To set up the BlueSnap Bridge, you connect one side of the bridge to the Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port Profile) device and the other side of the Bridge to the host supporting Bluetooth HID (keyboard). The Bridge can always be setup manually using a terminal program from a PC, Mac, or Linux PC using the Serialio.com USB to RS-232 adapter and BlueSnap Bridge cable (DB9 female to USB micro) both are available from Serialio.com.
To Setup the bridge you MUST have cable set shown below or Android device with Bluetooth that can run SerialMagic Gears Android. See below for details.
Getting at least one set of these cables is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
When Power is correctly applied, the CHG LED will be RED when charging, and GREEN when charged.
Setup the Bluetooth SPP Side of the Bridge
First, remove the BlueSnap Bridge cover screws for access to the DIP switches. The default switch settings are shown.
Option 1 – Device Connects To Bridge
When using the scanner that has master connect mode e.g. like Honeywell (LXE) 8650 ring scanner, Intermec SF51 scanner and other such scanners, simply create a barcode of the Mac Address of the SPP side of the bridge, and scan that barcode with the scanner to connect.
Suppose the BlueSnap SPP-KEY Bridge has Bluetooth address of 00066643A980.
Note: This value is found on the module near the letters “SPP” on the circuit board – example shown below
Create a connect barcode for the scanner.
For example when the scanners are Honeywell (LXE) 8650 Bluetooth ring scanners using the address above the connect barcode would be this:
Option 2 – Bridge Connects To Device
Note: If you have an Android phone or tablet, at this point the BlueSnap SPP side of the bridge can be setup via Bluetooth connection from Android device to the BlueSnap Bridge.
Set the DIP switches as shown below to enable the USB to Bridge connection to the BlueSnap SPP module on the bridge.
Open the port to the USB to the RS-232 adapter using the terminal program (interface is 115200/N/8/1), power on the BlueSnap Bridge by pressing the button, and enter command mode by typing the “$” character 3 times. The LED labeled “SIO” on the Bridge should blink when data is properly sent to and from the Bridge. If the “SIO” LED does not blink when typing the “$” character and something is not setup correctly.
Note: The BlueSnap Bridge powers itself off after about 2 minutes when the BlueSnap HID side of the bridge does not have a Bluetooth connection, so you may need to turn on the BlueSnap Bridge again during this process if too much delay occurs between steps. Alternately the BlueSnap HID side of the bridge can be connected first to keep the BlueSnap Bridge active during setup of the SPP side.
When the BlueSnap Bridge enters command mode it will reply with “CMD” and the LED near the BlueSnap SPP module will blink rapidly.
Activate the Bluetooth SPP device to connect with and make sure it’s in Bluetooth Discoverable mode, then send the “i” command to the BlueSnap Bridge SPP module to discover the Bluetooth SPP device.
(to send a command type the command value then ENTER)
In this example, we’ll connect the Scanfob® HF (13.56 MHz) NFC-RFID reader to the BlueSnap Bridge on the SPP side.
The response from the “i” command shows 3 Bluetooth devices.Inquiry, COD=0<
?
Found 3
1000E8C2D5A9,Scanfob-HFB2D7CA776A,22007D
0017E3B71048,,1F00
00066606EECC,BlueSnap-EECC,1F00
Inquiry Done
The Bluetooth address is shown at the start of each device text, in this case, we note the address of the Scanfob® HF as 1000E8C2D5A9.
The BlueSnap Bridge SPP module is set up to connect to the Bluetooth SPP device by setting the connect register with the “SR” command SR,1000E8C2D5A9
The BlueSnap Bridge should respond with “AOK” followed by “?“ AOK
?
If your Bluetooth device requires a PIN code other than 0000 (the default for the BlueSnap Bridge SPP module) then set the Bluetooth PIN code with the “SP” command. For example, to set up the BlueSnap Bridge to connect to an Allflex Stick reader which has a PIN code of “default” use this command. SP,default
Setup the Bluetooth HID Side of the Bridge
Power off the BlueSnap Bridge. Set switches as shown below
Note: DIP switch S3.3 (HID) and S2.3 (SPP) is for auto connect. When using mode Device Connects To Bridge turn DIP switch S3.3 (SPP is top DIP switch bank in image above) OFF.
Connect the BlueSnap bridge to the host device by powering on the Bridge and discovering it from the host, and connecting to it.
For example from an iPad, iPhone, iTouch open Settings > Bluetooth, ensure Bluetooth is on, and tap on the BlueSnap Bridge when it’s displayed.
Note: to move the BlueSnap Bridge to connect to a new host, be sure to turn OFF the Bluetooth on the host the Bridge was last connected with (if it’s within Bluetooth range of the Bridge) when connecting with a new host. When the BlueSnap Bridge is powered on and within range of the last host it connected with, it will immediately try to reconnect to that host.
When getting Bluetooth PIN prompt from the iOS device when connecting to the HID side of the bridge, check authentication setting on the HID module.
Go to command mode and enter ‘d‘ command and check the “Authen=” value, if it’s “Authen=0” then enter the command sa,1 and BlueSnap should reply “AOK“, now enter command r,1 and the BlueSnap Bridge should power down. The iOS device (iPad/mini/iPhone/iTouch) should now connect and not show a Bluetooth PIN prompt.
The BlueSnap bridge can be simultaneously powered and charged from a powered USB port using the Micro USB travel power and charge cable or another properly designed Micro USB cable.
Switches Overview
- S3-1 : Reset SPP module (never use unless instructed by Serialio.com)
- S3-2 : Bridge (ON for bridge, OFF when doing setup via RS232)
- S3-3 : Auto reconnect (OFF to setup, ON to BT connect SPP on power-up)
- S3-4 : Fast charge (not implemented yet)
- S2-1 : Reset HID module (never use unless instructed by Serialio.com)
- S2-2 : Bridge (ON for bridge, OFF when doing setup via RS232)
- S2-3 : Auto reconnect (OFF to setup, ON to BT connect HID on power-up)
- S2-4 : 9600 bps data rate (when using Bridge like HID dongle, with RS232 device connected to Bridge cable)
- S4-1,2 : Setup HID module via RS232 these switches are always set ON/OFF together
- S4-3,4 : Setup SPP module via RS232 these switches are always set ON/OFF together
Note:
S3-2, and S2-2 must be OFF when using S4 for RS232 setup
ALL S4 switches must be off when bridge mode enabled (S3-2, S2-2 ON)