how to Control arduino by bluetooth from (PC, pocket PC PDA)

I wanted to make it possible to control an arduino board from my phone.
So that I could control other devices.
the easiest way seemed to be using bluetooth.

but when I received the parts needed I found it want quite as simple as I had hoped.
And after looking on the Internet I didn't find much information to help.

so I have decided to write this guide to help other people that are thinking of doing the same thing. 

Step 1: Parts needed

1 arduino board ( I used the duemilanvoe 328)
1 bluetooth serial board ( I used the sparkfun bluesmirf)
some pieces of wire
1 led
A computer with bluetooth or a usb bluetooth adaptor.
A pocket PC with bluetooth

Software needed

the arduino enviroment software
and some serial terminal software ( I used putty)

Comments

[smaw51]

Check out http://beta.appinventor.mit.edu/ for an easy way to make an android app for use with your bluetooth communication arduino stuff. It is a pretty easy interface and free!

[drmpf]

If you don't want to do the Andriod programming,try my pfodApp. It handles all the Andriod side, You just code the Arduino device.

Think HTML replacement for micros. The Arduino is the micro-server and pfodApp is the micro-browser.

www.pfod.com.au has complete tutorial examples of controlling micro devices from Andriod with NO Android programming.

[sonic656]

Hi. Thx for your script! But it wasn't working for me for the first time. I used Bluetooth SPP, the best app i think, for android to play with Arduino nano serial port. I needed to edit your code. Now it works great!

My code:

char val; // variable to receive data from the serial port
int ledpin =13; // LED connected to pin 13 or onboard LED

void setup()
{
pinMode(ledpin, OUTPUT); // set ledpin as OUTPUT
Serial.begin(9600); // start serial communication at 115200bps

}

void loop() {
if( Serial.available() ) // if data is available to read
{
;
}
val = Serial.read(); // read serial and store it in 'val'

if((val == '0' ) || (val == 'off')) // if '0' or 'off' was received ledpin is switched off
{
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // turn ledpin Off
Serial.println("ledpin off");
}

if((val == '1' ) || (val == 'on')) // if '1' or 'on' was received ledpin is switched on
{
digitalWrite(ledpin, HIGH); // turn ledpin ON
Serial.println("ledpin on");
}
}

[hectorbunny]

Very nice project, but I have a doubt, this can receive and transmit data at the same time? or you have to stop receiving data to send data from your PC
Thanks

[st_jimmy]

hi,thanks for the instructable first of all.
i need to ask a few questions about connecting hardware.
1)why do we need to connect cts1 and rts0 ports?
2)why do we need to connect Rx on Arduino with Tx on BlueSmirf, and Tx on Arduino with Rx on BlueSmirf?aren't they supposed to be reciprocal?

thanks in advance

[kool1zero]

the cts1 and rts0 mean clear to send and ready to send. they tell the bluetooth module you're ready to receive data and when you're ready to send data.

and the Rx means receiving communication Tx means sending. so the send of the bluetooth module goes to the receiving of the arduino and vice versa.

[Geniusdude]

So what is the exact voltage at the terminals for the LED? I'd like to know this before I build to see if it will work for my application, thanks!

[javi_el_largo]

Hi,
Today I was playing with my Arduino Uno and my old PocketPC (Dell Axim), I'm doing the same thing with a different approach: instead of using Putty, programming my Axim with Basic4PPC and I'm able to read/switch on/off any of the Arduino's digital pins, or read/write any of its analog pins. At first, I thought of using EVB (Embedded Visual Basic which I think is free) but handling bluetooth with it is very hard

Congratulations for your instructable and greetings from Spain.

[agnivohneb]

I just ordered my bluetooth module and after I hit purchase I realized I have no idea how to use this thing. You tutorial helped a lot. I will give it a shot as soon as it arrives :)

Thanks +Fav

[leee2011]

Hi everyone, I bought a Bluetooth breakout from
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1pcs-TTL-Bluetooth-Module-adapter-board-/270808764130?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0d75cee2
Can this breakout be connected to my Duemilanove directly.
In my mind the arduino is 5V TTL logic, but the Bluetooth module is 3.3V TTL based.
Thanks in advance.

[~REY~]

Very Cool! Great Instructable!

[aegidos]

Hy Simon,

I like your post about the Bluetooth module.
Now I'm trying on my own to connect as you descibed in your howto using this module:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arduino-Bluetooth-Module-Slave-Wireless-Serial-Board-/390333614711

I connected TX to RX and RX to TX and the power supply as well GND and 5V.
Pairing works very well and the BT module indicates that connection was established, after typing the "password" 1234 in.

Now i have difficulties sending data "1" to switch the LED on. That does not work.
The only difference from my module compared to yours is that i haven't connected the KEY and the STATE connector. It is descibed in the datasheet on ebay that they are not necessarily needed.

If i open serial port monitor in Arduino SDK and sending any kind of data to the arduino via BT no RX light is flashing - that confuses me right now.

Any idea what's going wrong there?
Help would be highly appreciated.
Greetz
Andi

[Czayen]

Hi Andi,

I have just received my BT module (from the same auction) and it works perfectly.
The problem is with Simon's code. I have modified it slightly and it works ok.
Here is the code: http://pokazywarka.pl/dfdzc7/

Regards
Tom

[vishalapr]

Will this USB transceiver work :

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-Transceiver-Module-RS232-TTL-backplane-/390291743909?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item5adf3364a5

(My computer does have a bluetooth receiver 300 meters range)

Awaiting your reply...

This is a really cool instructable for people like me who are a bit ....

[vishalapr]

And one more question...
So we need to click enter after typing in (0 or 1 as in your program)

Thanks

[mitman93]

Hello. I was wondering if it was possible to combine this with a usbhost shield? Do the two share any pins? And if so, would they interfere?

Thank you!

[Chowmix12]

The usb shiekd doesn't use pins 0 and 1 (RX/TX) so it should be fine.) implementing code may be a little harder.

[Magneto_Man]

Great! thanks a lot! I used a standard serial Bluetooth adapter module and it works perfectly! :-)

[Tchnclfl]

You really shouldn't connect an LED like that without some form of resistor...Red LEDS, for example, are only supposed to run at about 2.5 volts MAX, and you're running 5v through that one.

[Oxide]

Pin 13 has an internal pull-up resistor: http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1251513531/2

[simon72post]

Hi I agree with your comment about not connecting an led to a 5V supply with out a current limiting resistor.
But if you read the documentation on the arduino board there is a current limiting resistor on pin 13 for this purpose.

[doby162]

this looks awsome! i currently have other projects going(which i plan to submit to instructables) but after them i might try to built a bluetooth controled robot. what kind of range do you get off that thing anyway? if i could controll the robot though out my house than that would be good enuf for me. also were would you get a bluetooth receiver? also some red leds wont even light off 2.5 volts, they very alot. ive even run one off a nine volt with no problem. ovcourse it was only producing 7 volts at the time...

[javajunkie1976]

How would this work if I wanted to connect a wireless handheld controller to an 7 1/2" gauge locomotive and run it remotely? The current set up is too cumbersome with the cable and if track operations dictate the need to do some switching of cars on the track, walking alongside the locomotive gets to be a pain, especially with scenery and other trains.

[benjgvps]

 It's that easy to use a bluetooth module? I think I may build my own bluetooth adapter for my Palm M500 using the serial pins on the cradle adapter. This may end up being cheaper than the hard-to-find-in-canada SDIO Bluetooth adapter.

[joejoerowley]

 Very Cool! Great Instructable!

[Rorymi6]

Very interesting, might give this a go. I assume this a BlueSMiRF Gold?
Thanks
Rory