SparkFun Electronics - Bluetooth Mate

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Bluetooth Mate

sku: WRL-09358

Description: The Bluetooth Mate is very similar to our BlueSMiRF modem, but it is designed specifically to be used with our Arduino Pros and LilyPad Arduinos. These modems work as a serial (RX/TX) pipe, and are a great wireless replacement for serial cables. Any serial stream from 9600 to 115200bps can be passed seamlessly from your computer to your target. We've tested these units successfully over open air at 350ft (106m)!

Bluetooth Mate has the same pin out as the FTDI Basic, and is meant to plug directly into an Arduino Pro, Pro Mini, or LilyPad Mainboard. Because we've arranged the pins to do this, you cannot directly plug the Bluetooth Mate to an FTDI Basic board (you'll have to swap TX and RX).

This unit ships with an RN-41 class 1 bluetooth module, a very easy-to-use and well documented bluetooth module. Make sure you check out the datasheet and command set links below.

The Bluetooth Mate has on-board voltage regulators, so it can be powered from any 3.3 to 6VDC power supply. We've got level shifting all set up so the RX and TX pins on the remote unit are 3-6VDC tolerant. Do not attach this device directly to a serial port. You will need an RS232 to TTL converter circuit if you need to attach this to a computer.

Unit comes without a connector; if you want to connect it to an Arduino Pro, we'd suggest the 6-pin right-angle female header.

Features:

Designed to work directly with Arduino Pro's and LilyPad main boards
FCC Approved Class 1 Bluetooth^®Radio Modem
Very robust link both in integrity and transmission distance (100m) - no more buffer overruns!
Low power consumption : 25mA avg
Hardy frequency hopping scheme - operates in harsh RF environments like WiFi, 802.11g, and Zigbee
Encrypted connection
Frequency: 2.4~2.524 GHz
Operating Voltage: 3.3V-6V
Serial communications: 2400-115200bps
Operating Temperature: -40 ~ +70C
Built-in antenna

Dimensions:

Board: 1.75x0.65"

Documents:

Pricing

	247 in stock backorder allowed

$64.95	price
$58.46	10-99 (10% off)
$51.96	100+ (20% off)

	quantity

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Comments

31 comments

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	by BabeleDunnit +2.4 \| Nov 27, 2009 at 11:44am 0
Hi, one thing is not clear to me: is this a replacement also for an FTDI Basic Breakout board? if I deploy a prototype with an Arduino Pro and one of these, will I be able to patch the software later via Bluetooth or I will have to open it and connect the FTDI again? also: I have a Pro Mini; is this OK also for that model or just for "normal" Pro and Lilypad? Thx!

	by Nate \| Dec 4, 2009 at 2:52pm
Great questions. This is a replacement for the FTDI cable. Plug this into your Arduino Pro, Pro Mini, or LilyPad, and you get serial stream on your computer over Bluetooth. I don't believe the Arduino software has enough flexibility in the serial bootloader to load new code over the wireless. We'll try it out and double check.

	by BabeleDunnit +2.4 \| Jan 6, 2010 at 4:40am 0
Hi Nate, did you have some time to try it out? does it work?

	by Klyph +1.1 \| Jul 4, 2010 at 4:01pm 0
Can you tell me how to download a sketch using the Bluetooth Mate in place of a FTDI Basic Breakout board? I am going from Intel Mac to Pro Mini. Can transfer data, but the bootloader doesn't bootload. Thanks!

	by Jamo +3.2 \| Nov 28, 2009 at 2:41am 0
yes, you should be able to program an Arduino wirelessly with this, it's just a wireless serial connection.

	by MP +1.3 \| Nov 30, 2009 at 12:08am 0
I'm looking to control my playstation with a PIC, using a bluetooth interface. Is this compatible with the PS3? I tried finding information on what protocols they use. I've come up with HID and L2CAP. I see this uses SPP -- is it possible to convert this to HID? Can I use SPP with the PS3?

	by Nate \| Dec 4, 2009 at 2:53pm
This module is Serial Port Profile only, no HID. Unfortunately PS3 is HID - I don't think it will work.

	by SnOwen +3 \| May 28, 2010 at 4:44pm 0
Try the WT-32; it was the only device I could find that implements Bluetooth HID (although it's a little expensive -- a WT-12 would have done the trick, but SparkFun doesn't stock them). Also, you'll need V4.0 of Bluegiga's iWrap firmware -- see my comment on the WT-32 page.

	by tz +8.5 \| Dec 19, 2009 at 1:35pm 0
100-9 is 20% off? Does this mean I have to order exactly 91?

	by A.G. +1.4 \| Jan 26, 2010 at 1:53pm 0
Hi, I had quick question about the headers used for this module. I soldered the female header (PRT-09429) to my custom pcb and used the right angle header (PRT-00553) to hold the module. But the right angle header pins do not seem to make good contact with the module. Is there a way I can secure the module without soldering it with the pins? I am just concerened about damaging the chip

	by jwarren +1.9 \| Jan 31, 2010 at 9:07pm 0
Has anyone got one of these units up and running properly? All I can do is pair it. I've tried it with my Arduino Pro Mini, Arduino Diecimila, and with Windows XP, Windows 7, and on a mac. No luck getting it to do anything but blink its red light. I've run out of ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

A.G.

+1.4

| Feb 5, 2010 at 12:04pm

I got mine 2 weeks back, tested it, works fine.

Blinking red (fast pulse) means its not paired. Blinking red (slow pulse) means its trying to pair. When its paired, the green LED should light up.

For me, when I searched for near by devices it was discovered as 'FireFly'. You might want to try this:

Once discovered, pair and create a virtual serial port. Your bluetooth software should help you do this. Once you create the virtual serial port, remember the port number (eg. COM2)

Then you can use terminal software like Realterm (for windows) to check if the module is RX/TX properly. Connect to the virtual serial port under 'Port' tab and 'Open' it. Realterm will try to connect Usually the Realterm console should just echo what you type. That means its all good.

Something to remember: The terminal software tries to open the port to connect, so you would have to free the port by disconnecting (if your bluetooth software is already using it). So keep it paired but also keep the port free.

lostangel556

+1.9

| Mar 5, 2010 at 4:41pm

Having real difficulty getting this to send serial data.
Soldered on an header an connected to an Arduino Pro Mini.
Can connect and place in command mode, but other than that no other serial data is getting sent over. Cant even exit command mode or read the settings back.
Unit is brand new (other than adding the header) so everything is at defaults.

Have another of these which straight from packaging. Can connect, put in command mode but thats it

	by lostangel556 +1.9 \| Mar 5, 2010 at 5:33pm 0
ok, found out that the baud rate is incorrect hence no serial data. strangely, shorting pin 11 and pin 4 sets the default to 9600 and will now work with arduino. Yet still cant set it in command mode??

lostangel556

+1.9

| Mar 6, 2010 at 8:18am

ok, ill have to say, great little product, if you can get it to work. after spending 2 days i now have 2 of these modules which are unusable.
You connect it up as you would do with the FTDI cable, supply with 5v power and make an connection to the bluetooth adapter. All you can do then is put it in command mode as nothing else will send on any Baud rate unless Pin 4 is raised high to default it to 9600.
Tried everthing i can think of to get this to work. Ieven attempted to solder pin 4 on the rn41 to vcc pin 11, to raise it high which will work, but unless you are an expert at soldering then you end up shorting it to the shield or the gnd pin.

Great idea but would but much more useful if this pin was set to an jumper ready

	by ClayBratt +1.1 \| Mar 13, 2010 at 10:53am 0
Can you auto reset wirelessly with this device? I dont see a dtr pin :S Sorry if this is a dumb question

	by sinnsyk +1.4 \| Apr 6, 2010 at 2:48pm 0
Wow, very nice product! Was looking for a way to wirelessly talk to MaxMSP but this seems to be the best way to have a very easy serial connection. And it's not that expensive compared to for instance the xBee...

	by SirPoonga +1 \| Apr 12, 2010 at 2:54am 0
I am having difficulties getting this to work. I have a RRRB arduino clone and I am using a MacBook Pro. My Mac sees there is a Firefly device to pair with. What is the pass code? If no pass code how do you set it up? I was able to get the Bluetooth Mate to slowly blink red.

	by Pearce \| Apr 12, 2010 at 11:48am
The standard passcode for most of our Bluetooth products is 1234. For Bluetooth in general, 1234 and 0000 are pretty standard unless otherwise specified.

	by someguy7234 +3 \| Apr 13, 2010 at 6:50am 0
The passcode is 1234, red (slowly blinking) means that the module is ready to receive. I don't have access to OSX, but in Linux you have to use rfcomm to setup a Pico-net, and then you get a device on /dev/rfcomm0 that you can do what you want with. I suspect things are not that complicated in OSX

someguy7234

| Apr 13, 2010 at 6:47am

+0.72

Hey I wanted to post a few RTFM issues with these modules since you literally have to read all the documentation to get these modules to work.

The key is is '1234'
For 2-wire serial (TX-RX-GND) you must connect CTS and RTS (shorting the pins)
The module defaults to 9600 baud, 8N1 and H/W flow control. (I tried it at 115200 and had trouble (but I was still hacking then, so maybe that works too)

For Arduino users
RX-I(Blue)-->TX(Arduino)
TX-0(Blue)-->RX(Arduino)
You CANNOT program the Arduino through this interface

If you are having connectivity problems try this:
Unplug USB and power externally.
Transmit and receive from Hyperterminal or some other terminal. The Arduino serial port terminal sometimes drops the bluetooth port.

I found that the intel integrated bluetooth in my laptop kept resetting the connection, but a belkin dongle worked just fine.

Also worth noting: Breadboards seem to act like Faraday cages and completely shield the signal in one direction, so be careful monitor your signal strength!

Also consider swearing at it... that seems to help too;)

Hope this helps!

	by jwarren +1.9 \| Apr 13, 2010 at 6:34pm 0
I posted a quick tutorial on how I got my Bluetooth Mate working with an Arduino Pro Mini: http://www.jhwarren.com/bluetooth-mate/ Hopefully it helps some people out.

	by SnOwen +3 \| Apr 27, 2010 at 8:39pm 0
The picture of the bottom of the board shows a silk-screen label of "PIO6" (the only connection that isn't on the edge of the board), but the schematic shows PIO4 goes to "JP2", and PIO6 is not connected. Which one is correct??

	by Jimb0 \| Apr 28, 2010 at 9:01am
It's mislabeled on the board. That is PIO4, which is broken out for factory reset goodness if you should ever need it.

	by pressurepoint14@gmail.com +3.4 \| Jun 8, 2010 at 7:22pm 0
If i had 2 Lilly pads attached to these could i communicate between the two or is this strictly a connection to a computer.

	by Poly +1 \| Jul 22, 2010 at 4:21am 0
I'm curious if it works in small distance (3m) but not open air. I am planning to place it inside a plastic box and into a foam ball.. so there will be approx 4 inches of foam, some plastic and a hand most of the time in the zone. Will it still work?

	by N8B \| Jul 22, 2010 at 5:40pm
Bluetooth (as I recall) uses a spread spectrum 2.4GHz radio wave to talk over. This is a flowery engineering way of saying it will get the same reception as a cell phone. If you buried it in the earth in a concrete box it wouldn't transmit. If you cover it in foam you will still get "reception".

	by N8B \| Jul 22, 2010 at 5:40pm
so, yeah, it will still work

	by weezur +1.2 \| Jul 27, 2010 at 10:32pm 0
How would one go about setting this up with an Arduino Duemilanove? I know where to connect: Vcc, GRND, TX, and RX. I don't know how to connect: RTS and CTS. I've noticed that CTS goes to GRND on the Arduino Pros. But there's no RTS pin on my Arduino Duemilanove. Thanks in advance

	by N8B \| Jul 29, 2010 at 3:29pm
The bluetooth mate was designed with the Arduino Pro in mind: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9219 Take a look at the schematic for the pro, JP9 will tell you which pins go where. Also, you can probably get away with no flow control and connect CTS to RTS. That is what I typically do, just connect CTS to RTS, and both of them to nothing else.

edward775

| Jul 30, 2010 at 2:50pm

I can power the BTMate and transmit serial data between my PC the Arduino Pro.

Now I'm trying to connect two arduinos through bluetooth and transmit data from one to the other. In order to connect the two bluetooth modules without using the computer, I need to enter command mode to configure the right settings so the modules can link to each other on their own.

I have been successful at entering command mode (using the '$$$' and the BT returns 'CMD'). But after that I can't seem to get any sort of response for any other commands, not even the '---' which is supposed to exit command mode.

Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.