BLED112-V1C - Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy USB Dongle | Silicon Labs
MPN: BLED112-V1C ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
BLED112-V1C Overview
A BLE dongle is a finished, fully certified Bluetooth Low Energy radio unit in a USB stick form factor. Unlike bare RF modules that require antenna design and regulatory testing, a dongle integrates the radio, microcontroller, BLE stack, and antenna, and plugs directly into a host USB port. In the connectivity hierarchy it sits under: Bluetooth module -> short-range wireless transceiver -> RF transceiver finished unit -> wireless communication device.
Key features include Bluetooth v4.0 single-mode low energy operation at 1 Mbps, a UART serial interface alongside native USB, support for the Bluegiga BGAPI binary protocol and BGScript scripting, and R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC) conformity with Anatel certification (06875-18-03402) for Brazil. These attributes allow hosts without native BLE to gain BLE connectivity with zero RF design effort.
Architecturally, the BLED112 combines an integrated Bluetooth radio, microcontroller, and pre-flashed software stack. Application logic can run on-board using the Bluegiga Profile Toolkit and BGScript, or the host can drive the module over BGAPI, offloading the entire BLE stack from the host CPU. This makes it a favorite in PC-based instrumentation and test setups.
Typical applications include adding BLE to lab equipment and data loggers, Linux, Android, and Windows host connectivity for BLE sensors, BLE profile prototyping using two dongles, and industrial wireless configuration tools. The 30 m range and integrated trace antenna suit desktop and benchtop use.
Design consideration: because the dongle is a finished USB unit, the main integration risk is host driver and BGAPI software compatibility rather than RF layout; plan software migration early since the family is nearing end-of-life.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-brand drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for BLED112-V1C — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with BLED112-V1C (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Software Stack, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
BLED112-V1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →BLED112
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BLED112-V1C Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| RF Family/Standard | Bluetooth |
| Protocol | Bluetooth v4.0, Low Energy (BLE) |
| Frequency Range | 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz |
| Data Rate | 1 Mbps |
| Receiver Sensitivity | -91 dBm |
| Operating Range | 30 m |
| Supply Voltage | 3.6 V to 5.5 V (via USB) |
| Antenna Type | Integrated (trace connector mount) |
| Interfaces | USB, UART |
| Software Stack | Bluegiga BGAPI / BGScript / Profile Toolkit |
| Host OS Support | Linux, Android, Windows |
| Form Factor | USB dongle |
| Certification (Brazil) | Anatel 06875-18-03402 |
| Regulatory Conformity | R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC) |
| Modulation | GFSK |
| Mounting Type | USB port (plug-in) |
BLED112-V1C Interfaces & Connectors
BLED112-V1C exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 3.6 V to 5.5 V (via USB) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Operating Temperature | 30 m |
| Power Input | 3.6 V to 5.5 V (via USB) |
Power input and thermal parameters for BLED112-V1C as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
BLED112-V1C is suitable for 6 applications: PC-Based BLE Instrumentation, BLE Profile Prototyping and Development, Industrial Sensor Wireless Links, Medical and Health Device Data Gateways, Smart Home and IoT Commissioning Tools, Embedded Host BLE Addition via UART.
PC-Based BLE Instrumentation
The BLED112-V1C gives Windows, Linux, and Android hosts instant Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy connectivity through a standard USB port, with the full BLE stack running on-board so no host Bluetooth radio is required. Its 1 Mbps link, -91 dBm sensitivity, and approximately 30 m range comfortably cover benchtop and desk-scale telemetry from sensors and data loggers. Hosts communicate via the simple BGAPI serial protocol over USB, which integrates easily with LabVIEW, Python, and C applications. Because the dongle is a finished certified radio, instrument makers avoid antenna design and R&TTE re-certification. The main planning consideration is the family's end-of-life status, so production programs should secure last-time-buy stock or build a BGAPI-compatible abstraction layer early.
Recommended
BLE Profile Prototyping and Development
Per the BLED112 data sheet, two dongles can be used together to rapidly prototype new Bluetooth Low Energy application profiles using the Bluegiga Profile Toolkit, while BGScript automates in-module software functions. This makes the BLED112-V1C an efficient development tool: one dongle acts as the peripheral emulating a product, the other as a central scanner, and both run the identical BLE 4.0 stack for deterministic behavior. The 2.402-2.48 GHz radio with 1 Mbps GFSK modulation provides standard BLE PHY characteristics, and USB power (3.6-5.5 V input) means no bench supply is needed. Teams can iterate profile designs in hours rather than scheduling RF lab time, then port the validated BGScript logic to production Bluegiga-based hardware.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Wireless Links
In industrial settings the BLED112-V1C provides a low-power Bluetooth v4.0 link between BLE sensor nodes and gateway or supervisory PCs. Its UART interface, in addition to USB, allows integration with embedded controllers that need BLE connectivity without a native radio, while the -91 dBm receiver sensitivity and roughly 30 m integrated-antenna range suit machine-side and line-side monitoring distances. Because the BLE stack runs entirely on the module, the host MCU only parses BGAPI events, minimizing firmware complexity on legacy PLCs and loggers. The dongle's R&TTE 1999/5/EC conformity and Anatel certification 06875-18-03402 simplify deployment in European and Brazilian facilities. For EOL planning, qualify the same-family BLED112-V1 as the stocking substitute.
Recommended
Medical and Health Device Data Gateways
Bluetooth Low Energy is the dominant radio for health sensors such as heart-rate belts, pulse oximeters, and glucose monitors, and the BLED112-V1C turns any PC into a BLE collector for these devices. The module's on-board BLE 4.0 stack handles GATT discovery, pairing, and notifications, so gateway software only processes BGAPI attribute events, keeping medical application code isolated from radio details. The 2.4 GHz integrated-antenna design with about 30 m range covers patient-room to nurse-station distances, and USB bus power (3.6-5.5 V input) suits compact gateway hardware. Product teams should note the family's end-of-life status and the Silicon Labs community's active migration discussions when defining long-support-life medical platform roadmaps.
Recommended
Smart Home and IoT Commissioning Tools
Installers and commissioning tools frequently need BLE to configure smart-home devices, and the BLED112-V1C provides this capability to field laptops and service tablets through a plain USB port. The dongle's integrated Bluetooth v4.0 radio, 1 Mbps data rate, and -91 dBm sensitivity enable reliable GATT reads and writes during device setup, while BGScript permits simple commissioning sequences to run on the dongle itself for standalone tools. Because the radio product is pre-certified (R&TTE 1999/5/EC, Anatel 06875-18-03402), tool vendors ship internationally without additional radio approvals. Linux support per Mouser makes it a natural fit for Raspberry-Pi-style commissioning gateways. Secure spare stock given the end-of-life lifecycle status before standardizing field tools on it.
Recommended
Embedded Host BLE Addition via UART
Beyond USB hosts, the BLED112-V1C exposes a UART serial interface, letting microcontroller-based products gain Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy without an RF design. An embedded MCU sends BGAPI commands over UART at standard serial rates, and the module's integrated stack manages advertising, connections, and GATT services at 2.402-2.48 GHz with 1 Mbps modulation. With -91 dBm sensitivity and roughly 30 m range from the integrated antenna, the link suits building-control panels, kiosks, and service ports. The 3.6-5.5 V supply range accepts common 5 V rails. This architecture removes the BLE stack, antenna tuning, and regulatory testing from the host design cycle entirely, though EOL status means new embedded designs should evaluate current-generation Silicon Labs BLE modules.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for BLED112-V1C — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | BLED112-V1 | BLED112 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | USB dongle (trace connector mount antenna) | USB dongle (trace antenna) - same | USB dongle - same family |
| Brand | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs |
| Bluetooth Protocol | Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy | Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy | Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy |
| Frequency Band | 2.402 GHz - 2.48 GHz | 2.402 GHz - 2.48 GHz | 2.402 GHz - 2.48 GHz |
| Data Rate | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| Supply Voltage | 3.6 V - 5.5 V (USB) | 3.6 V - 5.5 V (USB) | 3.6 V - 5.5 V (USB) |
| Software Stack | BGAPI / BGScript / Profile Toolkit | BGAPI / BGScript / Profile Toolkit | BGAPI / BGScript / Profile Toolkit |
| Antenna | Integrated, trace connector mount | Integrated trace antenna | Integrated (per ordering code) |
Key Differentiators
- Trace connector mount antenna arrangement (vs BLED112-V1)
- On-board BLE stack offloads the host entirely (vs Generic third-party BLE 4.0 USB dongles)
- Pre-certified finished radio product (vs Uncertified bare BLE modules)
Design Notes
The BLED112 family is reported end-of-life in Silicon Labs community threads (May 2025), and users relying on the BGAPI protocol face host-code rewrites if no compatible replacement is stocked. For production systems, place a last-time-buy for remaining DigiKey/Mouser stock and design an abstraction layer between host applications (e.g., LabVIEW BLE Toolkit) and the dongle's BGAPI interface so future radios can be swapped with minimal code changes. Verify remaining distributor stock before committing the dongle to new designs.
The module operates from USB bus power over a 3.6 V to 5.5 V input range and communicates as a USB CDC serial device using BGAPI. On noisy industrial hosts, USB ports on front panels or unpowered hubs can drop serial frames during radio bursts; prefer a direct motherboard USB port or a powered hub. Because the BLE stack runs entirely on-module, no host-side RF layout, antenna matching, or stack porting is required, but keep UART cable runs short (under 30 cm) when using the serial interface in embedded designs.
The dongle draws its supply from the USB VBUS rail within the 3.6-5.5 V specified range, so low-power USB implementations that cut VBUS in sleep states will disconnect the radio. If a host system gates USB power for energy saving, disable that feature for the port hosting the BLED112 or the BLE link will drop. Estimated: a BLE dongle typically consumes tens of milliamps during advertising and connection events, which is negligible for desktop hosts but meaningful for battery-operated USB power banks.
Compliance Information
R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC) conformity and Brazil Anatel certification 06875-18-03402 confirmed in datasheet excerpts. RoHS/REACH status not stated in provided data.
