ANCS NRF52 and IOS 11.3.1 can't get notifications

[iliescumihai]

Hello,

I develop a project with NRF52 and I can't get notifications from iPhone. I have the nrf52DK and also created my own custom hardware (i am a hardware engineer, not a firmware one, but even so, I should be able to develop basic functionality - did it before). I can connect with the LightBlue or nRF Connect to an application, I can see the initialization on UART (on both boards), but I can't get a notification from iOS. Has anybody tested with the new ios? I think this is the problem.

Also, another question, why I can't just connect the iPhone(6s) to nrf52 without using an intermediary app?

I am using SDK 15 with SoftDevice S132.

Thanks a lot!

[Ali Rumane]

Hi,

Did you try ble_app_blinky located at 

<InstallFolder>\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_blinky

 or similar examples?

Are you sure your bluetooth connection and communication is working?

Did you program the SoftDevice?

If things are running please check

http://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.nordic.infocenter.sdk5.v15.0.0%2Fble_sdk_app_ancs.html&cp=4_0_0_4_1_2_1

Cheers

[iliescumihai]

Hello,

I tested the ble_app_blinky, it didn't work first, but after an iPhone restart, it did. Now, i tried the ANCS and it worked. But... and here is the problem, after i disconnected and reconnected (restarting iPhone, restarting debugger) it doesn't work anymore.

It looks like the iPhone or nrf52 app gets "stuck" somewhere. I can't understand why.

Also, i know the document you showed me. There is only one problem with that document, there is seems that the iPhone should be able to connect without another iPhone app installed (light lightblue or nrf connect), but it doesn't.

It gives me the following error:

"Pairing unsuccessful - Make sure "ANCS" is turned on, in range and ready to pair". And in the serial terminal, I can see that is it connecting, going to "fast advertising with Whitelist" and after that Disconnected. 

I also encountered another problem with another iPhone i got for this test, i connect it using nrf52 blinky, and after that, i reprogrammed the ANCS example and the iPhone can see the new ANCS example but under the name of  Nordic_Blinky and not ANCS. Maybe this is the problem? 

All the above testing is done with the NRF52DK and Segger, not with my custom board. 

Thanks a bunch for your time and your help,

Mihai

[iliescumihai]

Ok, i find the workaround, but it does look like a bug to me... 

Using the nrfgo, you can delete the softdevice and reprogram it, after that, when you connect directly from Settings->bluetooth it will work because it will ask you again to pair your iPhone. So.. If you are pairing it from the nrf connect or lightbue, and then trying to connect from bluetooth menu(direct connection) it won't work (even if you restart the app on nrf52, or restart your iphone)...

[Vidar Berg]

Hi, the ANCS example rejects pair refresh by default (update bonding information with previously bonded device). You can change this behavior by setting the .allow_repairing to true in main.c. With this change, new pairing requests from the iphone will be accepted.