BLE minimum Android version

[Elliot Mebane]

I am eager to try the new BLE plugin. 

What minimum Android version is required for using the new BLE plugin? 

I have Android 4.4.3 on a Google Nexus 4. It seems like the last update for this phone so I'd have to use Cyanogenmod to upgrade past 4.4.3. 

I can use BLE on this device with many apps. 

I get this when trying the BLE component:

"Unsupported - Bluetooth Not supported, sorry. Oh Well"

I tried using the BLE component from here:

http://appinventor.mit.edu/extensions/

This post suggests that Android 5.0 may be a requirement: 

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/mitappinventortest/ble%7Csort:relevance/mitappinventortest/b283TzzDULs/FG8Z4NVlAQAJ

I've looked through the docs

https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1Y2Jk90BRskLKw3ex3yvftBmaEm7kyCcVCQy8yGAmtA4/pub

This doc refers to Android 4.3

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lfxJbUPNYqNsos__l61pJqz4xTvkBZVmGZUf7WzTLNY/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

[Ghica]

Do not bother about this message. It is an old bug, or actually it is not a bug.
It says that your phone does not support being a BLE server (most phone don't)
Just ignore the message and go on.
Cheers, Ghica.

[Elliot Mebane]

Thanks for the tip, but I can't seem to get the scan to work. 

Using this sample:

http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/blogs/karen/2016/08/heart.html

I make a basic button to StartScanning and am simply updating a text field on DeviceFound. After tapping the button and waiting the text field never updates to indicate the scan was successful. 

I'm using a Zephyr HxM Smart BLE 4.0 Heart Rate Monitor (https://www.zephyranywhere.com/products/hxm-smart-heart-rate-monitor)

In the Bluetooth Android menu I tap the device to pair it, enter 1234 for the PIN. The screen updates with Pairing... for a few seconds then goes back to simply displaying the device name. (https://www.zephyranywhere.com/android-hxm-tips/) 

I am able to connect the HRM with other BLE 4.0 apps on the phone so I figure the device and connectivity with the phone works. 

I turn Bluetooth off/on in Android to clear any connections to other BLE devices and scanning still doesn't work.

Any more tips?   

[Ghica]

Try my basic connection example. It should allow you to connect and show you the basic interface of your heart rate monitor.
If it works, modify it to suit your needs.
If this does not work, you could try one of those diagnostic apps in the Play Store, for example this one:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.nordicsemi.android.nrftoolbox
Let us know.
Cheers, Ghica.

[Elliot Mebane]

I'm able to connect the Zephyr to the nRF diagnostic tool and see my HR. 

My experience with your workshop file is the same as with the sample I was working with: I launch the app and see the message: "Unsupported. Bluetooth Not supported, sorry." with the button to close the dialog, "Oh Well". I dismiss it, and then press Scan in the app. There is no change (The button goes into down/up state, so I know the app is active). 

Is there any reason that Android 5.0 may be a minimum requirement, even though Android 4.4 supports BLE? 

In this other thread user Taifun suggests that 5.0 is a minimum requirement. My phone doesn't natively upgrade to that, so I'd have to use Cyanogenmod. I'll do it if needed, but I would prefer to know that it is necessary before I go to that trouble. 

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mitappinventortest/b283TzzDULs

[Ghica]

You did not answer my question, whether you tried my app which I attached in my previous post.
And, you could also post your blocks. So far, I think it is a problem with your blocks.
Cheers, Ghica.

[Elliot Mebane]

Yes, I'm able to connect the Zephyr to the nRF diagnostic tool and see my HR. 

I'm fairly certain it's not the code. I have 3 samples that should work: the demo you provided, the demo on the AppInventor blog (Jose Luis Núñez), and my own simple connection program.

Is there anyone who created the plugin that may be able to provide a definitive minimum Android version requirement? 

[Ghica]

I am asking for version verification.
Cheers, Ghica

[Ghica]

The answer from Andrew mc Kinney, director of software development for AI:
Minimum android version should be 4.3 or higher 4.3 will give you most functionality except advertising. Best to have 5. Xoxo or higher for full functionality

Cheers, Ghica

[Elliot Mebane]

OK. I'll have to try a Cyanogenmod upgrade if I want to use my Nexus 4 with anything newer than Android 4.4. 

What's the lowest version of Android that people out there have tried with the BLE plugin? Please post your device/Android specs. 

[Elliot Mebane]

I have Android 5.0.1 on my Nexus 4 and now the BLE component works :)

Thanks for helping. 

notes: 

I was able to upgrade the phone without Cyanogenmod. I did not know that the normal upgrade process is incremental, so when I attempted an upgrade the only choice was 4.4.3. After upgrading I saw that 4.4.4 was available, so I upgraded to that. Then 5.0.1 was presented as the next sequential upgrade so I did that. I tested the app at 4.4.4 and it didn't work. 5.0.1 was the first version that BLE connectivity worked. 

[Ghica]

:-)
Cheers, Ghica