usb bluetooth with Realtek RTL8761B

[mouldy]

I was given one to try. Supposed to be windows only but with right kernel and firmware, linux can handle it.

So first tried it on windows 11 as its supposed to be plug and play. Nope. Oh win11 has generic driver and claims adapter is "working" But its not. I finally downloaded the 70MB (everything and the kitchen sink) win7 driver and installed it. Still nothing. Somebody said it was plug and play in Mint-21. Fine, doesnt work out of box in any linux I have, MX-21 and Fedora 35 seems to see it and set it up but doesnt work, so its just data, right... Ok, its not what I would call plug and play in Mint, but I did get it to see and pair with my old Samsung mouse and with my android cell phone. Trick was that it would only pair with one device at a time. Didnt see bluetooth keyboard, but its a tricky thing to get paired on system that has good functional bluetooth. Just getting this usb bluetooth to work at all seems quite the accomplishment. I dont think I would bother trying to get it working in anything it wont work with out of box, just not that good of a device. Still weird it wont work in windows but will in Mint. Maybe I am just not experienced enough with windows, LOL.

So just wondering if there is a well supported usb bluetooth adapter for linux. More curious than anything. Not lot use for bluetooth on the old desktop. The mouse and keyboard can be quite handy on cell phone or even laptop with less than wonderful trackpad. But they usually have own built in bluetooth.

[mouldy]

I booted into DebianDog Bookworm. Thought what the heck and used apt to install blueman. It not only could use the Realtek usb, but it paired with the mouse and keyboard whole lot easier than Mint. I am truly surprised it had firmware, etc. If only had known could avoided downloading Mint. But interesting, hadnt seen modern version Mint. Its actually not bad.

[don570]

I looked up reviews on Amazon and it does work in linux although range is low. Very inexpensive.
ORICO USB Bluetooth Adapter, Wireless Dongle for Windows XP/Vista / 7/8 / 10 [Ultra Mini and Low Energy, 3Mbps Data Transfer Rate and 20 Meters Range, Black]
byOrico
Techkey USB Mini Bluetooth 5.0 EDR Dongle for Computer Desktop Wireless Transfer for Laptop Bluetooth Headphones Headset Speakers Keyboard Mouse Printer Windows 10-7

5.0 out of 5 stars Works well with Mint 17.3 Cinnamon (Ubuntu 14.04 based Linux)
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
Works very well with Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon. (I do have the "non-free firmware" installed on my laptop -- which may or may not be needed for this.) When I plugged this in, it worked without needing to load any additional drivers. And the Bluetooth manager in the Cinnamon Desktop "just works" in exactly the manner I'd expect. (Blueman -- which is the Bluetooth manager used by many other Linux Desktops -- works in a manner that is not as user friendly.)

https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/ ... geNumber=3
One critical review

omnom10000
1.0 out of 5 stars Duplicate MACs
Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
Dongles work - they are the typical CSR BT chipset which has great support in Linux.

The problem is that Orico (or whomever is doing their manufacturing) is cloning MAC addresses and not utilizing OU allotments. I ordered 5 adapters and they ALL have the same address. Therefore, a cheap BT multi-hub environment just won't work. Again I'm not impressed with disregard for IEEE address allotments by Chinese manufacturers.

hci3: Type: BR/EDR Bus: USB
BD Address: 00:1A:7D:DA:71:13 ACL MTU: 310:10 SCO MTU: 64:8
DOWN
RX bytes:574 acl:0 sco:0 events:30 errors:0
TX bytes:368 acl:0 sco:0 commands:30 errors:0

hci2: Type: BR/EDR Bus: USB
BD Address: 00:1A:7D:DA:71:13 ACL MTU: 310:10 SCO MTU: 64:8
UP RUNNING
RX bytes:574 acl:0 sco:0 events:30 errors:0
TX bytes:368 acl:0 sco:0 commands:30 errors:0

hci1: Type: BR/EDR Bus: USB
BD Address: 00:1A:7D:DA:71:13 ACL MTU: 310:10 SCO MTU: 64:8
UP RUNNING
RX bytes:574 acl:0 sco:0 events:30 errors:0
TX bytes:368 acl:0 sco:0 commands:30 errors:0

hci0: Type: BR/EDR Bus: USB
BD Address: 00:1A:7D:DA:71:13 ACL MTU: 310:10 SCO MTU: 64:8
UP RUNNING PSCAN
RX bytes:832 acl:0 sco:0 events:57 errors:0
TX bytes:3066 acl:0 sco:0 commands:57 errors:0

[don570]

Bluetooth Adapter for PC，Techkey USB Mini Bluetooth 5.0 EDR Dongle for Computer Desktop Wireless Transfer for Laptop Bluetooth Headphones Headset Speakers Keyboard Mouse Printer Windows 10-7

despite not being officially supported, will also work under Linux with a modern kernel (5.8.2 or later) & some tweaking.

[mouldy]

I had tried usb bluetooth some years back, very unsuccessfully. No luck with it in linux or windows then either though it was supposed to work in windows.

Well looked through couple coffee can of computer tidbits from over the years. Found one of the usb bluetooth. Just plugged it in for amusement purposes and lo and behold it works. I am getting the impression that none of these usb bluetooth are super great. My Samsung mouse is fine with this oldie but my keyboard drops frequently. Still just amazed after all these years it suddenly works when it didnt new out of the package. Maybe need to buy new hardware and just stick it in drawer for ten years.

[mouldy]

I got hold of mechanical keyboard that can connect either usb cable, bluetooth3/bluetooth5, or 2.4G. Ok usb cable not a big deal. Spent forever with bluetooth and 2.4G. Really horrible manual in tiny font. Still not completely sure why it started working but got bluetooth working on all but the oldest usb adapter. Super stable connections in all. Unlike my other bluetooth keyboard. Seems bluetooth connection requires either one or both the bluetooth adapter or device have strong signal. Two weak signals and it will drop, usually at worst possible moment. My converted chromebook for instance connects to this keyboard at 100% signal strength. The llano Realtek adapter at only 38%. Still strong enough signal to be very stable. Its why the other bluetooth keyboard has problems with the usb adapters. Its weak and so are the usb adapters. Though it does ok with my android phone and the chromebook both which have strong built in adapter.

By way I really like the mechanical keyboard. Always avoided spending money. I dont think I have used one since long ago dark ages, IBM keyboard on dumb terminal for a mainframe. Back then all metal, even the keys. I think I still have one, got it at some auction once in box misc. I tried using it on pc with adapter, but I think they had to be rewired to work with a pc.