New Project PIC and BLE Module

soonc · Joined: 03 Dec 2013 Posts: 215

I'm planning a new project which will use a PIC chip with
the Sierra Wireless BC127 dual mode module.

Has anyone used the Sierra Wireless BC127 ?

I've searched the web and can't find many examples.
The Sierra forum has a few things and documentation not very good.
Sparkfun has some old stuff bu it predates Sierra Wireless and is too old.

I really have to say how much I appreciate this PIC forum it is so helpful.

Thanks

temtronic · Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 4:23 pm

Basic steps....
I've never used it but from as a start, I'd get a premade module.
After that choose a POWERFUL PIC that runs full speed at 3 volts( assuming the BC127 is 3 volts).
After that use the I2C interface, that way you can confirm communications/hardware with the I2C Scanner program in the Code library here.
Then cut basic code to read/write to a few of the BC127 registers to confirm it 'should' work.
Then find a 'driver' and convert into CCS C.

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19520

The big question is not the BC127, but what you are going to use to store
the data involved?. Audio, involves a lot of data. It is going to have to come
from somewhere. The PIC does not have the storage for the sort of data
quantities involved, so you are going to need to be interfacing some other
form of storage to provide this. What form of storage?.

As a Bluetooth modem, the BC127, accepts basic commands on the serial
interface, and is quite easy to drive. However then it allows several
different types of connection to be made, and handling these is going to
be complex. You have:
A2DP (basic audio streaming)
AVRCP (audio/visual remote control).
HFP (hands free protocol (allows phone calls to be made).
PBAP (access to the phone book)
SPP (emulate a serial port)

The SPP, is relatively simple. However if you want to use any of the
other protocols you have a lot of work. If you are not using any of
the other protocols, why use this module?. It's big 'difference' to other
Bluetooth modules is the audio support....

bkamen · Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 10:51 pm

Microchip once had an MP3 streaming internet radio that consisted of a PIC18FxxJ60 (Built-in Ethernet), an MP3 decoder IC (I forget who made it) and an external SPI RAM.

That's how they were able to buffer the MP3 stream.... external RAM.

and not FLASH, but SRAM. (like 8K or 32K of it. I forget - but can look it up if you want since I have one those demo boards)

You'll definitely need a buffer.
_________________
Dazed and confused? I don't think so. Just "plain lost" will do. :D

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19520

Yes, makes total sense.
As I said it is this part of the project that is going to involve the most
work...
and (of course), what is needed on the BC127 control side, is going to
depend totally on what is actually wanted here.

soonc · Joined: 03 Dec 2013 Posts: 215

If anyone is thinking of using the BC127 module my best advice is make sure to get the latest user manual.
To do this you will need to setup an account with Sierra Wireless to get the information.
Actual tech support is about none. The user forum does have a few postings about the BC127 but basically you will be on your own. It's been a long journey, I would advise against it. !

Sparkfun has the module but it's using a really old firmware, so any help you may find on the that site will not work with latest firmware...

Why am I trying to use this ?
The demo board has great audio, and the module is dual mode Bluetooth so BLE allows me to control the device remotely even On/Off without any power switches that would normally be required for a "regular" Bluetooth design.

Thanks again...
PS
Real BLE Audio will soon be available.
The current BLE audio modules selling everywhere for a few $$ are ... not worth the effort. No range, no sound quality. You get what you pay for.