NRF52840 Dongle DK to recieve multiple bluetooth data from 3 different arduino bluetooth modules (HC-05)

[Alnos]

Hello everyone,

I have interfaced an encoder and speed sensor on a spinning bike that all connect to arduino via COM/USB port. The COM port communicates to a game engine and allows you to have a virtual training.

Using low energy BLE I would like to go wireless for all my sensors!

Assuming I know how to pair each sensor to an arduino nano, bluetooth module and battery to run in low power mode:

1. Could the NRF52840 Dongle Be used to recieve multiple BLE signals from arduino simultaniously ?

2. Could I use the NRF52840 to organize how that data is sent to COM so that a software uses that data for its virtual environment?

3. Is this a relatively easy task?

Thank you very much and sorry if the question is beginner, I have not worked with bluetooth yet.

[Alnos]

Thank you for your kind reply.

Correct, HC-05 is not BLE. I have yet to decide what to buy for the bluetooth arduino module. Regardless, the NRF52 can deal with other bluetooth versions so it would not be a problem receiving the signals correct?

I am by no means a "competent" C programmer. I have done some C/C++, some arduino projetcs, some Python, a tiny bit of C# but never worked with bluetooth projects.

Therefore, I am having alot of trouble deciding "what to buy" to make all my set up wireless.

Why is the nRF52- DK a better choice? Can it still recieve multiple bluetooth channels to USB?

Any advice on what I need is greatly appreciated.

[awneil]

Alnos said:

the NRF52 can deal with other bluetooth versions

It can only deal with BLE - not "classic" Bluetooth.

Alnos said:

I have yet to decide what to buy for the bluetooth arduino module.

Note that the nRF52 is a fully-fledged ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller - it can probably do anything that an Arduino can do.

The nRF52-DK has Arduino-compatible connectors on it - so you can connect Arduino shields ...

Alnos said:

Why is the nRF52- DK a better choice?

Because it is a ready-to-use, known-good, supported platform with ready-to-use examples in the SDK.

It also comes with a built-in programmer and debugger - which the dongle does not have.

The dongle is not really intended for developing on.

[Alnos]

So if I understand correctly, as long as it is BLE, it does not matter if it is bluetooth 4 or 5? Would a series of HC-10 modules (see link) be all readable by NRF52 DK in different channels?

 www.amazon.ca/.../ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa

[awneil]

Should be.

But your going to have to implement a multi-connection Central, and you're going to have to work out all the Characteristics that the HC-10s have implemented, and build them all into your Central.

You'd need to check carefully that you can even get adequate documentation for these modules.

I really wouldn't call that a beginner's project!

What is your goal in doing this on a chip?

Do you have a Windows-10 laptop?

Or a Raspberry Pi with Bluetooth?

[Alnos]

The goal is to have 3 low-consumption BLE modules all communicating to the same COM port on a Windows 10 laptop using an NRF52. I've been reading for a few days to decide what to buy. Then a software takes in the values from the COM and uses it for a virtual environment. I can put in the hours to learn, I just want to make sure I buy the right stuff in the first place!

[awneil]

So what's the point of the nRF52?

Surely, a Windows-10 laptop will have BLE built in ?

[Alnos]

Well, how do I receive multiple BLE's and manage how this information is transfered to the COM port without a NRF52? I apologize if these questions are very beginner. There might be confusion on my behalf. I want several Bluetooth devices such as HC-10 modules, all transfering sensor information to my COM port for a software to read the data directly. Can I do this multichannel bluetooth to COM with my laptop ?

[awneil]

That's what the PC's built-in bluetooth does!

A PC is far more powerful than an nRF52 - so no worries handling multiple connections!

And it will also support your "classic" BT devices.

[Alnos]

I thought a laptop could only recieve bluetooth information from one device at a time. It could be paired to multiple but read only one at a time. I would need at least 10-20 Hz communication of different devices simultaneously. I think I might just wire my sensors together and simply make one BLE HC-10 to my PC wireless.

Again, thank you very much. It is rare to find somebody online answering patiently to beginners.

Cheers,

[awneil]

https://superuser.com/questions/931188/how-many-devices-can-be-hooked-up-to-one-pc-bluetooth-adapter-at-a-time

Alnos said:

I think I might just wire my sensors together and simply make one BLE HC-10 to my PC wireless.

That would simplify things!

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