Functional description

There is no difference in functional terms between these two aerials.

The Bluetooth aerial is designed for a frequency of 2.45 GHz. Bluetooth is a short-distance radio standard in which multiple devices with a Bluetooth interface can communicate with each other simultaneously. Bluetooth allows up to 8 Bluetooth-compatible transmission/reception devices within the space of up to 10 m to be networked together.

Bluetooth uses the license-free, global ISM waveband (ISM stands for "Industrial-Scientific- Medical"). The frequency range from 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz is divided into 79 channels, each with a bandwidth of 1 MHz.

To prevent disturbance in other electrical equipment and to increase anti-tapping protection, channels are changed 1600 times every second.

Voice information and data can be transmitted with Bluetooth. A bandwidth of approximately 1 MBit/s is available for transferring audio data, the phone book and operating status of the Bluetooth mobile phone.

Anti-tapping protection is increased by the following measures:

• changing channels (1600 times a second)
• encryption
• Each Bluetooth-capable device has its own 48-bit address
• All data transmitted can be encrypted and deciphered with a key up to 128 bit long. This makes it possible to distinguish up to 281 trillion different units.

The relatively short range of approx. 10 meters makes it difficult to manipulate the flow of data. Thus manipulation of the data flow is possible only in the immediate vicinity of the appropriate control unit, such as the Telematic Control Unit (TCU).

The following graphic illustrates the Bluetooth aerial installed up to 03/2010.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The following graphic illustrates the Bluetooth aerial that has been gradually installed in all the series as of 03/2010.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.