company blog about Supply u-blox BT Evaluation Kits:BLE,BT 5,BT 5.1,BT 5.2,BT 5.3,BT 5.4

Supply u-blox BT Evaluation Kits:BLE,BT 5,BT 5.1,BT 5.2,BT 5.3,BT 5.4

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd., as a globally renowned distributor of electronic components, specialises in providing a diverse range of high-quality electronic components and assemblies. Leveraging years of industry expertise, an inventory exceeding two million SKUs, and an international supply chain network, the company offers one-stop procurement services for switching products to clients across multiple sectors.

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I. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): The Core Foundation for Low Power, High Efficiency

The u-blox Bluetooth evaluation kit is built upon Bluetooth Low Energy technology, emphasising ‘low power consumption, short range, and high reliability’. It is widely applicable to power-sensitive scenarios such as the Internet of Things, wearable devices, and smart sensors. The kit's low-power Bluetooth module achieves microampere-level sleep current, significantly extending device battery life while ensuring stable data transmission. This makes it particularly suitable for battery-powered portable products.

For Bluetooth Low Energy applications, u-blox offers multiple entry-level and professional-grade kits. Examples include the BMD-3xx series entry-level evaluation kits, based on Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52 series chips. Operating in the 2.4GHz band with a wide voltage range of 1.7V to 3.6V, these kits deliver stable performance across a broad temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. Their outstanding cost-effectiveness makes them ideal for budget-conscious prototype development. Additionally, kits like the ANNA-B4 and NINA-B3 series deeply integrate Bluetooth Low Energy functionality. Options include versions with built-in antennas or external U.FL antennas, offering flexible adaptation to diverse product designs.

II. Bluetooth 5: Establishing the Foundation for High-Speed and Long-Range Communication

As a significant upgrade to Bluetooth technology, Bluetooth 5 delivers comprehensive enhancements in transmission rates, communication range, and data capacity. u-blox's Bluetooth evaluation kits, optimised for the Bluetooth 5 standard, prioritise the dual core requirements of ‘long-range + high throughput’, catering to medium-to-long-range communication scenarios such as smart homes and industrial control.

The EVK-NINA-B3 series evaluation kits represent the core offering for Bluetooth 5.0. Designed for the NINA-B3 standalone module with Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy long-range communication and NFC, they are compatible with Arduino® Uno expansion boards. Supported by USB, external power supplies, or coin cell batteries, these kits feature on-board debugger hardware and firmware for rapid prototyping. Multiple variants are available, such as the EVK-NINA-B301 (with U.FL antenna connector) and EVK-NINA-B302 (with integrated antenna), catering to diverse antenna design requirements. Support is provided for both u-connect software and open CPU development with SDKs. All module pins are accessible via connectors, significantly reducing hardware development complexity and accelerating time-to-market. Furthermore, the BMD-300-EVAL evaluation kit supports Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy, featuring a compact form factor and rich interfaces, making it an ideal choice for entry-level Bluetooth 5 development.

III. Bluetooth 5.1: Precision Positioning, Unlocking Spatial Awareness Capabilities

Building upon Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth 5.1 introduces Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) positioning capabilities, enhancing accuracy to the centimetre level. u-blox's evaluation kits for Bluetooth 5.1 prioritise enhanced positioning performance, catering to scenarios such as indoor positioning, asset tracking, and smart navigation, while retaining low-power advantages.

The EVK-ANNA-B4 series evaluation kits form the core offering for Bluetooth 5.1, supporting the ANNA-B4 standalone module with Bluetooth 5.1 low-energy long-range capabilities. Four variants are available, encompassing both open CPU and pre-installed u-connectXpress software solutions, with options for integrated antennas or U.FL external antennas. Compatible with Arduino form factors, the kit features 48 GPIO signals alongside user buttons, LED indicators, and a reset button. Power delivery, programming, and virtual COM port functionality are achieved via a simple USB connection. Current detection resistors enable real-time measurement of module and expansion board power consumption, facilitating low-power optimisation. Additionally, the XPLR-AOA-1 and XPLR-AOA-3 direction-finding exploration kits, specifically designed for Bluetooth 5.1 AoA positioning, include antenna boards and tags. Powered by u-connectLocate software and optimised direction-finding algorithms, they enable high-resolution two-dimensional angle calculations and support simultaneous tracking of multiple tags. Suitable for applications such as goods tracking, AGV collision avoidance, and camera tracking, Angle data is output directly without requiring an additional processor, significantly simplifying the positioning system development process.

IV. Bluetooth 5.2: Low Latency and High Security for Complex Interaction Scenarios

Bluetooth 5.2 introduces LE Audio (low-energy audio), enhanced ATT protocol (ATT_MTU extension), and LE Power Control, optimising low-latency transmission and data security. The u-blox Bluetooth 5.2 evaluation kit prioritises audio transmission, smart wearables, and industrial data exchange scenarios, balancing low power consumption with high-interaction experiences.

The EVK-NORA-B1 series evaluation kit represents the core of the Bluetooth 5.2 version. It is suitable for the NORA-B1 standalone module, which utilises Bluetooth 5.2 low-power long-range communication, NFC, and Thread/Zigbee. Multiple model variants are available, supporting either an external U.FL antenna or an internal PCB antenna. Featuring an open CPU design, it can run customised programmes. All module functions are readily accessible via the evaluation board, facilitating multi-protocol convergence scenarios. Additionally, the Maya-W1 and Maya-W2 series evaluation kits also support Bluetooth 5.2 Low Energy. The Maya-W1 series is a Wi-Fi 4 + Bluetooth 5.2 multi-radio module evaluation kit, available in dual external antenna or single internal antenna versions. It is compatible with NXP i.MX evaluation development boards and is suitable for IoT applications requiring simultaneous Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The Maya-W2 series integrates Bluetooth 5.2 with the 802.15.4 protocol, enabling use in Thread/Zigbee scenarios and further expanding the boundaries of multi-protocol applications.

V. Bluetooth 5.3: Stability Enhancements for Industrial-Grade Reliability Demands

Building upon Bluetooth 5.2, Bluetooth 5.3 optimises connection stability and interference resistance while reducing power consumption and enhancing data transmission flexibility. It prioritises scenarios demanding exceptional reliability, such as industrial IoT, smart device interconnectivity, and automotive communications. Leveraging u-blox's RF expertise, the Bluetooth 5.3 evaluation kit further strengthens interference resistance to ensure stable communication in complex environments.

The NINA-B5 EVK evaluation kit serves as the core Bluetooth 5.3 offering, compatible with the NINA-B50 standalone module. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 low-power long-range communication while integrating CAN FD and LIN bus interfaces, making it suitable for automotive and industrial control applications. Additionally, the jody-W3 and jody-W6 series evaluation kits also support Bluetooth 5.3. The jody-W3 EVK is specifically designed for automotive applications, serving as a compact automotive-grade combo module evaluation kit. It supports concurrent dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and dual-mode Bluetooth 5.3, offering multiple antenna and LTE filter options, making it suitable for data-intensive applications such as in-vehicle infotainment and telematics. The jody-W6 EVK supports Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio, integrates Wi-Fi 6E, and incorporates advanced security encryption features, making it suitable for high-performance automotive IVI and TCU applications.

VI. Bluetooth 5.4: Multi-scenario Adaptability with Enhanced Low Power and Flexibility

Bluetooth 5.4 further optimises low-power performance, introducing features such as periodic broadcasting and broadcast encryption to enhance device wake-up efficiency and data security. It supports a broader range of IoT scenarios, including smart sensing, asset tracking, and wearable devices. u-blox's Bluetooth 5.4 evaluation kits focus on ‘low power + high flexibility’, offering diverse module choices and development support.

The jody-W5 EVK and maya-W2/maya-W4 series evaluation kits all support Bluetooth 5.4 Low Energy. The jody-W5 EVK is an automotive-grade module evaluation kit supporting Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 6, operating at temperatures up to 105°C. It is suited for applications including two-wheeled vehicles, EV charging, TCUs, and in-vehicle hosts. The Maya-W2 series evaluation kit integrates Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6, and 802.15.4 protocols with Thread/Zigbee support. Featuring an M.2 2230 Key E form factor, it is compatible with NXP i.MX evaluation development boards. The Maya-W4 M.2 Card Evaluation Kit incorporates the Maya-W4 module, integrating Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6 and 802.15.4. This further expands multi-protocol application options to meet the differentiated requirements of diverse IoT scenarios.