the adapters in your Chromebooks for the remainder of the year and update ALL sensor firmware when you are prompted throughout the year.

At the end of the school year, verify that ALL of your Wireless Sensors have the latest firmware updates. If they do, then for the next school year you can simply connect the Wireless Sensors directly to your Chromebooks without the USB Bluetooth Adapters.

Steps to using Wireless Sensors and Chromebooks without the USB Bluetooth Adapter

To move away from the use of the adapter immediately you will need to take the following actions:

1. Gather ALL the Wireless Sensors that you have.
2. Connect the USB Bluetooth adapter(s) to your Chromebooks(s).
3. Open the SPARKvue app (version 3.2 or later).
4. One by one, connect each sensor via USB or pair via Bluetooth. If you get a dialog box stating that a Firmware update is available for the sensor, click to update the firmware. Firmware updates will happen faster via USB if available.
5. Once ALL sensors are confirmed to be updated, the USB Bluetooth Adapter is no longer needed.

Additional Resources

If you have additional questions regarding our equipment or software, contact PASCO Technical Support. We're here to help.