Configure TLM Frame type by default in Eddystone beacon - SDK 12.2.0

[Gustavo Velasco-Hernández]

Hi, in the current project I'm working on, I need to develop an Eddystone beacon with UID and TLM frames configured by default. Based on the experimental_eddystone example, there is only one slot (slot 0) for configuring a default frame type. I successfully set it as UID frame type (in example it is URL type) and for configuring TLM frame type by default in slot 1, I modified es_slots.c. When I run the code on nRF51822xxAA and then scanning the device using nRFConnect, I receive both frame types, UID and TLM, but for TLM, voltage and temperature values are missed. However, after 2 and a half minutes, I started receiving voltage and temperature values.

When I test the same code on nRF52DK, TLM frame is OK since power-up so I'm not sure if the issue is related with changes I've made to es_slots.c or is something with ADC handling.

Is there any recommendation on how to set properly more than one slot with a default frame?

EDIT 1:

I've found that beacon starts sending real values of voltage and temperature when adv_cnt is 58-60, it is not time-related. In my first description I had an advertising interval in 5 seconds which results in 2 minutes and a half for 60 adv pkts (2.5 secs * 60 adv pkts = 150 secs). Then I test using 2 seconds as advertising interval, and after a minute, voltage and temperature values sent, were correct (1 sec * 60 adv pkts = 60 secs)

[Sigurd]

Hi,

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to configure more default slots than 1. You are only seeing the TLM frame issue on a custom board, but on the nRF52-DK everything works?

Could you try to configure the slots on the custom board using "nRF Beacon for Eddystone", and see if the issue is still present then ?

[Gustavo Velasco-Hernández]

In our custom app, we removed the configuration service but previously we tested the Eddystone example in our custom board and everything worked fine. We successfully configured up to 3 slots using "nRF Beacon for Eddystone" app. For this reason I guess that the issue could be related with a misconfiguration in the code we added for setting the 2nd slot as TLM frame type.

[Sigurd]

Have you tried adjusting the values es_app_config.h. E.g:

#define APP_ETLM_DELAY_MS                      300    //!< The delay that is introduced between advertisement slots of type eTLM.
#define APP_CONFIG_TLM_TEMP_INTERVAL_SECONDS  (30)   //!< How often should the temperature of the beacon be updated when TLM slot is configured.
#define APP_CONFIG_TLM_VBATT_INTERVAL_SECONDS (30)  //!< How often should the battery voltage of the beacon be updated when TLM slot is configured.

[Gustavo Velasco-Hernández]

Hi @sigurdon, I was using a function to update temperature and voltage values but advertising packet was not filled. Also, the name of the defines you mentioned (APP_CONFIG_TLM__INTERVAL_SECONDS) are misleading because the interval is not in seconds but in advertising tries instead. That works on the example because advertising interval is set to 1 second. This caused the delay in updating my variables values. BTW, I already successfully configured both slots, 0 and 1 to UID and TLM frame types, respectively. Should I close this question without an answer or should I convert this comment into answer?

EDIT (Solution):

I added this line to es_app_config.h:

#define APP_ENABLE_TLM_BY_DEFAULT    1    // Enable a TLM frame in slot 0 by default

and this to es_slot.c, after this conditional if (err_code == FDS_ERR_NOT_FOUND):

if (err_code == FDS_ERR_NOT_FOUND)
{
	// Factory reset or initial boot, load default data
	memcpy(&m_reg.slots[default_uid_slot], p_default_slot, sizeof(*p_default_slot));
	es_slot_reg_update_slot_list_info_on_add(&m_reg, default_uid_slot, p_default_slot->adv_frame.type, true);

#if APP_ENABLE_TLM_BY_DEFAULT == 1
    es_slot_reg_update_slot_list_info_on_add(&m_reg, default_tlm_slot, ES_FRAME_TYPE_TLM, true);
	m_reg.slots[default_tlm_slot].adv_frame.type = ES_FRAME_TYPE_TLM;
	memcpy(&m_reg.slots[default_tlm_slot].adv_frame.frame, &m_reg.slots[default_tlm_slot].adv_frame.type, 1);
	m_reg.slots[default_tlm_slot].adv_frame.length = ES_TLM_LENGTH;
#endif
}

[Sigurd]

Great that you figured it out! and thank you for adding the answer here. I will report this misleading name to the Eddystone developers. I have converted your comment into an answer and given you an up-vote.