BL653 Series Bluetooth 5.1 + 802.15.4 + NFC Module

If you are getting ERROR: JLinkARM DLL not found. Please reinstall latest JLinkARM, you will need to download and install the updated Segger drivers for the J-Link.
Segger J-Link Drivers

Changing the advertised device name is accomplished using three different functions prior to calling the BleAdvertStart () function.

First, the BleGapSvcInit () function is used to change the device name from the default, Laird [BL600 | BT900], to the desired device name.
Next, the BleAdvRptInit () funtion must be called to create and initialize the advert report with the new device name.
Finally, the BleAdvRptsCommit () function must be called to commit the changes.

Below is an example of a simplified smartBASIC app which changes the default device name to "My Device":
 

//******************************************************************************
// Laird Connectivity
// Rikki Horrigan
//******************************************************************************

//******************************************************************************
//Definitions
//******************************************************************************

//******************************************************************************
//Global Variable Definitions
//******************************************************************************
dim rc     //result code
dim nameWritable
dim nAppearance
dim nMinConnInterval
dim nMaxConnInterval
dim nSupervisionTout
dim nSlaveLatency

//******************************************************************************
// Initialize Global Variable
//******************************************************************************
nameWritable = 0 //The device name will not be writable by peer.
nAppearance = 1091 //Device will apear as Walking sensor on hip (org.bluetooth.characteristic.gap.appearance.)
nMinConnInterval = 500000 // must be smaller than nMaxConnInterval.
nMaxConnInterval = 1000000 //must be larger than nMinConnInterval
nSupervisionTout = 4000000 //Range is between 100000 to 32000000 microseconds (rounded to the nearest 10000 microseconds)
nSlaveLatency = 0 //value must be smaller than (nSupervisionTimeout/nMaxConnInterval)-1

//******************************************************************************
//Functions & Subroutines
//******************************************************************************

//ERROR HANDLER
SUB assertRC(rc, line)
  IF rc != 0 THEN
    PRINT "\nError on line ";line;", code: ";INTEGER.H'rc
  ENDIF
ENDSUB

// Change Device Name

FUNCTION OnStartup()
print "Default Device Name: "; BleGetDeviceName$ ();"\n"
dim deviceName$ //declare variable for DEVICENAME
deviceName$= "My Device" //Set new DEVICENAME
rc = BleGapSvcInit (deviceName$, nameWritable, nAppearance, nMinConnInterval, nMaxConnInterval, nSupervisionTout, nSlaveLatency )
print "\n New Device Name: "; BleGetDeviceName$ (); "\n"

//Create and Initializing the Advert Report (not advertised until BLEADVRPTSCOMMIT is called)
dim adRpt$ //advert report
adRpt$ = ""
rc = BleAdvRptInit(adRpt$, 2, 0, 16)

//Commit the advert report
dim scRpt$ //scan report
scRpt$ = ""
rc = BleAdvRptsCommit(adRpt$,scRpt$)

//Start Advertising
dim addr$
addr$ = ""
rc = BleAdvertStart(0,addr$,100,0,0)

ENDFUNC 1 // Remain in WAITEVENT
//******************************************************************************
//Handler Definitions
//******************************************************************************

//******************************************************************************
//OnEvent Statements
//******************************************************************************

//******************************************************************************
//Equivalent to Main() in C
//******************************************************************************
rc = OnStartup()

Waitevent

The default baud rate in the AT Interface application is 115200. In order to change the baud rate within the AT Interface code there are two modifications required in the AT Interface files as shown below:

1. Locate the following settings within the $autorun$.AT.Interface.BL652._.sb file which sets the baud to 115200 (highlighted):
   #define SREGINIT_VAL32_0 "\4C\1D\00\00\98\3A\00\00\00\C2\01\00\00\20\00\00\01\20\00\00"
   #define SREGINIT_MIN32_0 "\4C\1D\00\00\4C\1D\00\00\B0\04\00\00\01\00\00\00\01\00\00\00"
   #define SREGINIT_MAX32_0 "\1E\04\3D\00\1E\04\3D\00\40\42\0F\00\FF\FF\00\00\FF\FF\00\00"
    
   Modify the settings to set the Hex value for the desired BAUD rate in little endian format
   The example below will set it to 9600 baud (0x00 0x00 0x25 0x80)  as shown below (highlighted)
   #define SREGINIT_VAL32_0 "\4C\1D\00\00\98\3A\00\00\80\25\00\00\00\20\00\00\01\20\00\00"
   #define SREGINIT_MIN32_0 "\4C\1D\00\00\4C\1D\00\00\B0\04\00\00\01\00\00\00\01\00\00\00"
   #define SREGINIT_MAX32_0 "\1E\04\3D\00\1E\04\3D\00\40\42\0F\00\FF\FF\00\00\FF\FF\00\00"
2. Locate the settings for S Register 302 in the $LIB$.SRegInterface.sb file: Modify the settings in #cmpif 0x00010000 : rc=BleEncode32(SregCache32$[0],115200,offset) to set the baud rate to the desired baud rate.

Unfortunately, we do not offer Boundary Scan functionality on the BL65x modules.

We do understand it is harder to place and recommend during development the use of an X-ray or some other means to verify to soldering process.

For production programming we recommend the following options:

1. FLASH cloning: Instructions for FLASH cloning can be found in the firmware Zip files, which can be downloaded from the BL65x Product Page. There are two README files contained in the "Firmware" folder of the files, as well as the utilities required to create the cloned image. The first option, ____READ_ME_TO_CLONE_FILESYSTEM___, captures only the flash file and data system and does not include the firmware. The second option,  READ_ME_TO CLONE FIRMWARE_&_APP__, clones the flash file and data system as well as the firmware. When possible, we recommend cloning the firmware as well as the flash and data systems.
2. MultideviceLoader, which is a command-line application for Windows, Linux and Mac that can be used to XCompile an application (Windows only) and download it to multiple Laird devices at the same time and provides options for: renaming the file, running it after download and other functions. This is a companion application for UwTerminalX and is mostly suited to production/end-stage testing purposes. Command line arguments are available in the Wiki on the GitHub repository.

Note: UwFlashx and Uwflash_embed are for firmware upgrades, and cannot be used to program smartBASIC applications.

Several Sample Applications are available from the corresponding BL65x-Applications folder on Laird Connectivity's GitHub repository, including an AT Interface sample application.  The AT Interface sample application enables a quick way to configure a smartBASIC BL65x module using the commands available in the AT Interface User Guide to scan, connect, read the GATT table and receive data from the connecting device via the appropriate UUID for the custom service. We recommend referencing the AT Interface Quick Start Guide v1 0.pdf to get started with the AT Interface Application, which walks you through loading the application and a few of the basic commands, including initiating a vSP connection, (vSP is Laird's custom Serial UART application.) A non-vSP connection can be established using AT+LCON  as per page 21 of the AT Interface User Guide.

Alternatively, a custom smartBASIC central application could be developed and loaded to the dongle to connect with the custom service by referencing the Core Functionality smartBASIC and modular Extension User Guides available on the corresponding Product Page for the module, for example:

User Guide - smartBASIC Core Functionality v3.4
BL654 smartBASIC Extensions Guide v29.4.6.0

Please note: the BL654 dongle comes in two variants, smartBASIC variant (451-00003) and Nordic/Zephyr variant (451-00004). If electing to work with the smartBASIC firmware and example applications available on the GitHub repository it will be necessary to purchase the 451-00003 smartBASIC variant, as smartBASIC applications cannot be loaded to the 451-00004 Nordic/Zephyr variant.

smartBASIC is a programming language developed for our BT900 and BL6xx modules to simplify the code required for programming them. It is not used for developing Android or iOS device applications. BLE applications for Android and iOS devices would need to written in code specific to the Android or iOS platform.

Our, Laird Toolkit Application available for iOS and Android is currently in the process of being updated for Android and iOS to work with newer OS platforms.
Once it is complete we expect to make the source code available, to customers working with our smartBASIC modules, for reference when developing Apps for these platforms.
As of the writing of this FAQ the current version of the Laird Toolkit is still available on the App store for iOS and Google Play for Android, however, it may not work with newer versions of iOS or Android until the updates have been made.
Google Play Store
Apple Store

An alternate resource, the Nordic nRF Toolbox is also available from the iOS App Store and Google Play. The source code for this application is available from Nordic's Website.
nRf Toolbox
Android
iOS

Our Bluetooth 5.0 smartBASIC modules (BL652, BL653, BL654) have the capability of supporting LE Secure Connections Pairing as well as encryption. LE Secure Connection is an enhanced security feature introduced in Bluetooth v4.2. It uses a Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliant algorithm called Elliptic Curve Diffie Hellman (ECDH) for key generation. 
 
LE Secure Connections, supports four association models: 

• Just Works
• Numeric Comparison (Only for LE Secure Connections)
• Passkey Entry
• Out of Band (OOB)

Additional information about LE Secure Connections and the models can be found here: www.bluetooth.com.
 

Our Bluetooth 4.0 smartBASIC modules (BT900 /BL600 /BL620) support Simple Secure Pairing and Encryption 
Additional information about Simple Secure Pairing can be found here:
lairdconnect.com/resources/newsroom/secure-ble-pairing-iot
lairdconnect.com/resources/white-papers/ble-and-lairds-bl6x0-series-bt900-modules-guide-security-and-privacy
 
We recommend reviewing the Pairing, Bonding and Security Manager functions in the BL6xx/BT900 smartBASIC Extensions User Guides. The full security of the Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy connection will depend largely on how the smartBASIC application is written, and what the input/output capabilities are of the devices that are connecting. If either device will not have any input/output capabilities then pairing will have to default to Just Works, which is the least secure pairing method. However there are additional layers of security that can be added to increase protection from hacking when the Just Works pairing model is used.

With Bluetooth Low Energy, to further secure the connection, it is recommended that the metadata for the characteristic attributes are configured for Encryption with man-in-the-middle protection for characteristic value access. This will prevent anyone from accessing data on the module without proper encryption keys. (See BleAttrMetadataEx in the BL6xx/BT900 smartBASIC Extensions User Guides.) Additionally, when using Just Works pairing, or any time additional security is required, we recommend adding a challenge/response question to the application layer, with a timer, which expects the connecting device to respond to the challenge question in a specified period of time after a connection has occurred. If the correct response is not received within that time period the application would force a disconnection. Finally, whisper mode pairing can be used during the pairing process as an additional layer of security. This is accomplished by reducing the Tx power while pairing using BleTxPwrWhilePairing as per the BL6xx/BT900 smartBASIC Extensions User Guide, which will reduce the radius which a hacker would need to breach in order to capture or spoof the encryption procedure.

Laird does not provide a Windows utility for scanning and connecting to BLE devices. We are also not aware of any existing third party apps to do this either. Android and iOS are the best options for scanning for and connecting to BLE radios. 

Bluetooth Low Energy uses Services as opposed to the set of standardized profiles that exists for Classic Bluetooth. While some Bluetooth Low Energy services have been standardized by the Bluetooth SIG, the development of custom services is allowed to meet custom application requirements.
 
Because Bluetooth Low Energy uses a completely different protocol than Classic Bluetooth and supports custom services, Bluetooth Low Energy devices cannot connect to a computer through the typical Bluetooth configuration of a computer. Therefore, connecting to a PC requires writing and running a Bluetooth Low Energy Central Role/Client application to collect the data sent from the Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral modules. Application development for PCs and Mobile devices is outside the scope of our support. Alternatively, a BL654 USB dongle could be used as a BLE Central Role device, to collect the BLE data and pass it to the PC over a COM Port. However, you would still need an application to view and process the data received over that COM Port.
 
We generally recommend customers who are new to Bluetooth Low Energy obtain a copy of Getting Started with Bluetooth Low Energy to help them understand the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol and the GATT table. There are also many resources available online which explain this. 

When Bluetooth Low Energy was first introduced and we launched our BL6xx product line (predecessors to the BL65x series) we produced the BL600 and BL620 smartBASIC Application Walkthrough document, which provides an overview of how Bluetooth Low Energy works and how a GATT table is constructed. 

There are several functions within an application that can increase current consumption above the measurement indicated in the Datasheet for standby doze, low power mode.

• Timers
• GPIOs held in an asserted state
• LEDs
• Nested functions - which keep the module from entering the standby doze state
• UART (when open)

Yes, any programmer/debugger that supports the SWD 2-wire interface and the Cortex M4F processor should work with the Nordic-based modules. You can find information about the memory map in the nRF5xxxx Product Specification under the Memory and NVMC sections.