Running the BLE UART service on CircuitPython

In the past, we mainly relied on UART, which is a super important protocol for communicating with devices like Arduino.
But now, we’re excited to make the leap to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which really ramps up our communication game! With BLE, we can set up a wireless connection between a smartphone and a CircuitPython BLE kit, and the cool part is that we’re still keeping UART for data transfer.
This combination promises to make our projects even more efficient!.

Bluetooth Low Energy, or BLE for short, is all about cutting down on power use while keeping costs low, which makes it a pretty smart choice for all sorts of applications.
You’ll be happy to know that BLE offers a communication range that’s pretty much on par with older wireless technologies.
Because of these features, it’s a perfect fit for industries like healthcare, fitness, security, and home entertainment.
So, if you’re in any of these sectors, BLE might just be the tech upgrade you’re looking for!.

Alright, let’s kick things off by clearing out the old code from your CircuitPython environment.
This step is super important because any leftover scripts or data might get in the way of your shiny new BLE project.
Once everything’s nice and tidy, it’s time to whip up a new script that’s perfectly suited for BLE communication.
With a fresh setup and a tailored script, you’re ready to dive into the world of Bluetooth Low Energy!.

Let’s dive into the various components that make up your BLE project! You’ve got several key players, like the front, south, PLD, radio, and distance components, each serving a unique purpose in the setup.
First up, the front component is all about managing user interface interactions to make things user-friendly.
Then there’s the radio component, which takes charge of all the wireless communication magic.
Now, don’t forget about the PLD, also known as the Programmable Logic Device; we’re just gonna call it ‘device’ to keep our code neat and tidy.
This way of naming things is a smart move to keep everything organized as we move through the development process..

So, here’s the lowdown on BLE communication! We’re kicking things off with the UART service , which is all about smooth and efficient chatting over BLE—just keep it in advertising mode for the best BLR results.
Once we lock in a secure connection, it’s all about that infinite loop life to keep the convo going strong and hassle-free.
Data comes straight from a 128-byte buffer and gets the UART echo treatment, which means we’ll be spitting out content right to the console for easy verification.
If you want to make this all happen, make sure to grab the NRF Toolbox app—it’s available on both Android and iOS, with some handy tips lined up specifically for our Android friends..

Once you have everything installed, the first thing you want to do is fire up a serial monitor to make sure your setup is working correctly.
Just click on UART to set those permissions and see what devices are set up—easy peasy! Now, when you send some data from your smartphone to the CircuitPython BLE kit, it’ll send it right back to you, which is a cool little trick to confirm the transmission was a success.
For example, if you send “Hello Device Mart,” you’ll see it pop up on your console, and that’s how you know your data integrity is solid.
Plus, the UART service is great for serial communication since it shows your sent data again in the output section, giving you a solid verification point.
If you want to double-check, just resend those messages and watch the entire data loop to ensure everything in your UART communication is spot on..

So, the session really dove into using Bluetooth Low Energy, or BLE, with CircuitPython for some cool UART communication.
Now, looking ahead, we’re planning to keep the momentum going with future sessions that will tackle new topics.
This way, we can keep expanding our knowledge in these exciting areas!.