Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Fridtjof — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:24:33 GMT

Thank you for the excellent answer, Amanda!

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Amanda Hsieh — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:21:51 GMT

Hi,

I got an update from the team:

It is a bit incorrect to say coded PHYs cannot be used with BT Mesh.

BT Mesh specification does not define transporting mesh packets over coded PHY. However, it also does not prevent anyone from doing so. If you can develop your coded-phy bearer module (like adv_ext.c module which sends mesh packets using 1M PHY), and activate this functionality using a 'Vendor model', this wouldn't cause any issues. So, as long as the node works like a normal BT Mesh node without activating codes-PHY using the vendor model ... I don't see a problem with doing this and using Bluetooth TM (since Code-PHY by itself is a Bluetooth functionality). Of course, such a device may not be marketed as a "true interoperable mesh device", but there is no issue when using the Bluetooth logo by itself as long as you qualify and list your design in the Bluetooth qualification database.

Bluetooth qualification for a particular product grants customers a license to use parts of Bluetooth technology (that you claim to qualify in your listing) in that commercial product. How customers combine various Bluetooth features and mix and match is up to your creativity and technical feasibility. If interoperability is not a goal, I don't see any blocker in transporting mesh packets over coded-phy.

Making such a thing won't be trivial and the dev team may not be able to support it fully, but you are free to experiment on your own.

Regards,
Amanda H.

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Fridtjof — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:04:32 GMT

I will assume the answer is something like "most probably yes, but we do not wish to take on any possible legal liability." This is understandable. Thank you for the guidance!

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Fridtjof — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:03:17 GMT

If and only if?

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Amanda Hsieh — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:50:04 GMT

If you want to use the Bluetooth logo, it needs to be qualified.

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Fridtjof — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:08:35 GMT

Thank you for the answer, Amanda

It seems coded PHYs cannot be used with BT Mesh IF we need qualification. I'm trying to figure out whether we would need it. If we use Bluetooth Mesh but do not advertise that we use Bluetooth, use the Bluetooth logo, or wish to be compatible with any other Bluetooth devices (just our own mesh); would we need to get qualified?

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Amanda Hsieh — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:15:04 GMT

Hi,

Please see my colleague's explanation in this post.

Regards,
Amanda H.

RE: Is BT Mesh still not compatible with coded PHY

Fridtjof — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:26:19 GMT

I read the official Bluetooth Mesh FAQ, and it says that BT Mesh is available for Bluetooth 5, so I would think it can handle coded PHYs. Is this something that has been tried on the nrf528XX?