Bluetooth basic problem with the micro:bit

Question

I've recently received my micro:bit and worked through most of the projects in jlucas 's blog - great start.

I'm keen to code on my Android tablet and smartphone and then use bluetooth to flash the .hex file to the micro:bit, but I'm not having any success.

I've downloaded the SAMSUNG app to both my phone and my tablet and after a lot of fiddling around, I can pair both devices to the micro:bit. I'm sure youngsters will get very very frustrated with this process!! I failed so many times to even start the pairing process that I found and downloaded a ble checker to both my phone and tablet - yes they both support ble - but not all phones/tablets do & that could be a problem for some users.

However, before I can flash the .hex file across, I have to connect to the micro:bit. Both the phone and the tablet repeatedly refuse to connect to the micro:bit, so I am stymied.

jharris1993 · Answer

Neil, Geez! Someone at embed - the people who wrote the firmware - must have a PhD from the Microsoft School of Obscurity - that has to be the absolute ugliest work-around I have ever seen! I cannot imagine a less obvious way to do something. . . . I will have to try this myself though I give total respect and props to you for posting your detailed instructions - other postings allude to this but don't go into the detail you did. Suggestion: Would you please change the "correct answer" designation to point at the posting where you provided Henrik with the detailed list of instructions? This should be what people look for when searching this article. Thanks! Jim "JR"

neilk · Answer

And I have resolved it! I was using the PXT editor which is more sophisticated than the simple Blocks Editor. At the time of making the original post, the default configuration of the PXT editor did not support Bluetooth connection, although the micro:bit would still pair, unless you explicitly loaded the Bluetooth package. I have now been advised of a "workround" which ensures that you can ALWAYS pair and connect, irrespective of the contents of the current program installed on the micro:bit. Please contact if you would like details. This post edited 3 March 2017 This post edited again 07 November 2018 and UNMARKED as "Correct Answer" Correct Answer now points to the Detailed Instructions on the pairing Workaround in a later post

neilk · Answer

Hi ksilver . Melissa - the problem you describe is one step further back from the problem I reported - you can't even put your micro:bit into pairing mode! I have found the following to be the most reliable method of putting the micro:bit into pairing mode: press and hold down the A and B buttons. Then press AND HOLD DOWN the reset button. Keep the reset button held down until the pairing message appears. If this still doesn't work and you are powering the micro:bit connected from USB, try swapping to battery power, or vice-versa. In theory you can have both USB and battery connected at the same time, but I never do - just in case! If you still can't get the pairing message it's possible that your micro:bit is faulty. Do you have access to anyone local to you who has a micro:bit? They might be able to help. By the way, unless I am actually flashing the micro:bit, I run it on battery power - it seems to run cooler that way and I have already had 2 micro:bits fail because of overheating. Hope this helps! if you still need the workaround to achieve a connection, then contact again through this post thread - and yes this is what I meant by contact. Good luck Neil

neilk · Answer

Hi Melissa Any luck? it's worrying that all 3 micro:bits are showing the same problem! Have you, by any chance, flashed with a MicroPython script as mentioned by henrikbirkholm ? If so, then you need to reinstate the DFU code, as described here: https://support.microbit.org/support/solutions/articles/19000026073-how-to-re-instate-bluetooth-after-previously-using-micropython . Best wishes Neil

Bluetooth basic problem with the micro:bit

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