Question about Shields

New to Arduino and have some basic questions:

If I want to enable my Uno to have Bluetooth capability, for example, I would need a BT shield correct? (Maker Shed: Official Store of Make: and Maker Faire since 2005)

Now, if I wanted to plug this HR monitor (Maker Shed: Official Store of Make: and Maker Faire since 2005) into my Uno/BT Shield - would that work?

What happens when you want to integrate more than one shield into an Uno? (Let's say you want a BT Shield + another circuit for the data read)

Sorry if the question is stupid, but I'm just getting started.

So the general question here is:

If I want to use an Uno with the HR sensor and transmit the data via BT - what is the best way to accomplish this build? I'm looking for the smallest package possible.

dakrisht:
If I want to enable my Uno to have Bluetooth capability, for example, I would need a BT shield correct? (Maker Shed: Official Store of Make: and Maker Faire since 2005)

No. You can get a bluetooth module for about 1/10th the price, and plug that into the main board, or some other shield.

What happens when you want to integrate more than one shield into an Uno? (Let's say you want a BT Shield + another circuit for the data read)

You simply stack the shields one on the other. Either store-bought shields, or ones you cobble up yourself. This is the essential feature of ther Arduino

Sorry if the question is stupid, but I'm just getting started.

Nothing stupid here. We all learn

Thanks Nick_Pyner

Any links for a less expensive BT module? Agreed on these prices, absurd.

dakrisht:
Any links for a less expensive BT module? Agreed on these prices, absurd.

eBay. Search "Arduino Bluetooth"

Found a bunch at $5 or less.

I'm assuming the $40 premium paid for the BT modules referenced above is because they include an app in iOS to actually receive the data from the sensors / arduino?

I wonder if the premium is worth it given the application to interface the Arduino BT with a wireless device. Goal for me is to connect a sensor to the arduino and receive that data on a device for testing.

In terms of bluetooth, you didn't mention what you want to connect to. If you are connecting to an Android phone, normal bluetooth connections would work. There are various Android bluetooth apps that you can get that would allow you to communicate to an Arduino. I have Bluetooth Controller and Connection Terminal on my phone.

If you are connecting to an Apple phone, you would need to investigate carefully, whether your device can connect. I don't have any Apple products, but I see references to needing bluetooth 4.0 (BLE) devices for the newest phones, and having to jailbreak the phone for older phones.

I bought this module from the ebay seller NYPLATFORM, and because it is a US based seller, I got it in a few days: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HC-05-Bluetooth-Transceiver-Host-Slave-Master-Module-Wireless-Serial-6pin-/321120060216?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac43f4338 for under $15. I primarily got it for my Teensy 3.0, since it supports 3.3 volts as well as 5 volts that my Uno uses.

I also bought a bluetooth shield from Radio Shack for my UNO (RadioShack.com Official Site - America's Technology Store) that is now $10 (when I bought it, it was $20). My sense is RS is moving away from the seeed shields like this bluetooth shield, and have lowered the price to clear the inventory. I did a search at radio shack, and only one store near me now carries the bluetooth shield. This shield does come fully assembled, unlike some other shields, which might be important if your soldering skills are a bit rusty.

For either one, you would hook up the shield to either pins 0/1 to use the hardware serial port (if you aren't using the USB device), or use the software serial support in the UNO to use other pins (the stand-alone module can use any pins, the bluetooth shield is hard wired to use pins 6 and 7). Note, there are some restrictions in software serial support, such as only being able to use one device for receiving input (http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/SoftwareSerial). Other devices like the Mega and Teensy 3.0 have more hardware serial ports (hardware serial moves more of the serial support to off board chips, and it provides buffers so it is less likely to miss characters).

The advantage of a shield is you don't have to hook up a random piece of hardware, it just fits into the UNO. The disadvantage is it isn't as flexible in terms of pin support.

There are other radio devices that aren't bluetooth, such as Radioblocks mesh networks (Dewisport - Situs Judi Live Casino, Slot Games, IDN Live Terpercaya Di Indonesia) that would be more useful if you are having a bunch of devices that need to talk to each other (bluetooth is point to point).

dakrisht:
Found a bunch at $5 or less.

I'm assuming the $40 premium paid for the BT modules referenced above is because they include an app in iOS to actually receive the data from the sensors / arduino?

I wonder if the premium is worth it given the application to interface the Arduino BT with a wireless device. Goal for me is to connect a sensor to the arduino and receive that data on a device for testing.

I just use the JY-MCU modules for remote data logging on a laptop, one-way traffic. These have standard 4 or 6 pin headers. They can be made to do a lot more than that. Don't be tempted to save more money getting the bare boards. I have no idea why that shield is so expensive but, if iOS has anything to do with Apple, that might explain a lot. I understand Apple is a bit choosey about who it talks to and it takes special procedures or hardware but, if you can afford Apple gear, you can afford the shield.

So with regards to Bluetooth an Apple iOS: you can't interface with Bluetooth hardware that isn't running the Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low Energy) protocol.

Anything less than 4.0 LE (2.1, 3, etc.) can only interface with an Android app/device.

These guys seem to make a solid Bluetooth 2.1 add-on for their PCB: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/bluetooth-frame-p-796.html

Also, perhaps this is another module that can fit on that PCB? Bluetooth SMD Module - RN-42 - WRL-10253 - SparkFun Electronics