I have a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) app that communicates with a BLE device through open connection. I am using CoreBluetooth library. After I upgraded my iPhone to iOS 7 and XCode to XCode 5. I recompiled my Bluetooth Low Energy app and found it no longer working. The connection is successful. The services and characteristics are discovered with no problems. Even the reading of the characteristics seems fine. But writing to a characteristic which should trigger some action on the BLE device has not any effect.
If I use XCode to download the same app to another iPhone with iOS 6, everything works fine. So I can determine the problem may be something with iOS 7 instead of XCode 5’s recompiling. It’s also possible XCode 5 prepares a different app for iOS 6 device even from a same project because I can see the app’s appearances are different on two devices.
So what’s changed from iOS 6 to iOS 7 that makes writing to characteristics failed?
I ran into the same problem, the issue is with the the firmware not your iOS Code. iOS6 was more relaxed with the characteristics types, but iOS7 is more stringent.
The WriteWithoutResponse flag for the Characteristic has to set explicitly to work with iOS7
I had used RedBear's Biscuit for Arduino at my startup to test our product, which worked wonderfully with iOS6 but when the app migrated to iOS7, the writes would fail quietly.
More detailed discussion is here (see update from Mattj949) # https://redbearlab.zendesk.com/entries/25031402-BLE-Mini-and-iOS-7
There are some Apple Threads on this issue, http://lists.apple.com/archives/bluetooth-dev/2013/Aug/msg00046.html and http://lists.apple.com/archives/bluetooth-dev/2013/Aug/msg00050.html
Related
I'm trying some iOS test applications on the new Mac mini, that supports Bluetooth Low Energy. The CoreBluetooth framework is used in those. However, I'm not able to get Bluetooth working in the iPhone simulator, that is part of Xcode.
When I allocate a new CBCentralManager, centralManagerDidUpdateState: receives CBCentralManagerStatePoweredOff which stands for Bluetooth is currently powered off.
The first time I ran the text application, a box was then opened up that looked pretty bugged (only language variables were used, not the actual texts) and with two buttons. The first led me to the settings panel where there was an option to enable Bluetooth. However, after I told it to enable Bluetooth, it just shows the spinning animation, and it won't either complete or cancel. Even after rebooting the Mac, there is still only the spinning animation. The box also does not open up anymore.
Essentially, I think that the iPhone simulator should support Bluetooth Low Energy. Otherwise, it does not really make sense that there is an option in the settings application on the simulator. Also, the central manager state is CBCentralManagerStatePoweredOff but not CBCentralManagerStateUnsupported which would stand for The platform doesn't support Bluetooth Low Energy. This gives also hope that support could exist.
Does the iPhone simulator support Bluetooth Low Energy?
If yes, how can I enable it?
The simulator does support Bluetooth Low Energy (4.0) according to this appnote from Apple. The only problem is that even if you have a computer with BLE inside, you will not be able to use the simulator together with it, because (I think) you occupy the availability on BLE for other devices to discover your computer, thereby restricting the functionality of the Mac.
So if you go get yourself a BLE USB dongle you will be able to use it in simulator.
EDIT: Adding information from #JoeShaw:
Unfortunately it appears as though Core Bluetooth support has been dropped from the simulator for iOS 7. Reference: doubleencore.com/2013/09/whats-new-in-bluetooth-le-ios-7. In addition, the linked technote seems to have been removed.
I have been using the simulator to test BLE apps - but you need to be on OSX 10.7. As Wilhelmsen mentioned, you also need a BLE USB dongle. In addition, you need to set an NVRAM setting:
$sudo nvram bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior="never"
See this Technical Note from Apple for more details on using the simulator to test BLE apps: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#technotes/tn2295/_index.html
According to http://www.doubleencore.com/2013/09/whats-new-in-bluetooth-le-ios-7/, Core Bluetooth support has been dropped from the simulator as of iOS 7. I haven't figured out why yet, but it means you will need to test on real hardware in the future.
It also appears as though Apple has removed Tech Note 2295, as I get redirected when I hit the URL.
I've found that Apple writes in their own samples that the simulator cannot be used to test Core Bluetooth-based applications.
Important:
This project requires a Bluetooth LE Capable Device (Currently only the iPhone 4S) and will not work on the simulator.
I've been working on a BLE app for the past week and can say with confidence that no, the simulator does not support BLE unless the mac that your using has BLE(Macbook Air) - but even then i'm not 100% sure how to enable this(most likely by just turing on BLE on your mac and on the simulator).
If you don't have a BLE enabled mac, have to find yourself a 4s to do testing with!
One alternative approach to using CoreBluetooth in the Simulator is to use Nordic Semiconductor's CoreBluetooth-Mock library, which allows you to stub-out CoreBluetooth and provide simulated/mock peripherals for use when working with the simulator:
https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/IOS-CoreBluetooth-Mock
It does require some minor code changes, but the interface it provides is almost identical to that of CoreBluetooth.
It's also great for writing integration tests too.
Actually I tried in the simulator and does not work.
The simulator does not recognize if you have a Bluetooth 4.0 in your computer but if you are using Command line tool projects in Xcode then it works. just for the cases you want to create something in Command line tool.
I have a request of implementing an iOS application which will be able to communicate with bluetooth device. The chip on that device has Bluetooth 3. The App will be privately distributed, so we don't need AppStore review and we can use anything - the only requirement is, no iPhone jailbreaking. The purpose of the application in reading diagnostic data from the device and sending a few commands to it - like turn left, turn right, setValue - nothing special (it is a special valve, which can be remotely controlled).
Now if a learned correctly the options with using Bluetooth on iOS are:
CoreBluetooth: library for Bluetooth 4.0 LE devices. It cannot be used, because Bluetooth chip is 3.0
ExternalAccessory: the device must be MFI certified, if this option is about to be used. Quite hard that hardware producer will go into the MFI certification, so at the moment not an options.
Bluetooth.framework: private framework which sounded like a good option (I have managed to make it run on iOS9 and iOS10) but the communication with devices on iOS10 does not work anymore. On iOS 9.3.5 on iPhone5 I made it work, but only iOS9 is not an option
BTStack: available via Cydia, but this packages if I have learned correctly require iPhone jailbreaking. Sadly again not an option
The situation clearly does not look good here. I have also read rumors, that it might be possible to use HID bluetooth profile for communication (anyone tried that). is there any C Bluetooth library which could be run on iOS device and work with iOS10?
Thanks for any iadeas.
I have two iPhones side by side running same version of my app. One iPhone is updated to iOS 10, the other is iOS 9.2. I have a Bluetooth LE device transmitting non-connectable broadcast advertisements. The iOS 10 iPhone fails to detect ~30% of the adverts (failure to invoke didDiscoverPeripheral).
For several versions of iOS, have had no problem. Has iOS 10 Core Bluetooth broken something?
Thx, Dave
The issue can be resolved by powering cycling the phone, or resetting network connections.
I'm trying some iOS test applications on the new Mac mini, that supports Bluetooth Low Energy. The CoreBluetooth framework is used in those. However, I'm not able to get Bluetooth working in the iPhone simulator, that is part of Xcode.
When I allocate a new CBCentralManager, centralManagerDidUpdateState: receives CBCentralManagerStatePoweredOff which stands for Bluetooth is currently powered off.
The first time I ran the text application, a box was then opened up that looked pretty bugged (only language variables were used, not the actual texts) and with two buttons. The first led me to the settings panel where there was an option to enable Bluetooth. However, after I told it to enable Bluetooth, it just shows the spinning animation, and it won't either complete or cancel. Even after rebooting the Mac, there is still only the spinning animation. The box also does not open up anymore.
Essentially, I think that the iPhone simulator should support Bluetooth Low Energy. Otherwise, it does not really make sense that there is an option in the settings application on the simulator. Also, the central manager state is CBCentralManagerStatePoweredOff but not CBCentralManagerStateUnsupported which would stand for The platform doesn't support Bluetooth Low Energy. This gives also hope that support could exist.
Does the iPhone simulator support Bluetooth Low Energy?
If yes, how can I enable it?
The simulator does support Bluetooth Low Energy (4.0) according to this appnote from Apple. The only problem is that even if you have a computer with BLE inside, you will not be able to use the simulator together with it, because (I think) you occupy the availability on BLE for other devices to discover your computer, thereby restricting the functionality of the Mac.
So if you go get yourself a BLE USB dongle you will be able to use it in simulator.
EDIT: Adding information from #JoeShaw:
Unfortunately it appears as though Core Bluetooth support has been dropped from the simulator for iOS 7. Reference: doubleencore.com/2013/09/whats-new-in-bluetooth-le-ios-7. In addition, the linked technote seems to have been removed.
I have been using the simulator to test BLE apps - but you need to be on OSX 10.7. As Wilhelmsen mentioned, you also need a BLE USB dongle. In addition, you need to set an NVRAM setting:
$sudo nvram bluetoothHostControllerSwitchBehavior="never"
See this Technical Note from Apple for more details on using the simulator to test BLE apps: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#technotes/tn2295/_index.html
According to http://www.doubleencore.com/2013/09/whats-new-in-bluetooth-le-ios-7/, Core Bluetooth support has been dropped from the simulator as of iOS 7. I haven't figured out why yet, but it means you will need to test on real hardware in the future.
It also appears as though Apple has removed Tech Note 2295, as I get redirected when I hit the URL.
I've found that Apple writes in their own samples that the simulator cannot be used to test Core Bluetooth-based applications.
Important:
This project requires a Bluetooth LE Capable Device (Currently only the iPhone 4S) and will not work on the simulator.
I've been working on a BLE app for the past week and can say with confidence that no, the simulator does not support BLE unless the mac that your using has BLE(Macbook Air) - but even then i'm not 100% sure how to enable this(most likely by just turing on BLE on your mac and on the simulator).
If you don't have a BLE enabled mac, have to find yourself a 4s to do testing with!
One alternative approach to using CoreBluetooth in the Simulator is to use Nordic Semiconductor's CoreBluetooth-Mock library, which allows you to stub-out CoreBluetooth and provide simulated/mock peripherals for use when working with the simulator:
https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/IOS-CoreBluetooth-Mock
It does require some minor code changes, but the interface it provides is almost identical to that of CoreBluetooth.
It's also great for writing integration tests too.
Actually I tried in the simulator and does not work.
The simulator does not recognize if you have a Bluetooth 4.0 in your computer but if you are using Command line tool projects in Xcode then it works. just for the cases you want to create something in Command line tool.
We have MFI approved accessory device. Our protocol assumes continuous readings from accessory in UART mode. It was working perfect before iOS 7.1, but after testing on the iOS 7.1 it is not working properly.
In ATS test suite log we can see success eap records and some AccessoryDataTransfer acked by iPhone.
We can reproduce problem using EADemo. EADSessionController stops read data after some show/close cycles.
Only killing EADemo and relaunch allows us read some data.
Configuration:
iPhone 4 and newer (iOS 7.0), any iPod (iOS 6.x) - OK
iPhone 4s, iPhone 5 (iOS7.1) - Failed
What happens with EA framework in iOS 7.1?
Apple just released update 7.1.2 claiming they solved the issue.
"• Fixes a bug with data transfer for some 3rd party accessories, including bar code scanners"*