Overview
TG-BT5-OUT is a new addition to our MikroTik equipment. It is a Bluetooth tag (a very small gadget) that can be attached to other equipment or other belonging. Bluetooth tags play a big role in IoT topologies, where Bluetooth is used to broadcast the data over short distances. Once installed and configured, the tag will broadcast advertising packets in iBeacon, Eddystone, or Mikrotik telemetry (default packet format) to the gateway (for example, KNOT). Gateway, on the other hand, pushes the advertising packet payload to the remote server utilizing MQTT or HTTP protocols.
Tag modes
Factory sleep mode is a default mode that the device uses. In this mode, all components are shut-down as much as possible and MCU is put into the deepest possible sleep state. The current draw is reduced to a minimum so this is the preferred mode to use when the tag is not used to maximize battery life. To exit this mode a reed switch is used. If it’s active for 3-10 seconds, the factory sleep mode will be deactivated and MCU will enter Advertising mode.
In advertising mode, the tag will broadcast information about itself in Bluetooth advertising packets. By default, the MikroTik advertisement is sent once every 5 seconds. This can be changed in the Configuration mode.
Configuration mode can only be entered from advertising mode by applying a magnetic field to the same reed switch that was used for exiting factory sleep. When the reed switch is active for 5-10 seconds configuration mode will be entered. Otherwise, MCU will go back into advertising mode.
When the device is put into configuration mode for the first time, it is configured the following way:
| Configuration parameter | Setting/value |
|---|---|
| Advertising packet format | MikroTik |
| Advertising Interval | 5.0 seconds |
| Tilt trigger | 60° |
| Accelerometer trigger | 156.25 mg |
| Low noise filter | enabled |
| Tx Power | 6 dBm |
Using the reed switch means putting the magnet over the device for a specific time (depending on the mode you wish the device to be in). As soon as the magnet is detected (the reed switch is activated), the LED will start flashing for the next 5 seconds (first 5 seconds) and, then, stop. It can help you identify that 5 seconds have passed and that you can remove the magnet to enter configuration mode.
Initial steps
Install the "MikroTik Beacon Manager" application and run the app.
Upon the first login, you will see the list of "beaconed" devices:
To "wake up" the tag from the factory sleep mode, the reed switch should be activated for 3-10 seconds.
As soon as the device "wakes up", it will show up in the "MikroTik Beacon Manager" list. Select the tag and you can begin configuring it by pressing the "CONFIG ONLY" button:
Right after that, you will need to put a magnet over the device for 10 seconds (this is the step where the device is set to the configuration mode):
After a short wind up time, the device should be ready to be configured:
The app will show general information about the tag in the "Status" tab and will allow you to alter the tag's setting using the "Settings" tab (as shown in the screenshot above).