Can the nRF51822 beacon be connected to a Mac ?

[phil4g]

I am working with a MacBook Pro (El capitan) and the nRF51822 beacon and I need to measure the RSSI. I understand that the app nRF connect can do it, but the antenna on my phone is unreliable. So, I am looking to do the measurements with my computer.

So far, the computer doesn't see the beacon as a bluetooth device, like a keyboard for example. Is there a way to monitor the RSSI of the beacon from a computer ?

Thanks

[Sigurd]

Yes, you can monitor RSSI using nRFConnect.

Make sure that you are using one of the supported devices (PCA10028, PCA10040 and PCA10031). In OS X it is required to install the SEGGER J-Link Software. If you do not have it installed already, download and install the software from SEGGER J-Link Software. Also make sure that the beacon is advertising.

More information about nRF Connect is available here.

[phil4g]

Hi Sigurd, thanks for your response. It was very helpful. I am able to see the beacon in the discovered devices, but it won't connect. The connection to the device gets timed out even though the battery is in place and the beacon's led flashes. It can connect to another computer in the room, but not the beacon.

Is there something I am doing wrong ?

Thanks

[Sigurd]

Beacons advertises non-connectable advertising packets, and is a broadcaster only. You can generally not connect to them.

Think of the general meaning of the word "beacon" - it's a thing that just constantly sends out a signal for anything/anyone in range to see/hear