Different data fields run and connect at the same time to the same Bluetooth characteristic or different ones?

Hi.

I got on web some code for a data field that is working very well to connect to my device - I receive the data on the onCharacteristicChanged().

Note that my device is a NRF52840 board for an EBike.

I tested both on the simulator and both on my Edge 830. All works as expected.

But now I want to have several data fields connecting to the same device and / or to the same descriptor (because I receive different data on the descriptor and I want different data fields to show each different data, like EBike motor current, EBike battery voltage, EBike human pedal power, etc).

When I try to make that 2 data fields, one works as expected but the other never connects to the device.... can someone help me? thanks in advance.

jim_m_58 over 5 years ago

This is a case where you want one DF that's configurable as far as what to display. You are already connected to the device from the 1st DF, and therefore you can't connect with the second.

The second one likely won't get an advertisment, and even if it did, the watch itself can't pair with the same device twice.

lllllluuuu over 5 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

Thanks for the help. As an user, I really want different data fields to use on different pages - for instance I want to see the map and use on of my data field with the map and then on other screen other my data field with other data.

Do you know if I can achieve what I want if I use ANT instead of Bluetooth? because our board also communicates with Edge using ANT, on this case implements the EBike ANT+ LEV profile. We also developed our OpenSource EBike wireless remote that communicates with the EBike wireless board using ANT+ CONTROLS:

https://opensourceebike.github.io/remote/build_remote

jim_m_58 over 5 years ago in reply to lllllluuuu

Ant is different as it's not so restricted. Give it a try, but my guess is that over ANT, it's only one connection per Garmin device

Also, recall that on most Garmin watches, there is a may of 2 CIQ DFs per activity.

Nikeow over 5 years ago in reply to lllllluuuu

y don't you create an app instead of a datafield then you have control over the entire experience.

lllllluuuu over 5 years ago

So I was reading a bit more and seems others were able to make data fields work with ANT, but every data field can connect only to one own channel. As for my board NRF52, seems it supports max of 15 channels but I did read Garmin supports a max of 8 channels - that would be ok for me, 1 channel is already used by Edge for ANT+ LEV and I should have other 7 channels free, for 7 different data fields!!

I own the expensive Fenix 6 Pro and I am sad it only support 2 CIQ data fields :-( -- but I think the Edge supports much more and my data fields are mainly for the Edge.

I usually ride with GPS navigation view and 2 data fields on bottom, and other data fields on other pages... so no, a app would not work for me!!