nrfuart -- node-nRF8001

node.js support for the
Adafruit Bluetooth Low Energy nRF8001 breakout board.
This module also works with the
Adafruit BLE Friend nRF51822 board.

Other nRF800x and nRF51822 board may also work.

This module is built on noble so it
should work where ever noble works.

See also cc2uart if using the CC2540
chip.

Tested configurations

A USB to Bluetooth 4.0 gadget similar to
this is required to add BLE support to
systems without Bluetooth 4.0/BLE hardware.

$3

``
Laptop running Ubuntu 14.04 <-> BLE <-> nRF8001 <-> Arduino Uno
`

Ubuntu 14.04 includes bluez 4.101 which is sufficient for this module.
Install the following packages before installing nrfuart.

`sh
sudo apt-get install bluetooth bluez-utils libbluetooth-dev
`

$3

The tested device is a Raspberry Pi Model B running a fresh installation of
Raspian release 2015-02-16. Be sure to do the usual post-installation steps
such as "sudo apt-get update", "sudo apt-get upgrade", and "sudo raspi-config".

The next step is to install node.js. The version of node.js in the Raspian repo
is too old so install a recent version.

`sh
wget http://node-arm.herokuapp.com/node_0.10.36_armhf.deb
sudo dpkg -i node_0.10.36_armhf.deb
`

Install bluez 4.99 from the Raspian repo. Testing has shown this version works
with BLE and noble. This is much easier and faster than install bluez 5.x from
source code.

`sh
sudo apt-get install bluez bluez-tools libbluetooth-dev
`

If bluez 4.99 does not work, remove it then install bluez 5.x as described
below. Remember, do the next block of commands only if BLE is not working.

`sh
sudo apt-get remove bluez bluez-tools libbluetooth-dev


Reference: http://www.elinux.org/RPi_Bluetooth_LE

sudo apt-get install libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libglib2.0-dev \
libical-dev libreadline-dev libudev-dev libusb-dev make
mkdir bluez
cd bluez
wget https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/bluetooth/bluez-5.28.tar.xz
tar xf bluez-5.28.tar.xz
cd bluez-5.28
./configure --disable-systemd --enable-library

The next step takes a long time.

make
sudo make install
sudo hciconfig hci0 up
`

Install this module

`sh
npm install nrfuart
`

Use this module

This program sends a test pattern and displays anything that comes back.

`javascript
var nrfuart = require('nrfuart');

nrfuart.discoverAll(function(ble_uart) {
// enable disconnect notifications
ble_uart.on('disconnect', function() {
console.log('disconnected!');
});

// connect and setup
ble_uart.connectAndSetup(function() {
var writeCount = 0;

console.log('connected!');

ble_uart.readDeviceName(function(devName) {
console.log('Device name:', devName);
});

ble_uart.on('data', function(data) {
console.log('received:', data.toString());
});

setInterval(function() {
var TESTPATT = 'Hello world! ' + writeCount.toString();
ble_uart.write(TESTPATT, function() {
console.log('data sent:', TESTPATT);
writeCount++;
});
}, 3000);
});
});
`

Example 1: node.js and BLE UART

This program writes data to the BLE device and displays everything that comes
back. Run an echo loopkback test on the Arduino to verify data flows in both
directions.




$3

Adafruit BLE UART

Follow the
Adafruit tutorial
to run the Arudino BLE UART driver and the callbackEcho.ino test program.




$3

`sh
npm install nrfuart
`

Make sure the Arduino is running callbackEcho.ino and verify it is
working using the Adafruit Bluefruit LE iOS application. When done,
disconnect.

Next run the node.js BLE echo test example program.

`sh
cd node_modules/node-nRF8001/examples/simpleuart
sudo node bleEchoTst.js
`
The output should look like this.

`
connected!
Device name: UART
data sent: Hello world! 0
received: Hello world! 0
data sent: Hello world! 1
received: Hello world! 1
`

Example 2: node.js and BLE firmata

Firmata allows node.js programs to control the pins on an Arduino Uno.
Adafruit provides BLEFirmata but a few fixes are required so use
the fork described below

$3

Install the BLEFirmata fork into your Arduino library directory.

`sh
git clone https://github.com/bbx10/Adafruit_BLEFirmata.git
cd Adafruit_BLEFirmata
git checkout nodejs
`

This fork fixes 3 firmata responses required by node.js firmata and
johnny-five. Burn this into the Arduino Uno and hook up the Adafruit
nRF8001 breakout board as specifed in the
Adafruit nRF8001 tutorial.

$3

`sh
cd node_modules/node-nRF8001/examples/blefirmata
npm install firmata
sudo node blefirmata.js
`

Example 3: johnny-five and BLE UART

$3

See the previous example to install BLEFirmata.

$3

`sh
cd node_modules/node-nRF8001/examples/blejohnnyfive
npm install firmata johnny-five
sudo node blej5.js
``