Panda Bluetooth 4.0 USB Nano Adapter - Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11, Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, Lubuntu, Zorin, BackTrack5 R3, Kali Linux, Raspbrian Wheezy and OpenELEC

Second brand I've tried. This one really works with Linux. Hooray.

I bought this Panda bluetooth adapter to use on my Windows 7 64-bit laptop, which is 5 years old and doesn't have built-in bluetooth. I had previously tried to get a different brand of adapter to work on this laptop without success.I initially had trouble with the Panda adapter too, but I've finally gotten it to work. I'm giving it 5 stars as it does now work, and because the Panda Wireless customer support is quite good. They were quick to respond to my emails, even late at night and on the weekend. The below information is for anyone who might encounter the same problem I did.The adapter came with a CD which installs "CSR Harmony" drivers. Customer support no longer recommends you install this. Most of my problems would have been avoided if I had ignored the CD and simply let Windows download and install the default drivers. However, I did install from the CD. The adapter worked at first - I was able to connect a Bose bluetooth speaker and play music. After unplugging the adapter and plugging it back in though, it didn't work again. The bluetooth icon didn't display in the notification area, and when I opened Bluetooth Devices from the Control Panel, none of the buttons on that page worked.I eventually uninstalled the CSR Harmony software. After doing that, the adapter itself seemed to be ok - I was able to successfully use it together with a bluetooth mouse. But I still couldn't get my bluetooth speaker to work again. I alternately got error messages that the drivers for the speaker couldn't be found, or that they were not successfully installed.In Device Manager, the entry for the speaker was labeled "Bluetooth Peripheral Device", and it showed a yellow exclamation mark. The "Properties" window indicated "This device is not configured correctly. (Code 1) The name is already in use as either a service name or a service display name." This error was what was causing the driver install to fail, and it seems to have been due to registry entries (under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\) that weren't appropriately removed when the CSR Harmony software was uninstalled. The entries all started with "csr" (csr_a2dp, csr_bthav, csravrcp, CsrBtPort, csrpan, csrserial, csrusb). The corresponding csr*.sys files did not exist in my "C:\Windows\System32\drivers" folder. So I exported those keys (for backup, to be on the safe side), and then deleted them. (Important note: Do not edit your registry like I did, unless you know what you are doing; otherwise you may cause serious damage to your system.)After deleting those registry keys, the device driver install for the speaker still failed, and I almost gave up hope. But after rebooting the computer the next day, I tried again, and the problem was gone! (So it seems that both the registry fix and the reboot were required). Device Manager no longer showed the yellow exclamation mark. I removed the speaker from my Bluetooth list, added it back again, and then it worked. It also still works, after unplugging the adapter and plugging it back in.

My application requirement was pretty specific, couple Phonak Marvel hearing aids to a Ubuntu HP notebook. The Panda BT 4.0 was my second attempt - the first try with another brand that claimed to be Ubuntu compatible did not go well... it required drivers to be hand loaded from the command line and in the end, they wouldn't work with the latest kernel (5.4.x on Ubuntu 20.04.1). In stark contrast, the Panda BT 4.0 was totally plug and play. I just attached plugged it into an open USB port and went to Bluetooth in the Ubuntu settings. Getting the hearing aids to connect the first time was a bit of a trick but I got what I needed. It's important to uncouple the hearing aids from your smart phone by turning off the phone's Bluetooth feature and power cycle the hearing aids for the Bluetooth dongle to discover and connect to them. Once I did that, I was connected and the left and right channel tested correctly. What does not work is the microphone function but I can get around that. The audio is rock solid and I can move freely around my office with no drop out. So I can do a Zoom or MS Teams meeting with audio direct to my ears. I'm sure the dongle can connect to many other devices, but this is all I need it to do for me.

I used this on a Lenove ThinkCentre M77 running linux (Latest Mint release - 18.2 i think).. I had an issue with the Linux recognizing the Panda, but I followed the instructions here to make it work: https://puolanka.info/goto/bluetooth-settings/ The Panda unit itself is 5 stars (works great to stream music to my stereo receiver in my shop), but the 4 start rating reflects the Linux hassle i had. It took me about an hour to figure out and change the bluetooth manager on my computer.When it didn't work, i sent an email to Panda support. In the meantime, while waiting for a response from Panda, i fixed the BT issue from the Linux side. About 10 minutes after i had it working, Mark from Panda returned my email and i explained what i did. He thanked me for my information.So, 5 stars on the device, but if you're running Linux, you might have some extra work to do.

Like the pilot says you have a choice in flying because the airlines are all the same. I bought this Bluetooth adapter based on the the many folks here who said that Panda's support was phenomenal. Lot of choices for the buying the technology. Ordered the adapter on Sunday arrived on Monday. (Did not buy the one day delivery.) Unpacked it, plugged it into the back of my tower USB port, and as suggested, I let Windows do its magic. Drivers installed, I fired up the icon in my tray and low and behold, it could see my phone or my Bluetooth speakers and phone are both grayed out. Sent support a email at 1:46PM. They responded at 1:48PM. Five emails back and forth and I am listening to my new speakers and sending files to my phone via Bluetooth. Better clarity with the speakers when I moved the adapter to a USB port on the front of my tower. Alex was my tech. The technical support of this company is without question excellent. Never have had a better support experience. I am very pleased with my purchase. It works great. And as the pilot says you do have a choice.