Extend Bluetooth (BlueSmirf range)

[kl22]

I've been reading up online and I read an article where someone attached a HyperGain antenna to a bluetooth module and got the range to increase to close to a mile (open field i'm guessing)

The one they used was the HyperGain RE05U 2.4GHz antenna (5dBi), and I noticed that HyperGain has a an 8.5dBi and higher antennas can I use one of those to get even longer range? (http://www.l-com.com/productfamily.aspx?id=6269)

[waltr]

Better check the FCC Part 15 regulations before putting that much Gain on a Bluetooth.

[kl22]

but would it work?

And I'm looking over it, do  you know what section I should be look at?

[Admin]

It will work, go for it.

The FCC allows you to do this if:
- it's experimental (just a few uses)
- its used for a short period of time (ie minutes or hours at most, not months)
- it doesn't interfere with emergency communications (ie jams police radios, etc)
      - not a problem with bluetooth
- it's not a product you are selling

That said, if you want very far range, perhaps you should get directional antennas. Bluetooth is 2.4GHz, which frankly sucks as a long distance frequency.

[waltr]

- it doesn't interfere with emergency communications (ie jams police radios, etc)

Not just emergency communications but ANY LICENSED radio service.

And yes, adding an antenna with gain will increase the transmit/receive range.

[Soeren]

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

[kl22]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all the replies, and I tried it out.

Current setup:
Arduino Pro Mini (3V, 8mhz) [had to use this since my input voltage was limited to 3.7v for my current project)
Bluesmirf Gold connected to Arduino using 3.3V output from Arduino
5dbi Omni Directional 2.4Ghz Antenna connected to Bluesmirf via RP-SMA (i think thats what it was called)

Results: BAD!, no gain at all, seems it is almost exactly the as before using a smaller gain antenna, or even worse.

Questions:
- Could it be because of the 3.3V input?
- Do you think that maybe the 3.3V input is causing a weaker signal to be produced?
- Also anyone know of any goof 2.4Ghz Digital Signal Amplifier that I can use between the bluesmirf and antenna to get more gain?
- Would a 2.4Ghz (ISM) amplifier work?
- Are these amplifiers just op-amps connected to the device using diodes to check whether the signal is transmit or receive?

Thanks inadvance!!!

[Admin]

I've been told that Chinese antenna manufactures lie about the gains on their antennas. I'm not sure how true this is, but I've heard it from a reliable source.

My Axon Mote is 3.3V and uses a 3dB Chinese antenna, and gets very good range.

What is the other bluetooth device on your computer/laptop? It could also be the problem.

[kl22]

It is two bluesmirf communicating with each other, actually one is a Bluesmrif Gold with the antenna (acts as a transmitter) and the other is a Sparkfun Bluetooth Mate with internal antenna.

This is the antenna I'm using and I bought it from them as well: http://creatroninc.com/cabsa-000558.html



as a side questions: Has anyone looked into this module: WirelessUSB™ - UGWJ4US (http://www.unigen.com/download/UGWJ4US%20User%20Manual_v09.pdf)?
If i were to use this, would I need one at each end? One at the controller and one at the robot being controlled?

[Admin]

the other is a Sparkfun Bluetooth Mate with internal antenna.

It has a chip antenna, so it's not good for long range. Both of your devices would need the 8.5dB gain antennas, and even then I'm suspicious of the 1 mile range.

What range are you currently getting? 100m?

[kl22]

I'm looking for somewhere between 150 to 200m (500+ ft).

Do you know of any amplifiers I can use that are made as modules? I looked on digikey, but they only sell the chips by themselves.

[ryoshima]

kl22, how did you get the bluesmirfs to talk to each other?  Having huge problems with this.

[ryoshima]

I sort of solved my problem. I got my bluesmirfs to connect to each other (LEDs on each turn and stay solid green). How can I send a command to one of the bluesmirfs while they are still connected to get a link quality value or signal strength value? I tried entering it into the command window, but no data is returned since both the modems are connected. Is there anyway to get information from one of the modems while they are connected?

There are a couple of threads where people have claimed to have done the same thing.

http://forum.sparkfun.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4534

thread of someone that has gotten it to work:
http://forum.sparkfun.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6588&hilit=ATDM

[Admin]

That's awesome! It appears I didn't know what I was talking about (fyi I deleted my last post). Let us know if and how you get it to work, I'm interested.

Also, your second link wasn't working, so I fixed it