nRF5 SDK + nRF5 for Mesh

[Natael]

Hello guys, 

Let me explain you first. I want to build a BLE Mesh formed by some Microbits & nRF52833.

I have learnt how to use nRF5 SDK and basing on an example I have done a little BLE Mesh.

My question is if I can use both SDKs in the way of transmiting the values of characteristics. For example , let suppose I want to turn ON a led with BLE Mesh. At the same time I want to know the value of the readable GATT (state of led) like in BLE examples. 

Is this possible? Could you provide me some info about It?

Thank you,

Best regards :)

[Hung Bui]

Hi Alejandro, 

Yes, in the nRF5 SDK for Mesh we provided the co-existence example so that you can have both Bluetooth Mesh and BLE at the same time. 
Please have a look here. They are located in \examples\sdk_coexist

[Natael]

As I have seen the provisioning role is not available throught the app in this example.

What is the reason?

[Natael]

I would like to ask you another thing because I am not sure if I have explained good. Sorry to ask you again...

Let suppose that I run the on/off example of the ble Mesh. To do that I have to use Mesh app for provisioning.

After that I want to Connect with nrf-connect app to see the values of the state of this led in a characteristic (like in BLE SDK , for example the blinky example).

I have discovered that I am also to be able of creating GATT characteristics as a proxy , but i dont know How to read them.

So my question is:

Running a Mesh example , am I able to read the value of the led in the Server which I change with the client?

Do i have to use both SDKs?

[Hung Bui]

Hi Alejandro,

The coexist doesn't have PB-GATT (provisioning via phone) supported. But you can add this feature to the example if you want. I have made an example here.

You don't have to use the co-exist example if you want to add your own GATT characteristic. The mesh stack running on top of the softdevice like a normal BLE application. The Mesh SDK and the BLE SDK always work together :) 

The co-exist example we created just to show how you can create an application that combine the two SDKs.

[Natael]

Hi,

I finally did It during the week. I didnt notice that It was the client instead of the Server. After some hours, I finally convert the client into a Server with both SDKs.

Now my target is to implement another Server coexist node in a nRF51822 but I thing that this is not possible.

[Hung Bui]

Hi Alejandro, 

Glad that it works for you now. I don't think start development on a nRF51822 would be a good idea. It's a legacy product and is replaced by the nRF52.The chip is not supported in Mesh SDK and it's not qualified for mesh.