RFBluetooth Versions Comparison: v1.2 to v4.1
This article outlines the differences between various Bluetooth versions, specifically v1.2, v2.0, v2.1, v3.0, v4.0, and v4.1. It also provides links to other helpful resources related to Bluetooth technology.
Bluetooth is a technology that enables short-range wireless communication, allowing devices to exchange data. Over the years, several versions have been developed, including those covered in this article. It operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band and adheres to the IEEE 802.15.1 standard, defining both the PHY and MAC layers for this Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN).
Each Bluetooth version has its own speed and data rate specifications. They are generally designed to be backward compatible with previous versions, ensuring interoperability between devices using different Bluetooth versions.
Bluetooth networks are structured around piconets, each containing one master device and up to seven slave devices that communicate with the master.
Bluetooth RF and Baseband Specifications
Here’s a brief overview of common specifications:
- Modulation: GFSK
- Peak Data Rate: ~1 Mbps
- RF Bandwidth: 220 KHz and 1 MHz
- RF Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
- Number of RF Carriers: 23/79
- RF Carrier Spacing: 1 MHz
- Frequency Hopping: 1600 hops/sec
- Duplex Mode: Time Division Duplex
- Transmit Power: ~0.1 watt
- Range: 10m to 100m
- Simultaneous Links: 7 (in a star configuration)
Bluetooth Version Comparison
Here’s a breakdown of each version’s key features:
-
Bluetooth v1.2
- Speed/Data Rate: 720 kbps
- Backward Compatibility: v1.1
-
Bluetooth v2.0
- Speed/Data Rate: 2.1 Mbps
- Backward Compatibility: v1.2
-
Bluetooth v2.1
- Speed/Data Rate: 2 Mbit/s
- Backward Compatibility: v1.2
-
Bluetooth v3.0
- Speed/Data Rate: 24 Mbps
- Backward Compatibility: v2.1
-
Bluetooth v4.0
- Speed/Data Rate: 24 Mbps
- Backward Compatibility: Bluetooth v3.0
-
Bluetooth v4.1
- Designed to work seamlessly with LTE cellular technology.
- Backward compatible with previous versions.
