Do Bluetooth range extenders exist?

[p0ke]

So I'm experiencing a little first world problem I'd like to solve.

My phone connects to my smart band using bluetooth. I always leave my phone downstairs to charge overnight, and sometimes it stays connected, sometimes it doesn't. I get notifications on the band, so that's why I'd prefer for it to stay connected over night.
My wife's also been saying her band stays connected when she's in the shower in the basement, but sometimes it disconnects when the phone is in the living room and she's in the kitchen.

The chimney in the middle of the house is what blocks the signal - I've even built our mesh network around it.

So I figured I'd just buy some range extenders that I'd place strategically around the house, but I haven't found any! So does anyone know if such things exist?

 

[odibrom]

... why don't you charge your phone upstairs instead...?

 

[Nicki]

No. Bluetooth was made for short range, low power applications where two connected devices are in close proximity to one another.

 

[p0ke]

... why don't you charge your phone upstairs instead...?

I've slept exponentially better since I started leaving my phone downstairs, so that's why. I could of course charge it in the hallway upstairs, that would probably have the same effect as long as it stays out of the bedroom. I'd just have to install a power outlet, since there aren't any in that room currently.

But the problem still remains for the other cases, I'd just prefer the signal to be stronger all over the house.

No. Bluetooth was made for short range, low power applications where two connected devices are in close proximity to one another.

Yeah, it was designed for such applications, but you'd think it'd be possible to boost the signals anyway? There's all kinds of boosters/range extenders/etc for everything available on eBay, so I'm kinda surprised there isn't anything for bluetooth (apart from stuff for audio).

 

[odibrom]

Regarding the sleep against mobile devices, I turn off wifi, bluetooth and mobile data, only calls and SMS are "allowed" because I use my phone as an alarm clock... doesn't bothers me much this way.

 

[Lemonbaby]

BLE supports a mesh mode where you could connect a big number of devices all over the house in one local network. All the programming needs to be done by you, of course.

 

[p0ke]

BLE supports a mesh mode where you could connect a big number of devices all over the house in one local network. All the programming needs to be done by you, of course.

Yeah, might be a bit of overkill for such a small thing It would be really convenient to be able to control exactly which device's signals get repeated though...

Regarding the sleep against mobile devices, I turn off wifi, bluetooth and mobile data, only calls and SMS are "allowed" because I use my phone as an alarm clock... doesn't bothers me much this way.

Yeah, the thing is, I "need" certain notifications. No-one ever calls me and I haven't received SMS in like, years? so that same setup wouldn't work for me. My smart band does exactly what I need, I just gotta get it in range.

 

[odibrom]

(...)


Yeah, the thing is, I "need" certain notifications. No-one ever calls me and I haven't received SMS in like, years? so that same setup wouldn't work for me. My smart band does exactly what I need, I just gotta get it in range.

I understand you perfectly, was just sharing my experience. Regarding SMS messages, I still receive those but from specific institutions, like from my Bank or from my internet service provider, rarely from people.

I don't think I can help you any further, if I were in your shoes, I think I'd find a way to charge the phone upstairs somehow, but I'm sure you'll find your way. Good luck!

 

[p0ke]

I understand you perfectly, was just sharing my experience. Regarding SMS messages, I still receive those but from specific institutions, like from my Bank or from my internet service provider, rarely from people.

I don't think I can help you any further, if I were in your shoes, I think I'd find a way to charge the phone upstairs somehow, but I'm sure you'll find your way. Good luck!

Yeah, it's a matter of deciding where to put it at this point, really. I actually have the perfect place for it in the upstairs hallway, I just need to install an outlet there. I guess I'll be able to split that from the upstairs toilet though, it's even grounded unlike most of the rest of the house
Not much to do about the other cases where the signal also isn't strong enough though, but I guess my wife will just have to live with it. I always carry my phone in my pocket except when I'm going to bed, so no problem for me.

 

[Nicki]

Maybe this is of some help?

https://www.audioreputation.com/bluetooth-range-extenders/

 

[p0ke]

Maybe this is of some help?

https://www.audioreputation.com/bluetooth-range-extenders/

I think I read that page already - those seem to be for audio transmission only, unfortunately. I haven't found any that just amplify/extend general bluetooth signals.

Now that I've thought about it a bit more, I realised there might not be range extenders because it would confuse devices? Since bluetooth connections are always direct device to device connections and if something grabs the signal and re-transmits it, it would mean that a device could receive the same "message" twice.

Mesh mode would be cool, but I don't think my smart band would support it anyway. Maybe I'll just buy a proper smart watch that could also connect using WiFi