Bluetooth modules: Bluegiga BLE112 and HM-10 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: delicado
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2015, 08:50:17 am
content: I see that Bluetooth LE modules like the Bluegiga BLE112 sell for around $20, whilst HM-10 sell for just $4.Beside the FCC certification, what makes the BLE112 a superior product? The both have onboard the CC2541, which is the most critical component. Are there usually pitfalls with cheap modules like the HM-10 though?Is there a catch somewhere?Thanks

author: jnz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2015, 03:26:07 pm
content: Wasn't framiliar with the HM-10 so I looked it up.Basically what you have with the BLE-112 is this:a module with FCC, CL, and worldwide certsa UART (sometimes USB) connection upto 115kbpsBGScript which is a basic interpreter running on their SoC, you can program the chip as a stand alone application, no need for PC or other micro (it's kinda slow however)BGApi / BGLib which is a fast and efficient comm format that lets your PC or Micro work with the Bluetooth chip, the Lib is a C implementation of the Api, really easy to useyou are buying from an supporting a legit company with service and technical support vs a race-to-the-bottom potentially cloned tech marketability to reliably source from 10 to thousands of quality made partsWith the HM-10, it's AT commands over a 9600 buad connection with a delay instead of stop bits (a lot of overhead, slow connection, and some nonsense way of working) - which for anyone but Arduino users is about a full stop right there. And the likely opposite of everything I wrote above.SiLabs bought BlueGiga, they are likely going to phase in ARM based chips over the 112/113 line with a Ti SoC. So starting today with the BGM111 might make more sense if that is the route you are going.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 06:42:05 am
content: Does anyone know if this bluetooth module, using a CC2540 chip, is available online anywhere, and who makes it?Or is it a propriety module, perhaps made by the maker of the board it's used on here? (A Bluetooth RGB LED controller.)

author: jnz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 03:41:17 pm
content: No can do on ID of your picture. All the "serious" modules out right now all have metal shields over them. (BlueGiga/SiLabs, Laird, Nordic, Microchip, etc). There is a company selling a software Bluetooth stack, and some selling module only which your pic could be based on, but those require you to do your own FCC certs if it's a real product.What you have there looks like a cheapo from China.If I were going to want to make my own module, Ti has a dual core ARM with an M4 for you and an attached M0 that runs the Bluetooth stack. And Nordic has something similar with the nRF51/52. But for the numbers I looked at, doing a chip didn't make sense for me unless I was looking at 15k+ units. Depends on if you would ship worldwide or not.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2015, 12:39:08 am
content: Quote from: jnz on October 04, 2015, 03:41:17 pmThanks."looks like a cheapo from China" - that is exactly what it is. Selling worldwide via ebay, aliexpress, etc.http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Bluetooth-RGB-RGBW-led-Controller-BT-Wireless-IOS-Android-Led-Strip-Bluetooth-4-0-Control/32405717357.htmlUS $21.60