Add ANT+ central function to nRF52840 with nRF Connect SDK

[Maldus512]

Hello,

I'm finding difficult to understand how to add ANT+ reception functionality to my current project.

I have the following module https://www.we-online.com/en/components/products/PROTEUS-III with an nRF52840 processor. At this stage I'm successfully able to connect to BLE peripherals and act as a BLE peripheral device at the same time. I am exploring the possibility to receive ANT+ data as well, specifically from HRT sensors.

Looking at the processor specs it should allow for ANT+ communication; I have however not been able to include this functionality at the software level.

I have tried to pursue the sdk-ant path only to realize afterwards that the nRF52 series isn't supported.

The other option I've found is more confused. It appears from here that the processor should access this functionality via the 340 softdevice. As far as I understand it, softdevices are a different approach to programming nordic processors that is tied to the old nRF5 SDK.

I have already done most of my work with the new nRF Connect SDK. Is there hope to keep working with the new SDK and still access ANT+ functionality on the nRF52840?

[Kenneth]

Hello,

As you have found ANT and ANT+ support is not yet available on the nRF52-series in the nRF Connect SDK (NCS), please reach out to www.thisisant.com to ensure they are aware of the demand for support also in NCS. I do believe they are working on this, but I don't know the timeline. For now only support for the nRF53-series is supported in NCS.

If you can't wait, then you must either switch to the nRF53-series and use NCS, or you need to use the old nRF5 SDK that have support for ANT and ANT+ for the nRF52-series:
https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-software/nrf5-sdk 

Please read the statement about nRF5 SDK on the above page, since we strongly recommend using NCS for new development.

Kenneth

[Maldus512]

Thank you for the clarification. It appears that a release for the sdk-ant library could be published in the Q1 of 2024 (source), I will track the new releases on the relevant website.

[kitkat]

Q1? when does that end Kenneth? as a new user to Nordic devices (52840) the 5340 is overkill and expensive for mid tier consumer product im currently working on. just starting to get head round nrf connect/zephyr, and i dont want to backstep to nrf5, if is on the way out.

I assume Q1 is end of March 24?, Im not in the know of Nordic's financial Q1-Q4 year start/end dates if thats what your refering to, as an engineer.

[sread]

Hello, I'm pleased to report ANT support for nRF52840 will be released alongside sdk-nrf v2.6. This version is currently being finalized by Nordic with a target date of March 14, 2024.

[kitkat]