CC2540: BLE scanning on Linux based system

Tanya Singh

Part Number: CC2540
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2640, , BLE-STACK

Hi,

I am trying to use the 'hcitool scan' and 'hcitool lescan' on my BLE device to scan nearby devices, using CC2540 on a Linux (kernel version: 3.14.77) based system using Openwrt (version: OpenWrt Chaos Calmer V1.0.0). After testing the device, the broadcast feature seems to be working fine and I can scan my device on an android phone but the scan feature seems to have some issue.

The current status of the BLE device is:

hci0: Type: BR/EDR Bus: UART
BD Address: FC:69:47:75:D5:19 ACL MTU: 27:12 SCO MTU: 0:0
UP RUNNING
RX bytes:468 acl:0 sco:0 events:30 errors:0
TX bytes:340 acl:0 sco:0 commands:32 errors:0

While trying to scan for other devices gives following result:

root@OpenWrt:~# hcitool scan
Scanning ...
Inquiry failed: Operation not supported

root@OpenWrt:~# hcitool lescan
Set scan parameters failed: Connection timed out

And, attempting to lescan prompts the device to show: Bluetooth: hci0 command 0x200b tx timeout

Is there any specific feature that needs to be enabled to support the scanning of other devices? Or do we need to increase the scan window? If so, could you tell me how?

over 5 years ago

0 Marie H over 5 years ago

TI__Guru* 81261 points

Hi Tanya,

Can you describe the interface between the linux device and the CC2540?

Please make sure the observer gap role is enabled.

0 Tanya Singh over 5 years ago in reply to Marie H

Prodigy 60 points

Dear Marie,

I am using hci console where I have enabled HCI related packages to use Bluetooth features (hcitool, hcidump, hciconfig) on my device.

I have read in related documents about Observer GAP for scanning. Could you tell me how to enable the Observer GAP in a Linux based system? Most of the resources online only have suggestions for Windows-based systems.

Tanya

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago in reply to Tanya Singh

Guru 735685 points

I suppose you need to implement host application according to TI_BLE_Vendor_Specific_HCI_Guide.pdf in CC254x BLE stack folder.

0 Tanya Singh over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 60 points

Hi YK Chen,

I have gone through this document briefly, but I am unable to understand which part of the document is relevant to my problem.

I do understand the Observer GAP feature is for scanning in BLE CC2540, but I am having difficulty finding the procedure to enable this feature on my device which is on a Linux based system.

Tanya

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago in reply to Tanya Singh

Guru 735685 points

You can use BTool to test CC2640 running HostTest to know how those HCI commands are used to implement your own application on Linux accordingly.

0 Tanya Singh over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 60 points

Hi,

Could you tell me how to check Bluetooth firmware on the CC2540 chip, which could help me verify whether the firmware supports the scan feature or not?

Tanya

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago in reply to Tanya Singh

Guru 735685 points

Do you use CC2540EMK-USB? If so, the dongle comes preprogrammed as a packet sniffer.

0 Tanya Singh over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 60 points

Hi,

I am using CC2540 with UART.

Tanya

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago in reply to Tanya Singh

Guru 735685 points

If this is not a TI CC2540EMK-USB, there is no way to know what firmware runs on it. You have to contact the manufacturer.

0 Tanya Singh over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 60 points

Can you tell me which is the latest firmware available for TI CC2540EMK-USB?

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago in reply to Tanya Singh

Guru 735685 points

You can download BLE-STACK v1.5.1 and find latest firmware after you install it.

0 Eirik V over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

TI__Guru 56590 points

You can find pre-built hex files here:

C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.5.1.1\Accessories\HexFiles

The Hosttest example is used to expose the HCI interface and you can open the example and modify to your needs:

C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.5.1.1\Projects\ble\HostTest

By default both GAP roles are enabled in buildConfig.cfg (-DHOST_CONFIG=PERIPHERAL_CFG+CENTRAL_CFG) so scanning should work. As Yikai stated please use BTool as a reference for how to control your device. You can reference the log window for the correct commands.

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CC2540: BLE scanning on Linux based system