Alternatives to QtBluetooth on Windows?

Question

I have two PCs, not connected with a cable and not in a network that need to communicate with each other. I'm doing two Qt apps and wanted to make the communication via Bluetooth. However, I found out that Qt does not support Bluetooth for Windows (Does Qt support the windows bluetooth API?). (It produces qt.bluetooth: Dummy backend running. Qt Bluetooth module is non-functional.)

So what other alternatives do I have to bluetooth to establish this connection? Or how can I make QtBluetooth work? I am open for new suggestions.

The data to be transferred is a QByteArray.

I am running Windows 10 Pro and Qt 5.11.1.

Edit: According to the new answer on Does Qt support the windows bluetooth API?, QtBluetooth can indeed work on Windows. I have two windows devices with exactly the same windows and Qt version. On one of them the Bluetooth chat example works perfectly, on the other one it still doesn't and I get the error message that Qt Bluetooth module is non-functional. Can someone tell me when and why this error appears?

I have also seen this thread but it doesn't help me, because it's linux-specific.

@Phiber I've never heard of it. I would prefer some easier option if it exists, but I'll definitely look into it. Thanks! — Mariam, Aug 10 '18 at 20:01
PC Bluetooth is usually integrated with WiFi ... use your wifi!! — Mohammad Kanan, Aug 10 '18 at 20:01
I need an offline solution, and as I said the PCs do not share a network.. @MohammadKanan — Mariam, Aug 10 '18 at 20:05
@MohammadKanan and what do you mean with "PC Bluetooth is integrated with WiFi"? — Mariam, Aug 10 '18 at 20:07
Please check this again [Does Qt support the windows bluetooth API](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6992333/does-qt-support-the-windows-bluetooth-api) — Mohammad Kanan, Aug 10 '18 at 21:17
This is exactly the question I linked above^^, so I do know it is not supported, this is why I am looking for alternatives.. @MohammadKanan — Mariam, Aug 12 '18 at 19:06
I tested `QBluetooth` on almost same as your env and it works ... check details — Mohammad Kanan, Aug 12 '18 at 19:10
Oh great news! but then how do I make it work? I have updated my question. @MohammadKanan — Mariam, Aug 13 '18 at 08:08
You need to make sure Bluetooth on the other PC works first, try to find a resource on _How to establish Bluetooth link between 2 PCs_ ... ... debug the wrong PC and then try with Qt — Mohammad Kanan, Aug 13 '18 at 08:16

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 21 '18 at 09:50

This thread on the QtForum delivered the answer. It works when you switch to the MSVC compiler instead of the standard MinGW!

This is how you do it:

After installing Microsoft Visual Studio and having the MSVC package in Qt (see mentioned thread), you need to set the compiler for c++ by going to Tools>Options>Kits. There you choose the MSVC compiler and in "Compiler: C++:" you choose Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler.

I hope this helps someone else.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 13 '18 at 19:55

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You "exactly the same windows" most likely aren't. What is the exact version? The most current Windows 10 version is 1803, and the minimum needed for fully functional Qt Bluetooth support is 1607.

answered Aug 13 '18 at 19:55

Kuba hasn't forgotten Monica

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Both are Windows 10 Pro Version 1709 – Mariam Aug 14 '18 at 08:06
Do they have the same bluetooth chipset and same driver versions for it? – Kuba hasn't forgotten Monica Aug 14 '18 at 08:45
yes the RFCOMM Bluetooth devices have the same version. I'm not sure where I find info about the chipset itself. – Mariam Aug 14 '18 at 12:40
Look in the device manager and screenshot exact details of all Bluetooth device driver as well as host driver files. It’s possible that they are not the same. – Kuba hasn't forgotten Monica Aug 14 '18 at 18:38
I already looked. The RFCOMM is exactly the same. The PAN Bluetooth is a different version. – Mariam Aug 15 '18 at 07:09

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 30 '20 at 11:21

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Now it seems that QT supports Bluetooth on Windows since version 5.14

answered Jan 30 '20 at 11:21

artaxerx

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Alternatives to QtBluetooth on Windows?

3 Answers3

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