Bluetooth pairing names

[david]

I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".

But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?

How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

[Dave Royal]

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

Bluetooth devices have a Device Address similar to a MAC address.
The ranges are assigned to manufacturers by the organisation that
controls Bluetooth. The names can be anything - though they ought
to adequate to identify what you're pairing with. You may be able
to change the name - once paired.

[knuttle]

Post by Dave Royal

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

Bluetooth devices have a Device Address similar to a MAC address.
The ranges are assigned to manufacturers by the organisation that
controls Bluetooth. The names can be anything - though they ought
to adequate to identify what you're pairing with. You may be able
to change the name - once paired.

On my Moto G Pure, when I change the name on the device, the name is
used on the computer to identify the connection

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Dave Royal

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

Bluetooth devices have a Device Address similar to a MAC address.
The ranges are assigned to manufacturers by the organisation that
controls Bluetooth. The names can be anything - though they ought
to adequate to identify what you're pairing with. You may be able
to change the name - once paired.

Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Dave Royal

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

Bluetooth devices have a Device Address similar to a MAC address.
  The ranges are assigned to manufacturers by the organisation that
  controls Bluetooth. The names can be anything - though they ought
  to adequate to identify what you're pairing with. You may be able
  to change the name - once paired.

Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

I forgot to ask: And will that changed name be visible on other phones,
computers, etc, connecting at different times to the headphone?


What I mean to know is if the change is written inside the headphones,
or only in my phone.

[Arno Welzel]

[...]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Carlos E.R.
Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

I forgot to ask: And will that changed name be visible on other phones,
computers, etc, connecting at different times to the headphone?

No. The name is only the local label for the headset in your phone.

Post by Carlos E.R.
What I mean to know is if the change is written inside the headphones,
or only in my phone.

Only in your phone.

[david]

Post by Arno Welzel
[...]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Carlos E.R.
Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

I forgot to ask: And will that changed name be visible on other phones,
computers, etc, connecting at different times to the headphone?

No. The name is only the local label for the headset in your phone.

Post by Carlos E.R.
What I mean to know is if the change is written inside the headphones,
or only in my phone.

Only in your phone.

Is there a Bluetooth unique name lookup table somewhere on the Internet?

[Arno Welzel]

Post by david

Post by Arno Welzel
[...]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Carlos E.R.
Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

I forgot to ask: And will that changed name be visible on other phones,
computers, etc, connecting at different times to the headphone?

No. The name is only the local label for the headset in your phone.

Post by Carlos E.R.
What I mean to know is if the change is written inside the headphones,
or only in my phone.

Only in your phone.

Is there a Bluetooth unique name lookup table somewhere on the Internet?

I'm not aware of any. But this is not needed since the device is not
identified by its name but by the device ID. The name is just text
offered by the device. A host (like a smartphone) will display the name
as it is offered, but you can change that, if you need to. The device ID
will stay the same, even with a different name in the host.

[Arno Welzel]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Dave Royal

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

Bluetooth devices have a Device Address similar to a MAC address.
The ranges are assigned to manufacturers by the organisation that
controls Bluetooth. The names can be anything - though they ought
to adequate to identify what you're pairing with. You may be able
to change the name - once paired.

Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

Yes, you can change the name. At least Android allows to do this and as
far I remember, Windows and Linux also allow this. And it is the
computer or smartphone which will remember that name, since the pairing
of the device is stored, even if the headphone is not connected.

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Arno Welzel

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Dave Royal

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

Bluetooth devices have a Device Address similar to a MAC address.
The ranges are assigned to manufacturers by the organisation that
controls Bluetooth. The names can be anything - though they ought
to adequate to identify what you're pairing with. You may be able
to change the name - once paired.

Wait, you say I can change the name of the, for example, headphones I
connect to my phone? Will that new name hold for the next time I connect
to them?

Yes, you can change the name. At least Android allows to do this and as
far I remember, Windows and Linux also allow this. And it is the
computer or smartphone which will remember that name, since the pairing
of the device is stored, even if the headphone is not connected.

Ah. Thanks.

[Jasen Betts]

Post by david
I have some devices which pair as "E62" while others pair as "WS-1".
Still more pair as "MK02" while others pair as "Kinivo BTH220".
Some make sense such as my "OBDII" & "ResMed495698" & "JBL TUNE500BT".
But who decides what are the allowed Bluetooth pairing names for a new
device? Is there a central agency which assigns these names (sort of like
how domain names are assigned)? Is there a lookup table for Bluetooth names
(like they have with the first half of MAC addresses)?
How does this seemingly almost random Bluetooth name assignment happen?

As I understand it the name is sent over the air, along with the MAC
address and other actually unique identifiers.