Trouble with ble_advertising_advdata_update

[Matthew]

Hi, everyone. I've been trying to migrate from the SDK 14.2 to 15.2, but I've been having trouble getting one new function to work. I previously used ble_advdata_set() to update the advertised data on the fly, as I need to be able to display 3 separate changing values from a non-connectable device. I started using the Beacon example, and got it running on 14.2. However, with 15.2 I'm getting the same errors every time I try to configure ble_advertising_advdata_update().

undefined reference to `ble_advertising_advdata_update'

Output/ProjectPrototype Release/Obj/main.o:C:\Nordic_Semi\nRF5_SDK_15.2.0_9412b96\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_beacon/main.c:44: undefined reference to `ble_advertising_on_ble_evt'

Output/ProjectPrototype Release/Obj/main.o:C:\Nordic_Semi\nRF5_SDK_15.2.0_9412b96\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_beacon/main.c:44: undefined reference to `ble_advertising_on_sys_evt'

I've got an advertising module instance (BLE_ADVERTISING_DEF(m_advertising); ), which seems to be working. The trouble shows up when I try to pass data to the function. I've tried building a structure with defined constant values and it still gives me the same error, same as with an array of modifiable variables, so I'm really not sure what I'm doing incorrectly.

I'm extremely new to this code, so I appreciate any help or advice offered!

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

May be this blog site BLE dev with nRF5x can help make it easier.

[Matthew]

So instead of being redirected to a different blog that uses a different implementation then the Nordic examples, can I use ble_advertising_advdata_update? I see several issues and posts around 15.2 and dynamic advertising and do not understand why the migration is so unclear, especially when 14.2 works easily. You guys are also in the process of moving the infocenter which adds to the confusion. I will check out this blog, but in the meantime I'd just like to know if ble_advertising_advdata_update is working in the current SDK and if I'm using it wrong.

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

You can find it in this source https://github.com/I-SYST/EHAL/blob/master/ARM/Nordic/src/ble_app_nrf52.cpp

[Matthew]

Fantastic, thanks! I have another question though. In that file you noted that the SDK 15 doesn't allow for dynamic updates, and requires that advertising be stopped and restarted. Do you know if that action has any major effect on power consumption? I'm working on a battery powered device.

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

Well it sure does consume a little but for a very short time so it depends on how often you need to update the data.  There is also an other work-a-round to the issue which requires managing a double buffer of adv data.  I have not tried that yet.  Apparently with double buffer you don't need to stop adv.  It handles internally in the SD.  Can't confirm if it works or not.   

[Matthew]

Gotcha. Out of curiosity, did the function ble_advdata_set() in 14.2 actually stop and restart advertising in order to work?

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

The new SDK returns an error code if you try to update while it is advertising.  The old one didn't care.  There are also other internal changes that break everything.  It seems that they are making SDK worst in term of usability every update.  Much older SDK, things are more dynamic now everything is hardcoded using thousands of conditional compilations defined the sdk_config.h and other *.h that you have to find out.