Puck js, how to send MQTT message with button pressed?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-24 by Grzegorz

I have managed to run the mqtt example from: espruino.com/Puck.js+Node-RE­D
I can receive the advertise and rssi. Now I'm trying to send a MQTT message when the button is pressed.
Any suggestions, examples please?

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2017-01-24 by @gfwilliams

Hi,

The simplest way to do it would be to advertise a 'button press count' variable. If you upload the following:

var pressCount = 0;
setWatch(function() {
  pressCount++;
  NRF.setAdvertising({
    0xFFFF : [pressCount]
  });
}, BTN, { edge:"rising", repeat:true, debounce:50 });

And then disconnect from Puck.js, whenever you press the button you'll see a service UUID '0xFFFF' broadcast that has a number in it. Each time the number changes, an MQTT event will get fired, and you can hook on to that in Node-red (by default you'll still get an event fired by EspruinoHub every 60 seconds even it it hasn't changed, but there's a node-red block that'll filter that out by only passing a message when the value changes).

The nice thing about doing it this way is there's no connection, and also if you walk out of range, press the button and then walk back in range, the event will still fire when Puck.js gets back in range

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-24 by Grzegorz

Hello
Amazing! the button works fine. Thank you very much.
I'm trying to get some feedback information back to puck, like LED.
When I send: /ble/write/e7:e0:57:ad:36:a2/nus/nus_tx (with my address obviously) I get en error:

MQTT>/ble/write/c9:a2:6b:fd:3f:9d/nus/nus_tx => "LED1.set();\n"
Service 6e400001b5a3f393e0a9e50e24dcca9e Characteristic nus_tx
Error Connecting: Error: Command Disallowed

Any clue what is wrong please?

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by @gfwilliams

Have you updated the EspruinoHub code from GitHub recently.

I have seen this problem before... @dklinkman do you remember what the cause was?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by Grzegorz

Hi
I have updated all npm packages, git pull EsprinoHub and tryied installed it again. I got error:

[email protected] install /root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb
> node-pre-gyp install --fallback-to-build

node-pre-gyp ERR! Tried to download: https://github.com/tessel/node-usb/releases/download/1.2.0/usb_bindings-v1.2.0-node-v47-linux-arm.tar.gz 
node-pre-gyp ERR! Pre-built binaries not found for [email protected] and [email protected] (node-v47 ABI) (falling back to source compile with node-gyp) 
make: Entering directory '/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/build'
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/core.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/descriptor.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/hotplug.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/io.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/strerror.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/sync.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/os/poll_posix.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/os/threads_posix.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/os/linux_usbfs.o
  CC(target) Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/os/linux_udev.o
../libusb/libusb/os/linux_udev.c:40:21: fatal error: libudev.h: No such file or directory
 #include <libudev.h>
                     ^
compilation terminated.
libusb.target.mk:131: recipe for target 'Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/os/linux_udev.o' failed
make: *** [Release/obj.target/libusb/libusb/libusb/os/linux_udev.o] Error 1
make: Leaving directory '/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/build'
gyp ERR! build error 
gyp ERR! stack Error: `make` failed with exit code: 2
gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.onExit (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/build.js:276:23)
gyp ERR! stack     at emitTwo (events.js:100:13)
gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:185:7)
gyp ERR! stack     at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:204:12)
gyp ERR! System Linux 4.8.4-sunxi
gyp ERR! command "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "build" "--fallback-to-build" "--module=/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/src/binding/usb_bindings.node" "--module_name=usb_bindings" "--module_path=/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/src/binding"
gyp ERR! cwd /root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb
gyp ERR! node -v v5.12.0
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v3.4.0
gyp ERR! not ok 
node-pre-gyp ERR! build error 
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack Error: Failed to execute '/usr/bin/nodejs /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js build --fallback-to-build --module=/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/src/binding/usb_bindings.node --module_name=usb_bindings --module_path=/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/src/binding' (1)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/node_modules/node-pre-gyp/lib/util/compile.js:83:29)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at emitTwo (events.js:100:13)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:185:7)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:850:16)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:215:5)
node-pre-gyp ERR! System Linux 4.8.4-sunxi
node-pre-gyp ERR! command "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/node_modules/.bin/node-pre-gyp" "install" "--fallback-to-build"
node-pre-gyp ERR! cwd /root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb
node-pre-gyp ERR! node -v v5.12.0
node-pre-gyp ERR! node-pre-gyp -v v0.6.30
node-pre-gyp ERR! not ok 
Failed to execute '/usr/bin/nodejs /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js build --fallback-to-build --module=/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/src/binding/usb_bindings.node --module_name=usb_bindings --module_path=/root/EspruinoHub/node_modules/usb/src/binding' (1)
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: xpc-connection@~0.1.4 (node_modules/bleno/node_modules/xpc-connection):
npm WARN notsup SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Unsupported platform for [email protected]: wanted {"os":"darwin","arch":"any"} (current: {"os":"linux","arch":"arm"})
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: xpc-connection@~0.1.4 (node_modules/noble/node_modules/xpc-connection):
npm WARN notsup SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Unsupported platform for [email protected]: wanted {"os":"darwin","arch":"any"} (current: {"os":"linux","arch":"arm"})
npm WARN [email protected] No repository field.
npm WARN [email protected] license should be a valid SPDX license expression
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] (node_modules/usb):
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] install: `node-pre-gyp install --fallback-to-build`
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Exit status 1

IT looks like the EspruinoHub is not installed properly.
I use Olimex A20 platform with Armbian.
Any suggestions please?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by dklinkman

@gfwilliams I don't think I have seen that particular error before. But from the output it's odd that the service appears to have been translated to its UUID format but the characteristic has not. Maybe there is a subtle problem with the mqtt publish and/or interpretation by the hub.

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by @gfwilliams

@dklinkman thanks - that's a good spot!

I don't know why it would fail though - looking at the code, it's identical to get the characteristic and service, so the only thing I can think is perhaps there was a character at the end of the topic - a stray space maybe?

(and yes - I just looked at the message that's posted, and @grzegorz it's because you put "/ble/write/e7:e0:57:ad:36:a2/nus/nus_tx " as the topic and not "/ble/write/e7:e0:57:ad:36:a2/nus/nus_tx")

@grzegorz I'm not sure how to help with this most recent problem. You had this working before, so presumably you have more of a chance of working out what you did then than I do now :)

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by Grzegorz

I have just mended mqtt subscription to "/ble/write/c9:a2:6b:fd:3f:9d/nus/nus_tx"
Still receiving error unfortunately:
MQTT>/ble/write/c9:a2:6b:fd:3f:9d/nus/nus_tx => "LED1.set();\n"
Service 6e400001b5a3f393e0a9e50e24dcca9e
Characteristic 6e400002b5a3f393e0a9e50e24dcca9e
Error Connecting: Error: Command Disallowed

I can receive the advertise and rssi thou.

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by @gfwilliams

Ok, thanks for letting me know.

@eric I know here you were having "Command Disallowed" errors - did you ever find out why that was happening? It was only on a Raspberry Pi 2 with external BLE dongle?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by dklinkman

@gfwilliams

I found this in one of my old posts. This is the specific syntax I had to use to get my /ble/write to work properly from the linux command line. It has to do with how the linefeed character gets passed through if I recall. But I don't know if this relates at all to the problem @grzegorz is having.

mosquitto_pub -t /ble/write/c7:6e:71:dd:ee:ff/nus/nus_tx -m $'digitalPulse(LED3, 1, 200);\n'

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2017-01-25 by @gfwilliams

Ahh I just Googled the message and found this:

Some BLE adapters like Sena UD-100 (Cambridge Silicon Radio, Ltd Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode)) cannot connect to a peripheral while they are scanning. You will get the following message when trying to connect :
Error: Command disallowed
You need to stop scanning before trying to connect in order to solve this issue.

So it looks like it's something funny with your Bluetooth dongle

I've just updated EspruinoHub - please could you git pull it and see if that helps things?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-26 by Grzegorz

No luck, still the same issue. I have got Plugable BLE adapter
I can get an other one, could you recommend some which would work please.

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-01-26 by dklinkman

I use the Plugable USB dongle on my Windows 7 Pro machine to talk to the Puck with good results. On my RPi2 hub I used this one from ameriDroid (via Amazon) with good results prior to my switching to the RPi3. The RPi3 works well also.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LEX8Z6W/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got that one since I really wanted to use my Odroid XU4 as my Espruino Hub. And that is the official BT/BLE dongle for it.

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-02-01 by Grzegorz

I could not find the ameriDroid on UK market, I have bought an other one different BT dongle and the issue persist. Could be the error platform depended? I don't use R pi. Is the error caused definitely by BT dongle?
Any suggestions what can I test/check/try to fix it please?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2017-02-02 by dklinkman

No experience with Olimex A20 unfortunately. I did easily get the hub to work on an Odroid, however, so I know it can work on other platforms. Though once I tried it on the RPi 3 I just left it there.

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2018-01-25 by werty1st

I cant send a write command to the puck:

<Config> Config loaded
<MQTT> Connecting...
<HTTP> Server is listening on 1888
<MQTT> Connected
<HTTPProxy> Bleno State poweredOn
<HTTPProxy> Bleno.startAdvertising Success
<HTTPProxy> Bleno.setServices Success
<Discover> Starting scan...
<Discover> Scanning started.
<MQTT> /ble/write/e9:05:8c:a7:64:ab/nus/nus_tx => "digitalPulse(LED3, 1, 200);\n"
<Discover> Scanning stopped.
<Connect> e9:05:8c:a7:64:ab: Connecting...
<Connect> e9:05:8c:a7:64:ab: Error Connecting: Error: Command Disallowed (0xc)
<Discover> Scanning started.

I only found this information:
noble/noble#658

I had a look into the EspruinoHub code and i saw that the scanning is interruptet if a write message needs to be sent.

/* Write to the given device */
exports.write = function(device, service, characteristic, data) {
  if (isBusy) {
    queue.push(function() { exports.write(device,service,characteristic,data); });
    return;
  }
  isBusy = true;
  getConnectedDevice(device, function(err, connection) {
    if (err) return setNotBusy();

    connection.getCharacteristic(util.uuid2noble(service), 
                                 util.uuid2noble(characteristic),
     function(err,char) {
       if (err) return setNotBusy();;
       writeToCharacteristic(char, util.obj2buf(data), function() {
           log(connection.name+": Written.");
           setNotBusy();
         });
     });
  });
};

and

function serviceQueue() {
  if (!queue.length) {
    if (connections.length==0) // no open connections
      discovery.restartScan();
    return;
  }
  if (connections.length < MAX_CONNECTIONS) {
    var job = queue.shift();
    discovery.stopScan();
    setTimeout(job, 1000);  
  }
}

function setNotBusy() {
  isBusy = false;
  serviceQueue();
}

Can it still be related to the dongle i use?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2018-01-25 by werty1st

The dongel has Bluetooth 4.0 and not 4.1.
https://github.com/sandeepmistry/noble#bleno-compatibility
With a Raspi 3.0 its working.

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2018-01-26 by @gfwilliams

Great - thanks for the update! Which Bluetooth Dongle was it out of interest?

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2018-01-28 by werty1st

Its a

1. ID 0a5c:21e8 Broadcom Corp. BCM20702A0 Bluetooth 4.0
2. ID 050d:065a Belkin Components F8T065BF Mini Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter

Do you know why that happends? Doesn't the code stop scanning before sending?

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2018-01-29 by @gfwilliams

Which one of the two adaptors was causing problems? I was pretty sure the BCM20702A0 would be ok.

Honestly, I don't know why it happens. As you say, it seems the code does stop scanning - however perhaps there needs to be some time delay between stopping scanning and trying to connect.

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2018-01-29 by werty1st

With both of them. I already increased the

setTimeout(job, 1000);

to 2000 without success.

I will try this command later:
https://github.com/sandeepmistry/node-bluetooth-hci-socket#linux-1