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Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi: A Comparative Study for Wireless Data Transfer

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Through a controlled experiment, we aim to provide clear insights into their strengths, supported by a dataset and chart.
Key Differences Between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
   •    Bluetooth: Optimized for short-range, low-power connections (10-30 ft). Ideal for devices like headphones or smartwatches.
   •    Wi-Fi: Designed for high-speed, long-range data transfer (up to 150 ft indoors). Perfect for internet access or streaming.

Introduction

Method

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WiFi Connectivity

  • Range: 30-100m indoors

  • ESP32/ESP8266 modules

Camera/Mic → ESP32 → FastAPI → App

Tested the time taken to transfer a 10MB file using:
  •    Devices: Smartphone (sender) and laptop (receiver).
  •    Bluetooth: Version 5.0 (BLE).
  •    Wi-Fi: 802.11ac (2.4 GHz).
  •    Distance: 10 ft.
  •    Trials: Three per connection, averaged for accuracy.

Bluetooth Connectivity

  • Range: 10-30m indoors

  • GATT for BLE, A2DP for audio

Results

Technology                        Bluetooth            Wi-Fi
Trial 1 (s)                            45.2                     2.3
Trial 2 (s)                            46.1                     2.1
Trial 3 (s)                            44.8                     2.4
Average Time (s)               45.4                     2.3

Wi-Fi completed the transfer in 2.3 seconds on average, vastly outperforming Bluetooth’s 45.4 seconds. This 20x speed advantage reflects Wi-Fi’s higher bandwidth (up to 100 Mbps) versus Bluetooth’s 1-2 Mbps. However, Bluetooth excels in low-power scenarios, while Wi-Fi offers greater range and interference resistance.

Bluetooth suits low-power, short-range tasks, while Wi-Fi excels in high-speed, long-range applications. For projects requiring fast data transfer—like a baby monitor with video streaming—Wi-Fi is the better choice

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Conclusion

  • Wi-Fi’s speed and range best support real-time cry analysis and video streaming

  • WiFi provides significantly better range through walls and across larger homes.

  • WiFi offers better audio quality with fewer dropouts

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Thus, we should choose ESP 32 for a more stable and strong connection. This because it supports clear video, and reaches further, perfect for real-time cry alerts and video streaming in Hong Kong homes.

ISDN2001/2002: Second Year Design Project

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