Bluetooth

On PantherX Desktop Bluetooth is enabled by default from Beta 6.

Management

Troubleshooting

Unable to connect to Bluetooth Device

If you’re unable to connect to a new or existing Bluetooth device, there are several things you can try:

Suggestion 1:

Restart the Bluetooth service.

Switch to root and restart the service:

su - root
herd restart bluetooth

Double-check the service is running:

$ herd status bluetooth
Status of bluetooth:
  It is started. # <---- look for this
  Running value is 836.
  It is enabled.
  Provides (bluetooth).
  Requires (dbus-system udev).
  Conflicts with ().
  Will be respawned.

If the service has restarted successfully, the Bluetooth icon should re-appear on your desktop.

Suggestion 2:

If that did not work and the device is already paired:

1. On your Desktop, right-click on the Bluetooth icon in the lower right corner
2. Select “Devices”
3. Find your paired device in the list and remove it
4. (Optional) Follow Suggestion 1
5. Try to connect again

Development

Test Bluetooth LE Service Discovery

Download nRF Connect (Nordic Semiconductor ASA) on your mobile phone.

Once you’re in the app, add a new service (Devices / Advertiser):

These steps describe the Android version of nRF Connect. The iOS release has significant differences.

1. Press the red “+”
2. You should see a prompt: “New advertising packet”
   • Display name can be whatever; Heart Monitor
   • ADD RECORD:
     • Service Data (The data we’ll be sending; a heart beat measurement)
     • UUID or service name: 2A37 (0x2A37) source
     • Data (HEX): 0x4C
   • ADD RECORD:
     • Service Name (The type of service; heart monitor)
     • UUID 180D (0x180D) source
3. Confirm with OK and activate

Confirm it’s working

from Desktop

On your desktop, open a Terminal:

1. Run bluetoothctl
2. Start a scan with scan on (just type this in the terminal)
3. Look out for the values you’re advertising

$ bluetoothctl
Agent registered
[MX Anywhere 2S]
# scan on
Discovery started
[CHG] Controller 94:E6:F7:0A:43:F7 Discovering: yes
[NEW] Device 25:06:D7:1A:1D:34 25-06-D7-1A-1D-34
[NEW] Device 62:C5:A0:8D:1E:0C 62-C5-A0-8D-1E-0C
[CHG] Device 4B:1A:0F:BF:02:84 ManufacturerData Key: 0x004c
[CHG] Device 4B:1A:0F:BF:02:84 ManufacturerData Value:
  0f 05 80 35 64 d3 c6 10 03 6e 0e bb              ...5d....n..
[NEW] Device 3A:76:AA:3B:43:29 3A-76-AA-3B-43-29

If you’re getting an error about how bluetoothctl wasn’t found, it might not be in your profile. Install it with:

guix package -i bluez

and try the previous steps again.

with a 2nd phone

Download nRF Connect (Nordic Semiconductor ASA) on your 2nd mobile phone.

Once you’re in the app, look for “Scanner” and “Scan”:

1. Look for your device; in our case “Heart Monitor”
   • This name is set automatically from the above service definitions
   • Services should correctly list “Heart Rate”

See also

• Docker Service (guix.gnu.org)