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How to connect the BT+BLE Bridge plugin to a Windows PC
The BT+BLE Bridge works flawlessly on Android and on iOS SW Maps app, but you may want to use it in a Windows device as well.
The process to connect you device to Windows via the BT+BLE Bridge is not obvious but with this tutorial we will show all you need to do.
Required hardware
- BT+BLE Bridge
- Windows device
- We assume you have the BT+BLE Bridge connected to a GNSS receiver, but you can also connect it directly to a USB carrier board or other devices.
Required software
- Bluetooth LE Explorer: alternative to Windows BT manager, get it here
- Virtual port app: we recommend com0com (it allows you to create two virtual COM ports linked to each other).
- Python: Required to run the bridge utility. You can download it here.
- ble-serial: A Python-based utility that acts as the link between your Bluetooth device and the virtual COM port.
Instructions
Install Python and the Bridge Utility
First, ensure Python is installed on your Windows device.
Once Python is ready, open your Command Prompt (cmd) and install the bridge utility by typing the following command: pip install ble-serial
Create a Virtual COM Port Pair
Because Windows does not natively map BLE devices to COM ports, we need to create a “virtual pipe.”
1. Install and open com0com, you can find it here C:\Program Files (x86)\com0com\setupg.exe.
2. Create a new virtual pair. For this example, we will name them COM10 and COM11.
3. Click Apply. Now, anything sent to COM10 will automatically appear on COM11.
Connection with Bluetooth LE Explorer
Once installed from the Microsoft Store, open the app.
1. Go to Discover and Pair, click Start
2. Click Pair on the BT+BLE_Bridge_XXXX device
3. An error will appear, it is ok, click Pair button again, not it should be paired
Launch the Connection
Now we will link the Bluetooth device to our virtual port. Run the following command from the Command Prompt (cmd):
ble-serial -n "BT+BLE_Bridge" -s 6e400001-b5a3-f393-e0a9-e50e24dcca9e -p COM10 -w 6e400002-b5a3-f393-e0a9-e50e24dcca9e -r 6e400003-b5a3-f393-e0a9-e50e24dcca9e
Once you see “Device connected,” the bridge is active. Keep this window open while you use the connection.
You can stop the process from this window by pressing Ctrl+C.
Time to play
You can now access via COM11 whatever device you have connected to the BT+BLE Bridge.
Enjoy!
