Connecting Waspmote to a smartphone

It is also possible to connect a smartphone (compatible with the Bluetooth 4.0 standard) with the BLE module using one of the multiple commercial applications available. With them, it is easy to scan and connect to the BLE module, and perform the basic operations on the characteristics defined in the BLE module profile.

Figure: Bluetooth low energy sensor nodes detected by a smartphone

In this guide, the app \"Light blue\" is used for iOS, and the app \"nRF Master control\" is used for Android, but similar apps can be used to perform same actions. Both can be found in respective app markets.

NOTE: During the next sections we will see examples of applications that can be used to get sensor data sent directly by Waspmote + BLE module to the smartphone. However, the final idea is that the Developer programs his own app so that the information can be stored and shown as desired. The next sections are shown as a quick proof of concept of the capabilities of this technology.

Scanning for BLE devices

It is easy to scan other BLE modules by pressing the scan button. Each scanned device shows its MAC address and the RSSI. Be sure that the slave is visible and connectable by your smartphone, as described in previous sections.

Figure: Scanning for the BLE device

Connecting to a BLE device

When the desired BLE module is found, it can be connected. The smartphone will be the master and the BLE module will become the slave.

Figure: Connecting to the BLE device

Receiving data from a remote BLE device

If the connection is established successfully, now the user can navigate through the profile of the slave.

Figure: Reading slave profile

If the characteristic is readable, the user can easily access to the value of the characteristic.

Figure: Reading characteristic

Sending data to a remote BLE device

If the characteristic is writable, then the user can enter a new value and write it onto the characteristic.

Figure: Writing a characteristic

Subscribing to a characteristic

If the characteristic is notifiable, the user can subscribe to it to know when it changes.

Figure: Subscribing to a characteristic

Once the smartphone is subscribed, the value of the characteristic will be updated in the smartphone every time it is changed by the slave.

Figure: Notified characteristic