nRF52832 beacon mesh

[Fra_greg]

Hello,
I bought three BMD-300 Eval, which incorporates the nrf52832.  I would like to create a mesh network of beacons. I downloaded the nRF5_SDK_14.2.0 and uploaded the example "ble_app_beacon" on the boards. Now, I downloaded the nrf5_SDK_for_MESH, but I do not know what to do. I want to create a mesh so that the beacons exchange the advertising packages with information on RSSI, Address, Major, Minor etc ...

[Bjørn Kvaale]

I would suggest running the beaconing example in the Mesh SDK. The normal beacon example in nRF SDK 14.2 is not compatible with mesh out of the box. See the function start_advertiser() for sending beacon packets.

[Fra_greg]

I'm sorry, but I did not understand what I have to change inside start_advrtiser() for sending ibeacon packet. Is it possible to have the code to be modified? 

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Do you want to use iBeacon or Eddystone protocol?

[norin saiyed]

i want to use iBeacon protocol

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Talked to another application engineer here at Nordic & he also believes it is not possible to change the packet size of the iBeacon protocol. You are unfortunately most likely limited to the 31 Bytes.

[norin saiyed]

31 Bytes will also work for me..But how would i change adv_data[] packet? in order to advertise sensor data?

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Where can you see the adv_data[] array packet in the ble_app_beacon example? From my understanding, this application only informs the smartphone of a few things, such as: 128 bitt UUID, major value for course beacon differentiation, minor value for fine beacon differentiation & the RSSI value of the beacon to estimate distance from a beacon (see link). From my understanding, beacons tend to send the same advertising data at all times, so I am not sure it is such a great idea to use a beacon to advertise your sensor data (not fully sure about this).

[norin saiyed]

Hi Bjorn,

adv_data[] is there in mesh_sdk beaconing example, It is not there in ble_app_beacon example.

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Can't you just change the content inside the adv_data[] array? If the data is not constant, could you not just try to remove the const declaration (i.e. static adv_data[]).

[norin saiyed]

Yes i have tried this and it is working. Thanks again for your support.

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Great to hear! Good luck with further development! Would you mind upvoting any comments you found helpful? Thanks.

[arunbm123]

did u succed in sending sensor data over mesh?