Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Stereo Gateway

Motorola's latest range of wireless gadgetry aims to transform the way we listen to music. One of the most useful components in this range is the DC800, a Bluetooth receiver and transmitter. The idea is that using the DC800 you can seamlessly transmit your music between separate devices. You can do this in two ways. Firstly, you can send music from your computer and output it through your home stereo. Secondly, you can plug the DC800 into any device with a 3.5mm jack and use Bluetooth headphones to listen to the music. You will need some other Bluetooth device though; you cannot use the DC800 on its own.

Motorola have ensured that using the DC800 is incredibly simple; simply plug it in, press a few buttons and away you go. We tested the DC800's receiving capability in conjunction with Motorola's PC850 Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter. The adapter simply plugs into your home computer and redirects any output audio to stream over Bluetooth. You can then connect the Wireless gateway to the RCA Audio in jacks on your home stereo, TV or any other compatible device. That's all there is to it, the system is very easy to set up.

You can also pair the DC800 with any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. One disappointment though, is the lack of controls on the gateway itself. Seeing as the unit is designed to be used up to 100m away from the source of the music, the ability to pause the music or change tracks remotely would have been useful. Logitech have included an entire remote control on their Wireless Music System, and Motorola provide similar functionality on their Bluetooth headphones, so this lack of control seems an oversight.

The second way you can use the DC800 is by connecting it to either your home stereo or an MP3 player and transmitting music. Wireless headphones, such as Motorola's HT820, can then receive the music wherever you like. Using the DC800 in this mode is just as easy as before. Setting it up is a merely a case of plugging in the correct cable and switching the unit on. Both RCA and standard 3.5mm adapters are included, so whatever the source of your music you should find support with the DC800.

Essentially it is an easy to use, yet basic, Bluetooth gateway. It does the job, but for anyone only wishing to stream music from their home computer to their stereo system, we would recommend the Logitech Wireless Music System. If you only wish to stream music to Bluetooth headphones, however, it may be an acceptable choice.