Summary:
Allow iOS devices running the MeshCore app to send their GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to MeshCore nodes that do not have a physical GPS module.
Context:
Currently, MeshCore nodes (e.g., Heltec LoRa 32 V3) without a GPS chip can only use external GPS sources from Android devices using Bluetooth SPP or serial connection.
However, iOS restricts SPP communication, and the existing MeshCore iOS app (“MeshCore by Liam Cottle”) does not yet support forwarding iPhone GPS data to the node.
Feature Goal:
Enable the MeshCore iOS app to periodically transmit the iPhone’s current GPS coordinates via BLE to the paired node.
The node should interpret this data as its active location source (GEO_DATA) and broadcast it across the mesh network.
Technical Proposal:
Implement a BLE characteristic within the MeshCore iOS app for GPS data output.
Format JSON payloads like:
{"lat":7.1423,"lon":-73.2178,"alt":955,"src":"iphone"}
Node firmware (v1.9.0 +) listens for BLE updates and updates its internal GPS state accordingly.
Use Case:
Field agents using Heltec V3 MeshCore nodes without GPS modules.
iPhone paired via Bluetooth, sending GPS updates every 10–30 s.
Node transmits GEO_DATA packets in the mesh for decentralized geolocation or epidemiological monitoring.
Benefits:
Makes MeshCore usable with iOS devices in mobility scenarios.
Reduces hardware cost (no GPS module needed).
Extends compatibility across platforms for mesh-based geolocation.
Example log expectation:
[MESHCORE] GPS update from BLE: lat=7.1423 lon=-73.2178 src=iPhone
Miguel J Rodriguez R, MD., MSc.
Summary:
Allow iOS devices running the MeshCore app to send their GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to MeshCore nodes that do not have a physical GPS module.
Context:
Currently, MeshCore nodes (e.g., Heltec LoRa 32 V3) without a GPS chip can only use external GPS sources from Android devices using Bluetooth SPP or serial connection.
However, iOS restricts SPP communication, and the existing MeshCore iOS app (“MeshCore by Liam Cottle”) does not yet support forwarding iPhone GPS data to the node.
Feature Goal:
Enable the MeshCore iOS app to periodically transmit the iPhone’s current GPS coordinates via BLE to the paired node.
The node should interpret this data as its active location source (GEO_DATA) and broadcast it across the mesh network.
Technical Proposal:
Implement a BLE characteristic within the MeshCore iOS app for GPS data output.
Format JSON payloads like:
{"lat":7.1423,"lon":-73.2178,"alt":955,"src":"iphone"}
Node firmware (v1.9.0 +) listens for BLE updates and updates its internal GPS state accordingly.
Use Case:
Field agents using Heltec V3 MeshCore nodes without GPS modules.
iPhone paired via Bluetooth, sending GPS updates every 10–30 s.
Node transmits GEO_DATA packets in the mesh for decentralized geolocation or epidemiological monitoring.
Benefits:
Makes MeshCore usable with iOS devices in mobility scenarios.
Reduces hardware cost (no GPS module needed).
Extends compatibility across platforms for mesh-based geolocation.
Example log expectation:
[MESHCORE] GPS update from BLE: lat=7.1423 lon=-73.2178 src=iPhone
Miguel J Rodriguez R, MD., MSc.