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Locus Map - help desk Topic Idea Locus Map (Android)

Category Locus Map (Android)

Tags bluetooth, gps

Comments 10

Subscribers 6

Votes 4

Support for Bluetooth GPS LE connection

Skully Fox shared this idea ago

Gathering feedback

Hi. Menion.

Now, I know Locus uses bluetooth spp connection.

Can Locus app connect with devices that use BLE(bluetooth low energy) protocol?

If not, We hope Locus support that later.

thanks.

I like this idea 0

Replies (2)

Menion ●

Hello,

it depends on what you want connect to Locus Map. In Bluetooth manager, except GPS, Polar and Zephyr HRM devices, rest is already based on BLE. So if you have a new heart rate monitor, it should already work.

Menion

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Skully Fox ●

I want to connect to Locus with external bluetooth gps device that applied BLE (my own DIY device)

Is it impossible to connect BLE mode with gps devices?

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Menion ●

Ah, so we talk about GPS. I think I read about this feature request somewhere, but can't find it now.

So I've changed your question to the idea and updated a title little bit.

I believe it is doable and most probably, BT connection will be an important topic during the next months.

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Skully Fox ●

Thanks, Menion.

We will use RN-4678 module(https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/RN4678#additional-features)

or BoT-CLE110DN(http://autoinfra.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=510&cate_no=24&display_group=1)

module.

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Vincent Artzner ●

I'm upvoting it.

I'm also playing around with DIY bluetooth gps devices and android apps, and so far it seems that there are two ways to do BLE gps connection:

- using the BLE location and navigation service https://www.bluetooth.com/wp-conten...bluetooth.service.location_and_navigation.xml

- using the "UART over BLE" service to send NMEA strings https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-adafruit-ble-bluetooth-low-energy-friend/uart-service . Note that this is not a standard bluetooth protocol but something defined by nordic semiconductors, and now quite mainstream.

I'm not sure which of these solutions is to be found on most BLE gps devices (most of them require their specific app to work with an android device so...), but I guess the second one is much closer to the SPP protocol, so it should be reasonably simple to do in Locus (once you get the NMEA strings it should be all the same).

I hope this is usefull.

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Falco ●

What is the benefit of DIY BLE GPS Devices?

2 Years ago I did want to create smaller solution with less wight by reducing battery sizes with the switch from BT spp to BT LE.

But this project did fail because available BLE GPS Devices weight more than their much older smaller counterparts without BLE. My old BT solution + additional battery needed for old BT power consumtion requirements is still lighter then BLE solutions. https://help.locusmap.eu/topic/is-gps-over-bluetooth-low-energy-le-bt-4-0-supported

And to give an update to the topic, there was a developer who did push this topic forward: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/playing-with-gps-over-bluetooth-smart-with-nrf5182

But the project did stop progressing since I found him: https://github.com/RomainQuidet/LELocation-framework-iOS/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md

The hardware side of the story did got a little bit forward. Qstarz does have some BLE devices, but nothing new. Only the old stuff with new interfaces.

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Menion ●

Thanks Falco for the update!

Seems that support for GPS over BLE is still waste of time. We will see a little later, but I do not give here a big hopes.

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Vincent Artzner ●

Hi,

The benefit of gps over BLE, for me, would be battery saving. Not only on the gps device itself, but in case of locus (or other android softwares) use, and more importantly, on the android device itself.

Some very rough numbers here but ble connection is like 1-2% battery per hour on the android device, while standard connection takes up to 4-8%. Obviously a world of difference on a 10h use day.

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Falco ●

How light is your DIY BLE GPS Device?

For me, it is 14g BT SPP Device vs 60g BT LE device. With 46g I can more than double my phone battery capacity, so there is no benefit of saving any less than at least 50 percent points.

Currently I'm at 44 hours screen on time with low brightness and 28 hours screen on time with medium brightness.

This does change quite a bit if locus and all sensors are running on screen to 17-19 hours screen on time with medium brigthness.

As long as there are no lightweight BLE Solutions, there is no point, just invest the weight difference in battery and I will be fine.

Did you create your ohne BLE GPS device (DIY)? I am very interested about the hardware solution :)

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Vincent Artzner ●

For the moment I use a small custom android software to share gps from another android device (still bugfixing it).

As i'm using a Feather nRF52 for other purposes, I also was considering coupling it with a small standalone gps card, and sending the gps data through the feather BLE capabilities. The feather itself is like 5g only.

I'm using this on a motorcycle.. weight is not an issue, bulk can be. The deciding factor for me is avoiding a ton of wires and especially usb plugs (vibrations kill them) everywhere, sofar I like to run things on battery and charge when stopped.

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