Using The HC-06 Bluetooth Module - - Arduino For Projects

Contents hide 1 Summary of Using the HC-06 Bluetooth Module 2 HC-05 or HC-06

Summary of Using the HC-06 Bluetooth Module

The article discusses the differences between Bluetooth modules HC-05 and HC-06, which appear similar but have different firmware. The HC-05 has advanced firmware allowing it to act as both master and slave with many AT commands. In contrast, the HC-06 firmware limits the module to slave mode only, with fewer commands. This distinction affects usage scenarios, such as robots connecting to notebooks wirelessly. The author also notes that modules from different sources may require different drivers and refers to resources on reprogramming firmware for the HC-05.

Parts used in the Bluetooth Module Project:

• HC-05 Bluetooth module
• HC-06 Bluetooth module
• Bluetooth module carrier board (adapter)
• Firmware programming adapter

After my first post using a Bluetooth module, things have evolved a bit. The challenge with these Bluetooth modules is: they look the same, but having different firmware. I did not fully realize that until I have ordered another bluetooth module from dx.com:

That module comes already on a carrier, so I assumed I can use the same driver as for my other module. I was wrong :-(.

HC-05 or HC-06

My earlier module which I received from another source (without an adapter, see this post) has a different firmware on it, known as HC-05, while my DX.com module has a HC-06 firmware. To be clear: the modules are the same, but the software/firmware on it is different, and the firmware uses the pins differently too 🙁

Check out this post which explains how to re-program the firmware of the device with firmware programming adapter:http://byron76.blogspot.ch/2011/09/hc05-firmware.html

The HC-05 has the ‘full’ firmware on it: many AT commands, and can be both master and slave module. The HC-06 firmware on the other hand only can be a slave device, with very limited AT commands.

Or in other words:

• The HC-05 module can build a connection to other modules. E.g. a Robot being a master and connecting to slave bluetooth module. Or in slave mode to make a wireless bridge to a notebook.
• The HC-06 module only can be a slave. This makes it only useful for say connecting a notebook as a master to a robot with a slave module e.g. for a wireless serial bridge.

For more detail: Using the HC-06 Bluetooth Module