I recently ran a USB cable through my wall, but it only has USB 3 connections. Now, I'm in need of a Bluetooth adapter to plug in at the end of that cable. Most Bluetooth adapters are designed for USB 2, since that's usually sufficient for Bluetooth capacity. However, I'm curious whether the Bluetooth connection in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo sticks utilizes USB 3.0 directly, or if it somehow operates through an internal hub that functions on USB 2.0. Unfortunately, I don't have the means to test this myself, and I'd rather avoid buying and returning several devices from Amazon. By the way, I know USBTreeView is a tool that can display connectivity, but I wanted to get some input here first.
1 Answer
It sounds like you're mixing up some aspects of USB protocols and connectors. The USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 protocols can work with both USB-A and USB-C connectors. To clarify, the USB 3.0 ports are backward compatible with USB 2.0—so you can plug a USB 2.0 device into a USB 3.0 port without issues. As for your Bluetooth sticks, the Bluetooth adapter typically communicates using the USB protocol available. If it’s a USB 3.0 stick, it’ll operate via USB 3.0, but for a Bluetooth adapter that’s designed for USB 2.0, it might not utilize the full bandwidth of 3.0—just keep that in mind!
I see your point, but I'm specifically trying to determine if the Bluetooth communication happens through USB 2.0 or directly through 3.0. The internal workings of the chip matter for my setup.