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Bluetooth module help?

Hello,

I have done some work with Bluetooth modules in the past and have connected them to microcontrollers. However, I am still unclear as to what the best module for my applications is. My main point of confusion lies in whether or not a "profile stack" is needed for simple data connections.

For example, I can purchase a $70 module with built in SPP (Serial Port Profile) or a $60 module without it. With the $70 module, hook-up is fairly straigh forward. Just talk to the module over UART/Serial. If, however, I go with the cheaper module, how much more work do I have to do in the microcontroller to talk to the module? I'm sure this is somewhat module-specific, but in general, how necessary is the "profile stack"? Is it worth the extra $10?

Thank you very much for your comments.

Best Regards, Adam Kumpf snipped-for-privacy@mit.edu

Here are the two modules for comparison:

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(look at the 2nd module and the 6th module )

Thanks again. :)

Reply to
Adam Kumpf
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Hello,

depends if it is a private project or a commercial project. And on the amount of pieces you want to produce. If it is commercial, you need a Bluetooth certification for your developed parts (Bluetooth stack), which is not cheap. Also a lot interop test are needed, if you want to be compatible. You already have an Bluetooth tester (Air Sniffer, HCI decoder...) ? Most important, also take into account the time (and amount of people) needed to write such a stack.

If private project, you can just take the modules, create a ACL connection and transfer some data. But this way is not compatible to anything else !

Perhaps, to make your decision easier, download the Bluetooth Core Spec. and have a look at chapters HCI, L2CAP, RFCOMM. All these are needed to implement your Serial Port Profile...

If yu have further questions you can contact me directly via email !

Regards,

Martin

Reply to
Martin Maurer

Thanks so much for the reply.

It sounds like $10 is a pretty small price to pay for greatly simplifying the design of a proof-of-concept prototype. The time and cost required to implement my own HCI, L2CAP, and RFCOMM for a bluetooth project is probably not worth it unless I end up wanting to produce millions of these gadgets.

Your input was very helpful!

Thanks again, Adam snipped-for-privacy@mit.edu

Reply to
Adam Kumpf

Unless you want to use these modules in huge quantities, $10 is peanuts to pay for the software stack. Also remember that the production cost for the manufacturer is essentially 0 for this software over time. So over time and with the competition one would expect they would drop this extra $10. Just for interest sake, which modules are you considering ?

Regards Anton Erasmus

Reply to
Anton Erasmus

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