RE: Help for complete beginner with Fanstel BU840XE Unit.

Edvin — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:16:23 GMT

Hello,

If you want the functionality of a Bluetooth Dongle that you can buy in an electronics store, I am not sure this is actually the best product for you. But let us have a look.

First I need to clarify that I don't know the content of this device. If it is a device with the nRF52XXX chip, and only that, then it doesn't support Bluetooth classic, and therefore, Windows will not accept it as a generic Bluetooth dongle. On Linux, you could use it as a bluetooth dongle (if the correct firmware is programmed on the device). But it will obviously only work with Bluetooth Low Energy, not Bluetooth Classic.

FYI: Bluetooth Classic is almost only used for Bluetooth Audio.

If you want generic Bluetooth dongle functionality, the device needs to be programmed with HCI firmware (Host Controller Interface), since this is what computers expect Bluetooth dongles to use. It looks like this is not preprogrammed on the device, as it states here:

-------

Modules are loaded with production test codes to

enable Bluetooth transmitter for power measurement.

set each GPIO pin to high/low for continuity measurement.

Production test codes are not erased when modules are shipped from factory.

------- (Although it doesn't specify directly whether this also applies for that specific device. I couldn't really find much information about that device).

So you need to build and flash your own application, and unfortunately, if you don't know how to do it, you need to reach out to Fanstel, because I don't know what's inside the device that you have.

[quote user=""]serial communications seem to fail and the device has a serial number of 00000000000[/quote]

This suggests that it doesn't have a programmer/debugger. You are probably connecting to the nRF's USB port. This USB port is controlled by the nRF, but it can't be used for programming. Reach out to Fanstel and ask what is already programmed on the device, and how to reprogram it. I can help you interpret the answer you receive if you'd like, but as I said, I am not familiar with the device, and I don't know what's on the PCB, or what it is programmed with.

Best regards,

Edvin