PCI Bluetooth adapter?

[dadoph]

I'm trying to find a PCI Bluetooth adapter and am not having much luck. I've found some PCI cards that have Bluetooth and 802.11g, but I don't need the wireless.

This is for an academic setting where I need to require the students to check out a keyboard and mouse before they can use the computers. I know you can get USB bluetooth adapters, but I can't leave them on the computers because I know that they will be stolen.

I've tried regular wireless keyboards/mice and they work fine. But, the computers are close enough together that we get some crosstalk between computers and end up with one person controlling another person's computer. I figure bluetooth might be a fix, since each one is uniquely assigned to an individual computer.

Anyone here know if such a thing? Thanks.

 

[erwos]

Buy a PCI->miniPCI card and then stick a Bluetooth miniPCI card into that. Tah-dah, problem solved. I've seen the PCI->miniPCI cards for as low as $10.50, and I would imagine Bluetooth miniPCI cards would run around $30-$50. My guess is that the combo wifi+bt cards would actually be cheaper than bt-only, since more of the former are made each year.

This is obviously nowhere near as cheap as USB adapters, but then again, you have to pay for security.

-Erwos

 

[Hikari]

I have an MSI "dual net" card that only cost $42... If you want cheaper than that and PCI but don't want redundant wireless, you'll need to get some USB bluetooth dongle thingy (which is easier to steal as you said). Sort of interestingly, this card plugs into the USB on the motherboard for the bluetooth part. :lol: It also has a plug to an external antenna, so it gets slightly better reception.

Not really helping, just wanted to provide more info.

 

[cougar78]

you can get the combo wifi/bluetooth card for 26 bucks of geeks.com, then just disable the wifi.

 

[grimlykindo]

Originally posted by: cougar78
you can get the combo wifi/bluetooth card for 26 bucks of geeks.com, then just disable the wifi.

Yeah that sounds like your best bet, plus you have a back-up wireless card