Quote from Lars Nowak on March 18, 2024, 12:39 pm

Hello,

the latest version of BearChess (1.0.7.0) now also supports BTLE.

Just  published yesterday 🙂

Lars

Quote from tobias on March 18, 2024, 6:23 pm

I also tested the BT module for the Pi Zero W. After booting, the four LEDs in the middle of the board light up. But I can't connect. Neither to chessconnect (which detects the module but doesn't create a connection) and BearChess doesn't find it either.

Also, the original Certabo software does not seem to be designed for BLE yet.

I also tested the firmware for the ESP32-S3. Here I can connect to chessconnect. But nothing else. For me at now a little bit senseless because with Gerhards cer2nut firware I can connect without any problems my Certabo boards as a chessnut board to any application except the Certabo software.

Quote from Pietro on March 18, 2024, 7:44 pm

Hello Julian, Tobias, Lars

Good to hear! Let me explain a bit

The Chessconnect extension cannot so far work with Classical BT but BLE and the standard Certabo BT module is Classical BT. So basically the BLE adapter is done for that specific purpouse. To connect to chessconnect via BLE there are two possibilities

1. For current users of standard module we made a new image which instead using the Classical BT is using BLE so all user owning such module can retrofit by changing the sd.
2. Use a new ESP32-S3 based module using the great work Gerhard has done around it for which we thanks!.

Anyhow in both cases what the BLe modules does it replicating the usb data from the board to BLE so on BLE (if for example you open a serial BLE terminal) you will see the same data you would see on usb com port. For the case 2 it is different from cer2nut because we use a smaller part of Gerhard code ( as the cer2nut original fw make also translation of protocol). So we instead directly access the data via BLe without any translation just read usb and send over BLe as they are.

In download page you can find both version 1 and 2 in case you have an ESP32-s3 with  double ports but you need to flash the other FW. In chessconnect selecting BLE and clicking on connect you should see Certabo as ble available and you can connect. But after that you need to go in learn pieces to add the set to chessconnect the first time you do (Tobias you need to do this when you are able to connect). Anyhow there is no difference is using the Pi or Esp2 as the device will see exactly the same data. I'm not sure why the BT module based on Pi is not connecting that is same image either Lars and Graham as they both were using retrofit of the current BT module as i know.

As for the status for the BLE

Yes our sw is not supporting it yet but we are introducing step by step there is not big difference in functioning between BLE and BT classical except the fact the web BT api required to deal between browser and BT is available for BLE only so mandatory until similar BT web api will be available.  Also the ESP32-S3 will guarantee much faster boot of the system. Also on Android the USB Web api is not available so they only way to have direct interaction with Browser is via BLE so in case of android BLE is only way (unlike Pc-Mac-Unix-Raspberry) where the usb web api is an alternative.

As for the status in both cases as Lars was telling (many thanks Lars) the double support is already embedded in Bearchess, and other status is:

Graham drivers also integrating the BLE i think he will share new release soon

Whitepawn should add the BLe too (that app was not supporting the BT classical so now should support the BLE) so i sent all info to Kadhim too.

Chess dojo, Pgn Master and CFA already support standard BT but i will send them a new BT module as well so they may add the double option.

As per our own Android new app will probably go for the BLE.

Specifically for the BLE we have done a little new module based around the Esp32 i'm sharing some images this will go in line with the board so take usb cable on side and little power bank on the other side. This can be programmed in Arduino or IDF. We engineered a module based on Esp32 to have more convenient way of connection to avoid the the Y cable so all is on the little board but as said we shall guarantee a smooth transition of allow both ways.

All the best

Pietro

 

Quote from Pietro on March 18, 2024, 7:56 pm

btw we also have an app on playstore which simplifies the use of chessconnect in Android and launch directly the game page you may want play bot analysis etc.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.syntax.solution.ttchess&pcampaignid=pcampaignidMKT-Other-global-all-co-prtnr-py-PartBadge-Mar2515-1

 

Quote from tobias on March 18, 2024, 10:27 pm

Hi Pietro,

thank you for your explanation.

Did I understand correct:

a parallel use of classic BT und BLE with the Pi-module is not possible. But in future it will be an option to change completely to BLE if all apps will support BLE.

So meanwhile I will use the Pi-module further with classic BT and the ESP23 should actual support chessconect and BearChess.

Glad to see, that the developement of the Certabo software/accessories is moving on.

 

Tobias

 

 

 

Quote from julkal on March 19, 2024, 10:32 am

I´m not sure if I understand Pietro correctly.

I installed the BTLE Image on by card and put the card with the new BTLE image in my BT module. But neither Bearchess nor chessconnect can connect to my board. Of course I can´t use my BT Module with classical BT with the BTLE image,  but I don´t understand why chessconnect and bearchess doesn´t work with the module, when the  BTLE image is installed on the card.

For Thobias: Yes, you are absolutely right. With cer2nut I can connect to everything, but there are some disadvantages. First, there is no way to make cer2nut remeber the pieces, which is no problem for online playing as you normally start from starting position......but for puzzles, or when you want to resume a paused game, this is diffferent.

Second: It seems that cer2nut needs more power, so my powerbank loses battery power much faster than with the BT Module (Pi Zero)

Julian

Quote from Lars Nowak on March 19, 2024, 12:58 pm

Hi Julian,

can you send me the log files so that I can check why BearChess is not working with the BTLE connection?

Lars

Quote from julkal on March 19, 2024, 7:13 pm

I just tried to manually select BTLE in the configuration tab and now it works.

Thank´s a lot.

By the way: On Schachcomputer.info it´s not possible to register so I`m using this forum to say: "THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRATE WORK! " to you and all the others who are working for all the chess players  with physical boards, to make our life more easy and more fun

all the best

Julian

 

 

Quote from Pietro on March 19, 2024, 7:56 pm

Hi Tobias Julian

Yes sorry you have to select BLe in the option to allow the connection were you referring to this Julian or other pc phone setting? also Tobias forgot also to say  in extension option you can flag debug message so if any problem it will log and you can share the problem.

We have pizerow in the module and it can work as BT classical or BLE but not at same time. What we can do is that for example have single module and at boot just wait you to tell if BT classical or Ble we may do for example if detect a piece in A1 start classical if in B1 start Ble so at any boot you could decide avoiding change of SD. Maybe is an option.

Yes for the future probably better to align to BLE looks more widely supported.

All the best

Pietro