BLE UART

[Pradeep_kshemin]

We have an NRF52833 connected to the host board(runs LINUX) through UART can anyone help us with the code that goes in the NRF module that can make it work as a transceiver module(just like BLE adaptor) like sending data received from BLE to UART and data received from the host board to BLE

The final solution we are looking for is as follows: Using python on the host board we should be able to use NRF as a BLE adaptor and connect to BLE devices like sensors and receive data from them. All the connection and scanning and reading data code should be controlled or written in python and NRF should act like a transceiver module 

Can it be done? or are we looking in the wrong direction? 

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

There are several possible approaches here, which is best depends on your use case.

1. You can use Bluetooth: HCI UART on the nRF device to run the Bluetooth controller there, and use HCI over UART. On the LInux side, use BlueZ as the Bluetooth host layer. This way the nRF will seem like a generic Bluetooth dongle from Linux and you can use it with standard Bluetooth APIs. This will only work with hosts that support HCI, so Linux, but not Windows or Mac, for instance.

2. You can also use the Bluetooth shell form zephyr/tests/bluetooth/shell/ on the nRF, and interact with it from a script that sends shell commands and parse the output.

[Pradeep_kshemin]

Option 1 looks fine as we are using Linux. 

To implement it: 

1) for Bluez we can use pybluez - https://github.com/pybluez/pybluez

2) " HCI UART on the nRF device to run the Bluetooth controller "- Can you suggest an example code to start with? 

[Pradeep_kshemin]

1) Flashed HCI_UART sample using below steps 
-west build -p auto -b nrf52833dk_nrf52833 samples\bluetooth\hci_uart
-west flash
2)Connected the board to linux machine and ran the below command 
-sudo btattach -B /dev/ttyACM0 -S 1000000 -R

3) ran hciconfig 
output 

can see two Bluetooth devices one is of laptop and one is the NRF connected 
4) ran btmon
output 

5) After that tried to run hciconfig scan , bluetoothctl scan , hci1 find -l but none of this was able to scan for ble using nrf as dongle 

why is the device BD address 00:00:00:00 is it a valid address? 

[Pradeep_kshemin]

Everything is working. thank you so much 
the error was in my Linux board the UART device is /dev/THS1, not ACM0 replaced it in btattach command and everything is working. I also tested the HCI_USB example which also works.

[Einar Thorsrud]

I am glad to hear. Thanks for letting me know.

[Pradeep_kshemin]

hey strangely we are rerunning the same setup with the same board but nothing is working. What might be the issue 

Things tested 
1) UART echo bot sample -> working 

Current error 

hciconfig returns

 
 

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

Can you elaborate on what you have done now? I see you write that you are using the same setup but there must be some form of change (deliberate or accidental), as the behavior is not the same.

If you don't make any progress, perhaps you can show (copy-past from terminal or similar) all exact steps you make and the results of those, so that I can better understand?

[Pradeep_kshemin]

1. Flashed the HCI_UART sample onto the nrf52dk 
2. Connected the RX of the dk to jetson nano TX and TX of the dk to jetson nano RX and GND to GND
3. Run the command sudo btattach -B /dev/tty/THS1 -s 1000000 -R 
4. Run hciconfig to see the new controller attached, we get a device buts its address is always 00:00:00:00:00
5. hciconfig hci0 down gives output - device or resource busy 
6. hciconfig hci0 reset gives same output device busy 
7. Btmon output is attached in the screenshots 
8. run Bluetoothctl 
9. show or list cmd in bluetoothctl shows no devices. 

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

I am sorry for the delay. I have not been able to look at this yet but will do so during this week.

[Pradeep_kshemin]

sure waiting for your reply meanwhile we are doing the same setup on the Raspberry pi 3b+ just to verify its not jetson dev kit issue 

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

Can you check that there is no problems with the UART communication between the devices?

Hi,

I attempted to do more or less the same as you, and this is what I got (just to have a base-line of a working setup). When I test this on a DK with the HCI UART sample from nrF Connect SDK 2.3.0 and a Linux computer, I get things to work with this approach:

1. Start "sudo bluetoothctl" in a terminal

2. In another terminal:

eith@eith-linux:~$ sudo hciattach -s 1000000 /dev/ttyACM2 any 1000000 flow nosleep
Device setup complet

3. I see this was successful in the bluetoothctl window:

[NEW] Controller E4:CD:3F:87:10:E4 eith-linux.nordicsemi.no #2 [default]
[CHG] Controller E4:CD:3F:87:10:E4 Powered: yes
[CHG] Controller E4:CD:3F:87:10:E4 Alias: eith-linux.nordicsemi.no #2
[CHG] Controller E4:CD:3F:87:10:E4 UUIDs: 0000110e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
...

4. Check status in bluetoothctl with show:

[bluetooth]# show
Controller E4:CD:3F:87:10:E4 (random)
	Name: eith-linux.nordicsemi.no #2
	Alias: eith-linux.nordicsemi.no #2
	Class: 0x00000000
	Powered: yes
	Discoverable: no
	DiscoverableTimeout: 0x000000b4
	Pairable: yes
	UUID: A/V Remote Control        (0000110e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Handsfree Audio Gateway   (0000111f-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: PnP Information           (00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Audio Sink                (0000110b-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Headset                   (00001108-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: A/V Remote Control Target (0000110c-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Generic Access Profile    (00001800-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Audio Source              (0000110a-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Generic Attribute Profile (00001801-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	UUID: Device Information        (0000180a-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
	Modalias: usb:v1D6Bp0246d0540
	Discovering: no
	Roles: central
	Roles: peripheral
Advertising Features:
	ActiveInstances: 0x00 (0)
	SupportedInstances: 0x05 (5)
	SupportedIncludes: appearance
	SupportedIncludes: local-name

5. Try to can in bluetoothhctl with "scan on", and I get a lot of devices found.

6. I also see logs like this in btmon (this shows going from down to up with "sudo hciconfig hci1 up"

eith@eith-linux:~$ sudo btmon
Bluetooth monitor ver 5.64
= Note: Linux version 5.19.0-38-generic (x86_64)                                                        0.250358
= Note: Bluetooth subsystem version 2.22                                                                0.250360
= New Index: 00:00:00:00:00:00 (Primary,UART,hci1)                                               [hci1] 0.250362
= New Index: A0:59:50:DB:B0:13 (Primary,USB,hci0)                                                [hci0] 0.250362
@ MGMT Open: bluetoothd (privileged) version 1.22                                              {0x0001} 0.250364
@ RAW Open: hciconfig (privileged) version 2.22                                                {0x0002} 3.315125
= Open Index: 00:00:00:00:00:00                                                                  [hci1] 3.315142
< HCI Command: Read Local Supported Features (0x04|0x0003) plen 0                             #1 [hci1] 3.315158
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 12                                                  #2 [hci1] 3.315953
      Read Local Supported Features (0x04|0x0003) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Features: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x60 0x00 0x00 0x00
          BR/EDR Not Supported
          LE Supported (Controller)
< HCI Command: Read Local Version Information (0x04|0x0001) plen 0                            #3 [hci1] 3.316014
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 12                                                  #4 [hci1] 3.316876
      Read Local Version Information (0x04|0x0001) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        HCI version: Reserved (0x0c) - Revision 4683 (0x124b)
        LMP version: Reserved (0x0c) - Subversion 4683 (0x124b)
        Manufacturer: Nordic Semiconductor ASA (89)
< HCI Command: Read BD ADDR (0x04|0x0009) plen 0                                              #5 [hci1] 3.316910
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 10                                                  #6 [hci1] 3.317957
      Read BD ADDR (0x04|0x0009) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Address: 00:00:00:00:00:00 (OUI 00-00-00)
< HCI Command: LE Read Buffer Size (0x08|0x0002) plen 0                                       #7 [hci1] 3.317994
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 7                                                   #8 [hci1] 3.318932
      LE Read Buffer Size (0x08|0x0002) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Data packet length: 27
        Num data packets: 3
< HCI Command: LE Read Local Supported Features (0x08|0x0003) plen 0                          #9 [hci1] 3.318966
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 12                                                 #10 [hci1] 3.319993
      LE Read Local Supported Features (0x08|0x0003) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Features: 0xfd 0x41 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
          LE Encryption
          Extended Reject Indication
          Peripheral-initiated Features Exchange
          LE Ping
          LE Data Packet Length Extension
          LL Privacy
          Extended Scanner Filter Policies
          LE 2M PHY
          Channel Selection Algorithm #2
< HCI Command: LE Read Supported States (0x08|0x001c) plen 0                                 #11 [hci1] 3.320028
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 12                                                 #12 [hci1] 3.320880
      LE Read Supported States (0x08|0x001c) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        States: 0x000000ff000041ff
          Non-connectable Advertising State
          Scannable Advertising State
          Connectable Advertising State
          High Duty Cycle Directed Advertising State
          Passive Scanning State
          Active Scanning State
          Initiating State
            and Connection State (Central Role)
          Connection State (Peripheral Role)
          Non-connectable Advertising State
            and Passive Scanning State
          Connectable Advertising State
            and Active Scanning State
          Connectable Advertising State
            and Initiating State
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          High Duty Cycle Directed Advertising State
            and Initiating State
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          Low Duty Cycle Directed Advertising State
            and Initiating State
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          Connectable Advertising State
            and Connection State (Central Role)
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          High Duty Cycle Directed Advertising State
            and Connection State (Central Role)
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          Low Duty Cycle Directed Advertising State
            and Connection State (Central Role)
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          Connectable Advertising State
            and Connection State (Peripheral Role)
            and Central Role & Peripheral Role
          High Duty Cycle Directed Advertising State
            and Connection State (Peripheral Role)
            and Peripheral Role & Peripheral Role
< HCI Command: Read Local Supported Commands (0x04|0x0002) plen 0                            #13 [hci1] 3.321362
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 68                                                 #14 [hci1] 3.323646
      Read Local Supported Commands (0x04|0x0002) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Commands: 66 entries
          Disconnect (Octet 0 - Bit 5)
          Read Remote Version Information (Octet 2 - Bit 7)
          Set Event Mask (Octet 5 - Bit 6)
          Reset (Octet 5 - Bit 7)
          Read Transmit Power Level (Octet 10 - Bit 2)
          Set Controller To Host Flow Control (Octet 10 - Bit 5)
          Host Buffer Size (Octet 10 - Bit 6)
          Host Number of Completed Packets (Octet 10 - Bit 7)
          Read Local Version Information (Octet 14 - Bit 3)
          Read Local Supported Features (Octet 14 - Bit 5)
          Read BD ADDR (Octet 15 - Bit 1)
          Read RSSI (Octet 15 - Bit 5)
          Set Event Mask Page 2 (Octet 22 - Bit 2)
          LE Set Event Mask (Octet 25 - Bit 0)
          LE Read Buffer Size (Octet 25 - Bit 1)
          LE Read Local Supported Features (Octet 25 - Bit 2)
          LE Set Random Address (Octet 25 - Bit 4)
          LE Set Advertising Parameters (Octet 25 - Bit 5)
          LE Read Advertising Channel TX Power (Octet 25 - Bit 6)
          LE Set Advertising Data (Octet 25 - Bit 7)
          LE Set Scan Response Data (Octet 26 - Bit 0)
          LE Set Advertise Enable (Octet 26 - Bit 1)
          LE Set Scan Parameters (Octet 26 - Bit 2)
          LE Set Scan Enable (Octet 26 - Bit 3)
          LE Create Connection (Octet 26 - Bit 4)
          LE Create Connection Cancel (Octet 26 - Bit 5)
          LE Read Accept List Size (Octet 26 - Bit 6)
          LE Clear Accept List (Octet 26 - Bit 7)
          LE Add Device To Accept List (Octet 27 - Bit 0)
          LE Remove Device From Accept List (Octet 27 - Bit 1)
          LE Connection Update (Octet 27 - Bit 2)
          LE Set Host Channel Classification (Octet 27 - Bit 3)
          LE Read Channel Map (Octet 27 - Bit 4)
          LE Read Remote Used Features (Octet 27 - Bit 5)
          LE Encrypt (Octet 27 - Bit 6)
          LE Rand (Octet 27 - Bit 7)
          LE Start Encryption (Octet 28 - Bit 0)
          LE Long Term Key Request Reply (Octet 28 - Bit 1)
          LE Long Term Key Request Neg Reply (Octet 28 - Bit 2)
          LE Read Supported States (Octet 28 - Bit 3)
          LE Receiver Test (Octet 28 - Bit 4)
          LE Transmitter Test (Octet 28 - Bit 5)
          LE Test End (Octet 28 - Bit 6)
          Read Authenticated Payload Timeout (Octet 32 - Bit 4)
          Write Authenticated Payload Timeout (Octet 32 - Bit 5)
          LE Set Data Length (Octet 33 - Bit 6)
          LE Read Suggested Default Data Length (Octet 33 - Bit 7)
          LE Write Suggested Default Data Length (Octet 34 - Bit 0)
          LE Read Local P-256 Public Key (Octet 34 - Bit 1)
          LE Generate DHKey (Octet 34 - Bit 2)
          LE Add Device To Resolving List (Octet 34 - Bit 3)
          LE Remove Device From Resolving List (Octet 34 - Bit 4)
          LE Clear Resolving List (Octet 34 - Bit 5)
          LE Read Resolving List Size (Octet 34 - Bit 6)
          LE Set Address Resolution Enable (Octet 35 - Bit 1)
          LE Set Resolvable Private Address Timeout (Octet 35 - Bit 2)
          LE Read Maximum Data Length (Octet 35 - Bit 3)
          LE Read PHY (Octet 35 - Bit 4)
          LE Set Default PHY (Octet 35 - Bit 5)
          LE Set PHY (Octet 35 - Bit 6)
          LE Enhanced Receiver Test (Octet 35 - Bit 7)
          LE Enhanced Transmitter Test (Octet 36 - Bit 0)
          LE Read Transmit Power (Octet 38 - Bit 7)
          LE Set Privacy Mode (Octet 39 - Bit 2)
          Octet 41 - Bit 2 
          Octet 45 - Bit 6 
< HCI Command: Set Event Mask (0x03|0x0001) plen 8                                           #15 [hci1] 3.323684
        Mask: 0x200080000204e890
          Disconnection Complete
          Encryption Change
          Read Remote Version Information Complete
          Command Complete
          Command Status
          Hardware Error
          Number of Completed Packets
          Data Buffer Overflow
          Encryption Key Refresh Complete
          LE Meta
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #16 [hci1] 3.324912
      Set Event Mask (0x03|0x0001) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Set Event Mask (0x08|0x0001) plen 8                                        #17 [hci1] 3.324940
        Mask: 0x0000000000080fdf
          LE Connection Complete
          LE Advertising Report
          LE Connection Update Complete
          LE Read Remote Used Features Complete
          LE Long Term Key Request
          LE Data Length Change
          LE Read Local P-256 Public Key Complete
          LE Generate DHKey Complete
          LE Enhanced Connection Complete
          LE Direct Advertising Report
          LE PHY Update Complete
          LE Channel Selection Algorithm
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #18 [hci1] 3.325896
      LE Set Event Mask (0x08|0x0001) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Read Advertising Channel TX Power (0x08|0x0007) plen 0                     #19 [hci1] 3.325981
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 5                                                  #20 [hci1] 3.326873
      LE Read Advertising Channel TX Power (0x08|0x0007) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        TX power: 0 dbm (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Read Transmit Power (0x08|0x004b) plen 0                                   #21 [hci1] 3.326924
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 6                                                  #22 [hci1] 3.327893
      LE Read Transmit Power (0x08|0x004b) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Min Tx power: -40 dBm
        Max Tx power: 4 dBm
< HCI Command: LE Read Accept List Size (0x08|0x000f) plen 0                                 #23 [hci1] 3.327927
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 5                                                  #24 [hci1] 3.328878
      LE Read Accept List Size (0x08|0x000f) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Size: 8
< HCI Command: LE Clear Accept List (0x08|0x0010) plen 0                                     #25 [hci1] 3.329023
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #26 [hci1] 3.329909
      LE Clear Accept List (0x08|0x0010) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Read Resolving List Size (0x08|0x002a) plen 0                              #27 [hci1] 3.330180
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 5                                                  #28 [hci1] 3.330880
      LE Read Resolving List Size (0x08|0x002a) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Size: 8
< HCI Command: LE Clear Resolving List (0x08|0x0029) plen 0                                  #29 [hci1] 3.331098
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #30 [hci1] 3.331892
      LE Clear Resolving List (0x08|0x0029) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Set Resolvable Private Address Timeout (0x08|0x002e) plen 2                #31 [hci1] 3.331928
        Timeout: 900 seconds
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #32 [hci1] 3.332873
      LE Set Resolvable Private Address Timeout (0x08|0x002e) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Read Maximum Data Length (0x08|0x002f) plen 0                              #33 [hci1] 3.332962
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 12                                                 #34 [hci1] 3.333897
      LE Read Maximum Data Length (0x08|0x002f) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        Max TX octets: 251
        Max TX time: 2704
        Max RX octets: 251
        Max RX time: 2704
< HCI Command: LE Read Suggested Default Data Length (0x08|0x0023) plen 0                    #35 [hci1] 3.333930
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 8                                                  #36 [hci1] 3.334879
      LE Read Suggested Default Data Length (0x08|0x0023) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
        TX octets: 27
        TX time: 328
< HCI Command: Set Event Mask Page 2 (0x03|0x0063) plen 8                                    #37 [hci1] 3.334908
        Mask: 0x0000000000800000
          Authenticated Payload Timeout Expired
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #38 [hci1] 3.335893
      Set Event Mask Page 2 (0x03|0x0063) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Write Suggested Default Data Length (0x08|0x0024) plen 4                   #39 [hci1] 3.335924
        TX octets: 251
        TX time: 2704
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #40 [hci1] 3.336873
      LE Write Suggested Default Data Length (0x08|0x0024) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Set Default PHY (0x08|0x0031) plen 3                                       #41 [hci1] 3.336973
        All PHYs preference: 0x00
        TX PHYs preference: 0x01
          LE 1M
        RX PHYs preference: 0x01
          LE 1M
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #42 [hci1] 3.337950
      LE Set Default PHY (0x08|0x0031) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
= Index Info: 00:00:00:00:00:00 (Nordic Semiconductor ASA)                                       [hci1] 3.337977
< HCI Command: LE Set Advertising Data (0x08|0x0008) plen 32                                 #43 [hci1] 3.338066
        Length: 6
        Flags: 0x04
          BR/EDR Not Supported
        TX power: 0 dBm
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #44 [hci1] 3.338987
      LE Set Advertising Data (0x08|0x0008) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
< HCI Command: LE Set Scan Response Data (0x08|0x0009) plen 32                               #45 [hci1] 3.339017
        Length: 13
        Name (short): eith-linux
> HCI Event: Command Complete (0x0e) plen 4                                                  #46 [hci1] 3.339936
      LE Set Scan Response Data (0x08|0x0009) ncmd 1
        Status: Success (0x00)
@ MGMT Event: New Settings (0x0006) plen 4                                              {0x0001} [hci1] 3.339968
        Current settings: 0x00008a01
          Powered
          Low Energy
          Secure Connections
          Static Address
@ RAW Close: hciconfig                                                                         {0x0002} 3.340006

The above shows how this should work normally just to have a base line of what to expect in a working setup.

In your screenshots I do not see any obvious issues before the last one with bluetoothctl that shows you don't have any controllers (and probably as a consequence of that there is not much in btmon). I don't see any indication of why, though.

Does this work if you try with your board on a normal Linux desktop computer? Or a DK on the desktop or even a DK with the Jetson?

[Pradeep_kshemin]

we tried with the hciattach command you have given 

Our setup -> Nvidia Jetson nano dev kit -- NRF52dk 

1) hciattach outputs -> Device setup complete

2) btmon output

3) hciconfig command shows UART device with address 00:00:00:00:00 but its DOWN
4)sudo hciconfig hci0 up gives timeout error



NOTE: as u asked us to test the UART first we tested it with a UART echo bot it worked anything I type on nrf UART can be in the jetson UART serial monitor 
https://docs.zephyrproject.org/3.1.0/samples/drivers/uart/echo_bot/README.html

Few questions 

1) Instead of nrf connect sdk sample we are using the zephyr hci_uart sample is that okay?
https://docs.zephyrproject.org/2.7.0/samples/bluetooth/hci_uart/README.html

2) can you confirm after hciattach , hciconfig shows an hci device with MTU 0.0 because we read that MTU should not be 0.0?

3) if you are loading HCI UART sample how are you using /dev/ttyACM2 (this is for USB devices) are you using FTDI converter ?

4)we are using /dev/ttyTHS1 as per jetson UART1. can you give us a way to check what device to select for hciattach because dmesg in Linux shows nothing about a new device connected via GPIO pins I think we are attaching the wrong serial device.