New Android App: Provision Argon Wi-Fi Credentials via BLE

Connectivity
1

Hello Particle Community!

I have created an Android app that will allow you or any person (even your customers!) to configure the Wi-Fi credentials of an Argon from an Android device.

It complements the BLE WiFi Setup Manager Library created by @Dan-Kouba , posted here.

You can see it in action here:

You can install it on your Android device from Google Play:

Below there is an example firmware that overcomes one limitation of the library flagged by @steeves in this post:

Also flagged by @melt777 here:

Here's the example firmware:

#include "Particle.h"
#include "ble_wifi_setup_manager.h"

// This example does not require the cloud so you can run it in manual mode or
// normal cloud-connected mode
SYSTEM_MODE(AUTOMATIC);
SYSTEM_THREAD(ENABLED);

SerialLogHandler logHandler(LOG_LEVEL_WARN, {
                                                {"app", LOG_LEVEL_ALL},
                                                {"system.ctrl.ble", LOG_LEVEL_ALL},
                                                {"wiring.ble", LOG_LEVEL_ALL},
                                            });

BLEWiFiSetupManager wifi_manager;

// callback for when the wifi credentials are set by the app or library
void provisionCallback()
{
    // avoid a timeout error on the app side
    // this gives time to the app to disconnect on its own
    delay(1000);

    System.reset();
}

void setup()
{
    // set some default credentials in case things go wrong
    // with this, the user can create a hotspot and the sensor can connect to it
    // so the library can provision the device
    WiFi.setCredentials("sensor", "sensor123");

    wifi_manager.setup();
    wifi_manager.setProvisionCallback(provisionCallback);
}

void loop()
{
    wifi_manager.loop();
}

The trick is to create a hotspot on your phone (with credentials sensor/sensor123), so the Argon can connect and the library can run.

Tested Android 12 on a Pixel 5, Pixel 3, and an Amazon Fire 7" tablet.

Anyone can install the app from Google Play.

Cheers!
Gustavo.

5 Likes
2

Wow Gus you the man, I cant wait to test this.

1 Like
3

Wow, it’s really great to share. I’m looking forward to the results after the test

4

@gusgonnet would it be possible to have the ssid and password be a variable with corresponding input fields in the app so the customer can enter their existing phone Hotspot information instead of changing their Hotspot credentials?

5

Hey Mike, good idea!
However, while trying to answer and running the flow in my mind, I hit a roadblock.

Let me explain:
the Particle library NEEDS the Argon to be connected to some Wi-Fi in order to run the code.
If not connected to anything, the code does not run and the Android app cannot connect to it.
Hence, there wouldn’t be a chance for the app to send the user entered credentials.
End of the road :skull:

I’m hopeful the Photon 2 has this flow improved. The hotspot wouldn’t be needed and usability would be much better and a lot simpler.
Cheers!

1 Like
6

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