BLE with ESP32 tutorial part 1: the Server

This tutorial explains how to use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) with the ESP32. In Part 1 first some BLE basics are discussed and then focuses on the BLE Server.

Link for the pre-defined Services, Characteristics and Descriptors:

Link for UUID generation:

Code:

Correction:
05:13 the "ESP32 BLE" library is included in the latest releases of the ESP32 compiler and you dont need to add an extra library. To check if the library is included go to File - Examples and search for "ESP32 BLE Arduino". If these examples are present, the library is installed.
05:28 correction, the real author is Neil Kolban, but it might show up under Dariusz Krempa. Anyway, on new installations the library is included per default and you do not need to install anymore.
09:50 delay(3) will provide a 3ms delay, not 3ns as I state in the video.

[leisergeist]

I rarely comment but had to say… fantastic job making a great clear but concise tutorial! Thanks a bunch for your effort

[koolway]

For some time now, I wanted to implement a BLE sensor for an ergometer that already displays speed, power, cadence, etc... so it can be sent to my watch.
You got me going, just ordered the ESP32 to start implementing it. Thank you for the quality content you provided!!!

[veljac]

correction of the correction: 3 is 3ms = 3000 µs = ns (ms = 1E-3, µs =1E-6, ns= 1E-9)
>>09:50 delay(3) will provide a 3µs delay, not 3ns as I state in the video.

[NishatTasnim-wc]

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[davidkempton]

This video was just what I was looking for. So many of the other ones dont show you how to set up a server. Thanks VERY much!

[ollydsouza]

@mothunderz - most useful content and BLE presentation I have listened to while trying it out -in many years! Thanks

[drdave]

Unbelievably timely for me! I've been slowly accumulating some understanding of BLE for several months in order to implement some moisture sensors in my garden. I think your clear explanation (and especially, the demonstrating of how the parameters actually work! ) is going to help a ton.

One issue that I've been having trouble with using the tiny Xiao ESP32-C3 is that the BLE-Arduino doesn't seem to work... errors during compilation. However, the NimBLE version does, so I'm hopeful...

[rydinorwin]

Absolutely awesome! You know delay(1) - this is milli seconds, so delay(1000) is 12 second! I am sure other people have mentioned this. So very clear, fantastic - thank you!

[gaborungvari]

Thx a lot for the effort to create the video! Great content!

[benarcher]

Super clear and, for me, with the perfect level of detail. Thanks!

[infinitychromeful]

welcome back i am waiting for you since web server tutorial

[madwilliamflint]

This series is great. I'm about to embark on a project with a bunch of esp32s running sensors. Didn't occur to me that BLE was actually within reach.

[dancevideo]

In the video at 9:53 I believe your delay(3); waits for 3 milliseconds, not 3 nanoseconds as the voiceover indicates. Nanoseconds are a little bit smaller :-)

[ronaldmarkundag]

Ringbuffer(size_t length, ringbuf_type_t type = RINGBUF_TYPE_NOSPLIT); please help me whats wrong with this

[anil]

Excellent video. Made a few things which were Greek earlier, very much understandable

[xzerr]

A wonderful workshop, thank you! Extremely useful from the beginning to the end

[baconsledge]

Have you considered walking a user through reading data from a General TS04 BLE Multimeter (cheap) with an ESP-32? There are many of these types of devices that only have phone apps but many of us would like to use a Windows/Linux PC to capture data. This would truly be a practical application.

[erenkaya]

Thank you for this great work and explanation. This is what we were waiting for.

[SCSBairsoft]

Sorry for the necro post, but just found your tutorial, trying to understand it and I am getting a fatal error: esp_bt.h: No such file or directory

[jmmi]

Thank you for the tutorial, that was very helpful.

BTW, I have a problem, I've tried with two possible apps from the market, the one you mentioned on your tutorial and other called BLEScanner. Both of them allowed me sending just 4 bytes from the app to the ESP32 BLE Server. I wonder if it is possible to send a bigger package of data from the app to the Server. Could you help me please?

Thanks again and regards.