New Guides on smartBASIC and BLE Beacon Fundamentals

In just a few short years, Bluetooth, specifically Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), has become a near ubiquitous technology. Now present  in nearly all mobile devices that connect wirelessly, BLE has become a key enabler in a number of markets. To make BLE development quicker and simpler, Laird created the smartBASIC programming language. smartBASIC is an implementation of a structured BASIC programming language optimized for use on low-cost embedded systems with limited memory. Unlike many BASIC implementations, Laird’s smartBASIC is not line based. It cuts out hundreds of C code lines for end programmers, which quickens time to market.

BLE is defined in a large and comprehensive specification that can be difficult to navigate when learning to develop Bluetooth products. For those new to smartBASIC, Laird has recently developed two guides that explain:

• Fundamental BLE principles that must be understood prior to working with smartBASIC
• How to use the smartBASIC programming language to create a BLE application for Laird’s interactive programmable
• A walkthrough on creating an Eddystone-URL beacon

 

BL600 and BL620 smartBASIC Application Walkthrough

This walkthrough is designed for those new to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and smartBASIC on the Laird BL6xx modules. We begin by explaining some fundamental BLE principles that need to be understood before you can begin working with smartBASIC on the modules. We then break down a pair of smartBASIC programs that demonstrate the BLE principles explained in the first section of the document. The smartBASIC programs make use of the BL6xx development board buttons and LEDs. Pressing a button on one development board illuminates the corresponding LED on the other board and vice versa. A straightforward task but only once you have understood how BLE organizes data.

Download the application note, here.

Beacons for smartBASIC – BL600 and BT900

 

This guide explains the basics of BLE and shows how to use smartBASIC to create a BLE application for Laird’s interactive programmable modules.

To accomplish this, this guide walks readers through the steps to create an Eddystone-URL beacon. The Eddystone specification is defined by Google and can be tested against existing apps on BLE-enabled Android and iOS devices. This guide is in addition to Laird’s version for Apple’s iBeacon which explains how to setup the BL600 to function as a configurable iBeacon and details how to test the BL600 for iBeacon functionality.

Download the application note, here.