DSD TECH SH-B23A Bluetooth 2.0 to RS232 Serial Adapter with DB9 Converter

I'd been using the IOGear GBC232A for my projects and spending $70/ea on them. Wish I'd found out about this unit sooner - it does the same thing for a fraction of the price. I've only been using it for < 24 hours, but so far it seems to perform just as well as the IOGear. It also defaults to the sensical 9600, 8N1 so it pretty much works for me right out of the box without any configuration whereas the IOGear's default is 19200. The one issue is that when I use it with devices where a straight-through cable typically works, I have to pair a null modem gender changer with this box instead of the regular one they include - not sure why they don't just include a null modem instead? UPDATE 2/13/2021 - at this point I have purchased and deployed around 20 of these units in the past few months to various customer sites. So far, one simply died after a few weeks of use and another has struggled / refused to connect out of the box. A ~10% defect rate is quite high. Update March 2023 - at this point I have over 80 of these at customer sites and they perform well and are reliable. Other than the occasional one that doesn't work out of the box, none have died since my previous review so I'm updating this to 5 stars.

I found a guide to program this little guy to work with my microsquirt. I guess the main instructions are missing a key item. Oh, -1 star because half the pins in the gender adapter were bent. As posted by PFloor on msextra: Download their app. Use the HC-05 tab in the software. OPEN up the case (remove 4 screws). Make sure jumpers are on "PC" Connect to pc via serial port. Select UART (comm port), 9600 Baud and "Open". IMPORTANT!!! Press the tiny button on the board to put it in "programming" mode (this critical step is missing from all instructions). Press "Test". If you get an "OK" reply, you are good to go. If no "OK", you will not be able to program it. You may need to press the button first, then open the port. Set the name and PIN if desired. Change the Baud Rate to 115200 (this is required). Leave role as "Slave". IMPORTANT!!! Put jumpers on "Device" Test on MS Re-assemble case

I'm an IT hobbyist, not an IT professional. I have above average knowledge for sure. I'm using these for perhaps a unique use case, having one computer transmit data to another computer (multiple, actually). I'm a court reporter, and I can send my realtime transcription to other computers so it can be viewed by attorneys or whomever. There are a few ways to do this (many cloud based options charge high fees), but the classic/free way is via wired serial connection. Ancient tech, but (with a USB to serial cable) it works. I wondered, could I possibly find some wireless solution? And I found this. Like many others, hours of trial and error later, and it works! I could not get it to communicate with the built-in Bluetooth on my laptops, but when pairing it with the Startech USBBT1EDR2 (which I literally had lying around), it works like a charm. I wish I didn't need the extra Bluetooth dongle -- maybe a geekier man than me wouldn't -- but I'm happy.

Bought this to allow reading of RS232 scale to be placed inside a vac chamber, to allow wireless weights while chamber was sealed. Barely worked outside (have to move jumpers from PC-COM to DEVICE or scale would not respond at all), with power provided by computer USB port. Once placed inside chamber, power coming from a 5V supply (battery phone recharger) or from lithium battery stack, would turn off after 60s. Gave up. Odd that it worked with a computer 5V USB out, but not with 6.4V battery or phone recharger. Don't trust this to work - many other reviews about random product substitution. Other reviews have some workarounds that are handy, but look for a different widget than this.

I almost gave up multiple times. But at 3AM on the 2nd day, I finally got it to work. Attempted two USB to serial converters and a desk top computer with an actual serial port in back to communicate with device. Manufacturer's instructions are incorrect and poor at best. Manufacturer's website is useless except to down load software. As other reviewers have written, you must disassemble unit, then ensure 2 jumpers are on "PC" pins to set correct baud rate, then use command tab HC-05 in software (not SH-B23 which is what this device is supposed to be!), open UART, select correct Comm port on your computer, press micro-button inside device, then press "test" in software and most importantly, receive an "ok". Remember to switch the jumpers from “PC” back to “device” after changing baud rate. If you don't get an "OK" after pressing “test”, you're not connected to your computer. And even though it looks like you are changing the device parameters in the software, you are not. Worse, You will still be able to "connect" or "pair" via blue tooth with another device, but the baud rate likely won't be correct (because you never actually changed it) and it will be connected via blue-tooth, but it won't work (ie will not transmit data). For example, a mega-squirt fuel injection computer, where the baud rate MUST be set to 115200, will not transmit data using this device’s default 9600 baud rate. If not for the other reviewers on Amazon, I would not have been able to change the devices baud rate or gotten this device to work. Also Device sent by Amazon is not the same as pictured or as listed on Amazon. Device shipped was a SH-B30, which doesn't even have a command tab in the software. If your time is more important to you than money, use something else.

mooi afgewerkt. goede behuizing. Goed verpakt om te versturen. Snel geleverd. Top. Dirk

Oggetto indispensabile per collegare,bluetooth, un vecchio palmare necessario per il trasferimento dei dati di una stazione totale tipografica. Montato e configurato funziona perfettamente.

Seit 3 Jahren begleitet mich dieser kleine BT Adapter einwandfrei im Berufsleben. Ich muss mich oft auf diverse Geräte aufschalten (Switche, Router, FW, etc) Der wesentliche Vorteil, gegenüber Kabelgebundene Lösungen, ist der das ich die laute Umgebung (die ich teilweise vorfinde) verlassen kann und aus dem "leisen" Nachbarraum arbeiten kann. Die Rezension nach 3 Jahren auch aus dem Grund.... Heute ist das Ding mal runtergefallen und das Gehäuse hat es nicht überlebt (Der Deckel ist abgesprungen) Ich kleb das aber mit Sekundenkleber fest und wenn es dann wieder 3 Jahre hält bin ich nicht unglücklich und geben wirklich guten Gewissens volle 5 Sterne. Und bei dem Preis erst recht....

Useless unfortunately. Could not get the devices to perform even basic functionality. Terrible on line support, manufacturers website even refers you to other ‘insecure’ websites. Google search shows many others users struggling to get basic functionality working. Don’t buy these 😔

Had some problems with this as a cheap solution to connect on to Celestron (SLT mount) but it did work out great. A few things to note assuming you already know how to control your scope via a wired USB virtual serial port. (This unit connects to the bottom on the handset same as your wired serial connector). I powered this from a small 5v power bank and connected it as above but at first I could get no response from it. In order to troubleshoot I connected it in UART mode - connecting to direct to PC via USB virtual serial port but could not get it to acknowledge an 'ok' on software command and ask the supplier tech service for help (no reply, waste of time). I discovered that unless connections are dead tight it would not work- that sorted reconnected again and noticed the blinking led paused on trying to connect to scope. Had to reverse RX and TX wires (the only other one is GND, going to the handset) and got various messages about 'semifore time out' and 'no serial port' and 'no celestron scope detected'. Days later found that either unplugging the 5v power to the device ( it goes into sleep mode) or simply delete the com port in Windows (device manager > Bluetooth serial port> uninstall and then right click and reinstall which takes only a minute) - all errors go away and you have the pleasure of using your phone/tablet/laptop to control the scope. A few times I needed to briefly unplug the 5v supply to it when I see the led does not go steady(i.e not connecting) but no problem as it will reconnect on next attempt and you don't lose alignment. Hope this saved someone a lot of heartache!