Bluetooth 1.2 vs 2.0

Bluetooth 2.0 is the version that is being used by most Bluetooth devices today. This is because of the significant advantage that it offers compared to the older version 1.2, speed. Bluetooth 1.2 is limited to 1mbps with actual data rates of just over 700kbps while Bluetooth 2.0 is able to achieve 3mbps with practical data rates of around 2.1mbps. Faster data speeds enable devices to transfer files or data quickly, something that most users can’t get enough of.

In order to achieve three times the data rate of the older version 1.2, Bluetooth 2.0 uses additional modulation schemes. Where version 1.2 uses GFSK (Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying) that is able to encode a single bit per symbol, 2.0 adds 8DPSK (Eight Phase Differential Phase Shift Keying) that is capable of encoding three bits per symbol. Even though 8DPSK is much faster, Bluetooth 2.0 still retains GFSK to maintain backwards compatibility with older Bluetooth devices that use it.

For most devices that use Bluetooth like hands-free or stereo headsets, the 700+kbps is more than enough to maintain regular operation. The most obvious advantage of Bluetooth 2.0 is the ability to have more connections running at the same time as the greater bandwidth is able to support it. But aside from being capable of supporting more devices operating concurrently, there are also other advantages to using Bluetooth 2.0. The first advantage is in error recovery as the greater bandwidth gives the devices more chances of resending lost or distorted packets before any degradation is noticed by the user.

Bluetooth 2.0 devices also consume a smaller amount of power compared to older devices. This seems to be incorrect as the equipment needed to transmit or receive at faster rates eats up more power. The power savings come from the fact that in transmitting the same amount of data, the equipment would only be active for a third of the time that it would take for older devices.

Summary:
1. Bluetooth 2.0 is three times faster than version 1.2
2. Bluetooth 2.0 uses an additional modulation scheme that is not used by version 1.2
3. Bluetooth 2.0 is backwards compatible with 1.2 devices
4. You can have more connections running concurrently with Bluetooth 2.0 than with 1.2
5. Bluetooth 2.0 is more capable of recovering from errors than version 1.2
6. Bluetooth 2.0 devices consumes less power compared to version 1.2 devices

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