Bluetooth device interfacing

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

I'm a newb with the arduino, so hopefully this question isn't a repost (although I did check around).

I am interested in interfacing an arduino with a bluetooth bracelet (which vibrates when a cell phone call comes in when used for its original purpose. I know the bracelet uses the bluetooth serial protocol.

Is it possible to connect an arduino with a bluetooth module to the bluetooth bracelet? If so, do I need the bluetooth arduino, or can I get away with a cheaper bluetooth-mate or similar product?

2

Are you sure the Bracelet is using the serial port profile and NOT the headset profile?

The bracelets and watches I have seen use the headset profile. Which makes the most sense. Most phones wouldn't know what to do with a serial port.

If you found an outlier, then look at either the docs.cc which runs around $150. Or just the radio, Bluetooth Mate. Bluetooth Mate Gold - WRL-09358 - SparkFun Electronics

I think they both use the same radio, which emulates a serial port.

3

I have a question about Bluetooth as well, this might be the best place for it...

I need to ser up a Ardunio to receive instructions via BT, but I dont need a 2 directional link. Basically Im going to fire hex commands at it and let the onboard code handle/process them to output.

Is there a cheeper way to do this then using the full $60 radio as I need to make several dozen and thats cost prohibitive to the project budget.

Since they sell BT ear peices for like $25, and USB BT adapters are like 9$ at walmart. here has to be a cheeper way.

4

I do know that the bracelet uses bluetooth serial protocol. I have seen projects to interface the bracelet with linux through bluetooth serial, just no projects involving the arduino. How would you pair the arduino with something like the bracelet?

Dear thread hijacker, here is an answer to your question:
You can't use the cheap bluetooth USB dongles with the Arduino because those cheap dongles require 1. a usb host interface (which the arduino doesn't have) and 2. leave all the bluetooth protocol processing to the host computer. The bluetooth interfaces available for the arduino have a separate co-processor that makes it much easier to interface with bluetooth and communicate. There are several options in terms of bluetooth for the arduino, the two main ones are either the Arduino bluetooth ($130) or a special bluetooth card ($60)

5

Also,

  1. cheap Chinese smd module.
  2. try to host the cheap USB bluetooth (it's been done)
  3. Xbee Bluetooth module without Xbee (not tried this yet but have one sitting around to play with at the weekend).

Although again, "cheap" is a relative term when you factor everything in. :smiley:

6

sorry about the thread-jack, i'll make a new thread for continuted discussion.