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Nordic BLE Gateway for IOS - Bluetooth scan not working ?; eg. to Thingy52

Hello,

        Have 2 platforms: Android and IOS(both IPad and IPhone); I can get the BLE Gateway to scan bluetooth devices; it seems it is using a combination of app as well as scripts thru nrfcloud.com web site; works OK in Android but NOT working in IOS.

        Maybe there is a security setting in IOS that prevent the "web script" to do BLE scan ?

        Thanks for the help.

Lee

 

Parents
  • I am using IPhone 8 and IPad Air; both running latest supported IOS(12.x).

    Both fails as scan(can't see any BLE device).

    I have Google tablet; it works on this platform.

    I have no problem, eg. using  Thingy app to scan Thingy52(ie. using native app.); same with other Nordic BLE native app.

    I have also contacted Philips's Nordic app. support to inquire whether we can get access to these BLE Gateway app etc...; the app seems to be a thin layer native app and then segment into web "nrfcloud.com" "Javascript" to start the BLE scan ?

    Thanks,

    Lee

  • Unfortunately, the source code for the nRF cloud gateway is not public so you won't find it on Github. Can you tell me the steps your doing to scan BLE devices?

Reply Children
  • run the BLE Gateway app; once started, it provides a link to nrfcloud.com in the middle of the app; when selected, it will open Safari to connect to "nrfcloud.com"; provide login info and in the web page, add a device and select the Gateway in question(I have several Gateways); Gateway that is "live" has a green dot with it; select Bluetooth device to add, and the "scan" page starts; typically it will continue in this page; sometimes it will stop and ask for retries etc....

    given that it works with your IOS 12.2, the only other difference is/are mine are running 12.3 and maybe other "security" setting(s) ?; I can't see any other possibilities etc...; in normal native mode, the BLE scan/operations work OK etc...

    Thanks,

    Lee

  • I updatet to iOS 12.3 and it still works, seems to have no problem scanning for BLE devices. When the "scan" page starts, while scanning can you try switching to the gateway app then back to safari? 

    Could you also try using nrfcloud.com on a computer insead of the phone? Is it any different?

    I think it might be that on iOS at least, you need to have the Gateway app up when doing the scanning.

  • I have no problem using desktop version of "nrfcloud.com"; I tried this, sometime ago, using my "mac" and it works; this is the first time I noted that a web Javascript using "web Bluetooth" can control a local device(which is great).

    I will try switching between Safari and Native app to see if this helps etc...

    Thanks,

    Lee

  • Hello,

           Yes; by temporarily switching to the Gateway APP for a moment(while the Safari web is still scanning), and then back to Safari, now I can see the scanned BLE devices etc...; so it works in this mode.

           

           I am not sure this is acceptable or "elegant" solution for our use model.

           Is there someone that I can email to see if we can get access to the "mobile app" source codes ?; I would presume this is a "thin" app that then would intersect to the web mode; we do like the "web mode" where most of the functionalities would reside; but the "native app" would be helpful as a short bridge for our use model etc...

          Thanks.

    Lee

       

  • I suggest you contact your Regional Sales Manager, if you don't know who this is send me a PM and I will give you the contact information.

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