Bluetooth adapters and connecting to them.

[Kilroy]

I initially bought the cheapest Bluetooth adapter on Ebay I could find. It looked like this:This adapter soon started to have problems connecting to my Android phone or tablet, and would only connect one out of ten time. So, I went and bought a new Bluetooth adapter off of Ebay that looks like this: and now my tablet and phone connect instantly. However, my iPhone 4s NEVER connected to either of them. It never even found them when searching for Bluetooth devices. So, my two questions are this: why won't the iPhone connect to these Bluetooth adapters, and will leaving them plugged in all the time be bad for them? (I am wondering if this is why my first adapter doesn't want to work properly anymore)?

[WolvesSoulZ]

I honestly had this cheap ELM327 Bluetooth thing(Not like the one you pictured, but a bigger one) and left it plugged in ALL the time since two years now. It still works, so I see no issues in leaving them plugged in always.

[CyxRyan]

Im pretty sure it doesnt work with iOS (iphone), only Android phones. I just bought a $25 OBD and torque app and I think I saw it says it doesn't work with iOS.

[Kilroy]

I understand Torque is an android app, but the OBDII device is Bluetooth. I just don't understand why an iPhone can't even see it? Isn't Bluetooth always Bluetooth?

[coolone]

Because Steve Jobs didn't want it to connect to the iAnything... That's why!

iPhone, pad, etc, all sux... Just sayin!

[Kilroy]

I understand Torque is an android app, but the OBDII device is Bluetooth. I just don't understand why an iPhone can't even see it? Isn't Bluetooth always Bluetooth?

Wow, such an insiteful and totally useless post. On a scale of one to ten on how it applies to this post, I'd give it a negative ten!

[Kilroy]

So, anyone out there techie enough to ACTUALLY know why an iPhone won't connect to or even "find" these Bluetooth OBDII devices?

[TLSheff]

So... before I get all techie... on post # 6 you do realize you flamed yourself right??? You quoted your own posting #4 "I understand Torque is an android app, but the OBDII device is Bluetooth. I just don't understand why an iPhone can't even see it? Isn't Bluetooth always Bluetooth?" and then made a mockery of it all as a useless post!!! If you don't like what you have to say, maybe you shouldn't say anything at all... just sayin.

Now onto the techie'ness. After a brief talk with Google I have arrived at the conclusion, you don't know what you are doing. It's been 4 days and I took 5 minutes with Google to find the reason why. A little searching would have shown you why.

Its not so much that the bluetooth is bluetooth has problems connecting. You must use a Module that has Bluetooth w/ wifi to get the Iwhatevers to connect to it. Apple uses a proprietary Bluetooth stack meaning that the creator of Torque would have to pay Apple a fee to use their stack instead of an industy standard one for the Droids, etc. What you have to do is get one of the higher quality modules that use Bluetooth w/ wifi and connect to the wifi aspect of it with your Iwhatever. According to Google you have to do these steps with the Bluetooth w/ wifi adapters

Connect the Bluetooth Module w/ wifi to your car.

1. On your iOS device, in the Settings, chose to connect to a Wi-Fi network. My module is called “CLKDevices” but your mileage may vary. It should be relatively easy to find out which one it is unless you’re in a very Wi-Fi heavy area, in which case you can just drive a bit down the road and see what name hasn’t disappeared.
2. Once connected to that Wi-Fi network, click the small blue arrow to go to the advanced settings for it. Set the IP Address to Static. Configure the IP address to 192.168.0.123 and the Subnet Mask to 255.255.255.0. Then, go back and exit the settings. Other guides/videos might tell you to configure an IP as a “router”. That is not only useless but annoying as it would mean your iPhone would attempt to join the Internet through your module and any data would not come through as it’s connected to your car. Don’t set a router.
3. Start your car. The OBD-II port was providing power to the module but in some cases you will not be able to retrieve any data from it if the car is not started.
4. In your App, configure the connection to use a custom TCP connection with IP 192.168.0.10 and TCP Port 35000.
5. Enjoy reading all this information on your car better and cheaper than by using the crappy scanners they sell in stores.

So as you can see, the cheap adapter you have will not work with any Apple products. Apple has become the new Microsoft and only its products are allowed to work with its products, You have to use its own software, Torque doesn't exist in the world of Apple so stick with the Android tablet and do it the right way. Use the Iphone as it should be used, a cheap imitation brick/paperweight.

Hope this sheds some light on the subject.

[z3r0]

There is a Bluetooth adapter and app for ios.

The dongle costs $150 and the app costs around $100

That said Android is an open platform.

[Kilroy]

So... before I get all techie... on post # 6 you do realize you flamed yourself right??? You quoted your own posting #4 "I understand Torque is an android app, but the OBDII device is Bluetooth. I just don't understand why an iPhone can't even see it? Isn't Bluetooth always Bluetooth?" and then made a mockery of it all as a useless post!!! If you don't like what you have to say, maybe you shouldn't say anything at all... just sayin.

Hope this sheds some light on the subject.

Well dang, I guess I did quote myself. Meant to quote a different post. I just thought it weird that the iPhone never saw a Bluetooth device when it is advertised as supporting Bluetooth. I never knew that it should really be advertised as supports "APPLE" Bluetooth. It had no problem pairing up with a Mazda 3 I recently had as a loner while I got a new windshield in the GP.