Bluetooth MCU module.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: pappkopp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2017, 10:42:39 pm
content: I'm creating a project where i need a low power MCU, and preferable in a module.I have had a look at the Blue Gecko BGM111, i need something i dont have to spend 3 weeks just figuring the IDE for the software(is this the case here?)So does anybody have any recommendations on what to use?

author: jnz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2017, 10:55:47 pm
content: The bluegecko isn't a bad part, it's just not nearly as fleshed out as say the Nordic... BUT if you are having trouble understanding the BGApi or BGScript, I'm not sure what solution is going to be any easier.You might want to look at the Microchip BLE module, it reduces everything on the micro side to just UART.

author: richardman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 02:33:17 am
content: Quote from: pappkopp on February 15, 2017, 10:42:39 pmWHat do you need the Bluetooth to do? I am just finishing up a product using ST's BlueNRG.

author: miceuz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 07:14:32 am
content: I'm using BGM111 for commercial product and for hobby project. It's a nice module with Energymicro core inside - they have a very good architecture, documentation and support. You can program it with GCC from their netbeans based IDE, all the required components are there, but it's not officially supported yet - there is an example on the forum and a couple of guides on how to get gcc working, otherwise you are stuck with IAR compiler. It took me two days to get to working sample program with GCC, but I was among the first ones, now it might be easier.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 07:18:45 am
content: Quote from: jnz on February 15, 2017, 10:55:47 pmthey can also communicate with SPI and I2C.. and there are also some with a scripting engine to run everything without a mcu

author: HSPalm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 09:00:44 am
content: Nordic actually keeps a list of third party suppliers of modules with their chips on them.https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/3rd-Party-Bluetooth-low-energy-ModulesKeep in mind that the Nordic SoC's are both bluetooth and mcu in one, so some modules may come pre-programmed so as to interface them with an mcu, and some of them may be made to program the actual mcu (which is a cleaner solution, in the end).

author: pappkopp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 02:00:36 pm
content: Thanks for all the great contributions.If i got this module:http://www.digikey.no/product-detail/en/cypress-semiconductor-corp/CYBLE-012012-10/428-3538-1-ND/5873455how do you interface to the device for programming and configuration? do i need to implement a usb to uart converter on the board?I have already designed the power supply, charging over USB so i have the port available.

author: testian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 06:09:54 pm
content: It should be possible.http://media.digikey.com/pdf/PCNs/Cypress%20Semiconductor/PIN165002.pdfhttp://www.cypress.com/documentation/software-and-drivers/ez-serial-ez-ble-module-firmware-platformhttp://www.cypress.com/file/285326/download#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A106%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C69%2C566%2C0%5DBut depends on you needs.

author: jnz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2017, 05:21:15 pm
content: Quote from: richardman on February 16, 2017, 02:33:17 amI looked at that, but at the time (not long ago) it appeared to be one the absolute least supported / community utilized stack solutions. What made you pick that over the Nordic for example?

author: richardman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2017, 10:51:04 pm
content: We started our product prototype with STM32F411 + BlueNRG, so the BlueNRG1 is a natural choice when we moved from prototype to product stage. Our stack requirements are relatively modest. We don't have performance test yet, but for our application (Smart.IO: a toolkit that creates smartphone UI app for embedded systems w/o Bluetooth or App coding), it should be just fine.Quote from: jnz on February 17, 2017, 05:21:15 pm