We're developing software for bluetooth devices. We'd like to test the case when the device gets out of range, but don't want to carry the device to the other end of the office for each test.
What is the easiest solution to block/shield bluetooth signals? Are there any containers that can be purchased off the shelf which bluetooth will not penetrate?
Yes, enjoy the biscuits first, but make sure they come in a metal container rather than a plastic one.
If you have, say, a Bluetooth dongle on a USB extension lead, just cut a hole large enough for the cable to pass through the metal tin and put on the lid. You could block around the cable hole with metal foil too, but the overall signal attenuation will still be very high without this.
Conversely, you may be able to just place your device in the metal tin.
Even simpler, wrapping the transmitter (or receiving device) in metal foil will work - maybe try a nickel-coated antistatic bag:
Edit:
A colleague has just suggested putting the device on a 'variable distance transportation system':
To use a metalic can as an RF shield, you must first ground the can through a thick short wire ground to the RF source, and then also solder the can lid at several places to provide and effective signal shield.
Lately I've been working with Bluetooth sensors and I had to keep blocking some of them to test the others exclusively. What helped in my case was:
Two layers of tin foil (the kitchen variety) wrapped one on top of the other.
The first one did cut the signal strength but not sufficiently to block it completely. The second one did the job.
