Setting up BlueZ with a passkey/PIN (to be used as headset for iPhone)

bbb123 · 08-11-2017, 07:35 PM

I followed the steps from jwaters42 (thanks!) and they work for me manually. Now I want to automate the process, but I am having no luck.

Specifically, I am doing the following:

Create directory
/usr/bin/bluez/

Edit /etc/rc.local
Add this line (right before the “exit 0” line).
/usr/bin/bluez/setpin.sh

Create the text file /usr/bin/bluez/setpin.sh

Code:

#!/bin/sh
hciconfig hci0 piscan
hciconfig hci0 sspmode 0
/usr/bin/python /usr/bin/bluez/simple-agent &

Copy these two files into /usr/bin/bluez/
simple-agent
bluezutils.py
These two files are available from downloading and untarring the latest Bluez tar file.
They are both in the test/ directory after you untar.
Copy these two files to the BeagleBone directory /usr/bin/bluez/.

You can make a file executable with these commands:
chmod +x setpin.sh
chmod +x simple-agent

Edit simple-agent
vi /usr/bin/bluez/simple-agent

Comment out contents of AuthorizeService

Code:

        def AuthorizeService(self, device, uuid):
                # print("AuthorizeService (%s, %s)" % (device, uuid))
                # authorize = ask("Authorize connection (yes/no): ")
                # if (authorize == "yes"):
               #        return
                # raise Rejected("Connection rejected by user")

Modify

Code:

        def RequestPinCode(self, device):
                # print("RequestPinCode (%s)" % (device))
                set_trusted(device)
                # return ask("Enter PIN Code: ")
                return "123456"

In main method near the bottom, change capability line to read

Code:

capability = "NoInputNoOutput"

If I start simple-agent manually from a command terminal as follows
/usr/bin/bluez/setpin.sh
and then connect to the Linux beaglebone via Bluetooth from a disconnected laptop, I will be prompted to enter the PIN. I must enter 123456 to match method RequestPinCode. Then the laptop connects. Good!

UNRESOLVED PROBLEM
If I reboot the beaglebone, so that simple-agent is started by /etc/rc.local, which starts /usr/bin/bluez/setpin.sh, then I will NOT be asked to enter a PIN. The laptop just connects. Bad!

Any advice, suggestions, and tips are appreciated.

bbb123 · 08-22-2017, 04:24 PM

Continuing from my previous post, but now with the fix:

I remove the line I had added to /etc/rc.local
(I don't use /etc/rc.local now.)

I modify the text file /usr/bin/bluez/setpin.sh as follows

Code:

#!/bin/sh
sleep 120
hciconfig hci0 piscan
sleep 10
hciconfig hci0 sspmode 0
sleep 10
/usr/bin/python /usr/bin/bluez/simple-agent &

As root create a crontab entry with this command.
crontab -e
Choose to use nano and add this line to the end of the file.

Code:

@reboot sleep 5; /usr/bin/bluez/setpin.sh

Exit Nano (Cntl-X) and save (Y).

Also, I had no previous experience with Python and I discovered you need to be really careful with indentation.
I used one or two tabs instead of spaces.
Also, I found that I need to explicitly return from this method

Code:

def AuthorizeService(self, device, uuid):# print("AuthorizeService (%s, %s)" % (device, uuid))
# authorize = ask("Authorize connection (yes/no): ")
# if (authorize == "yes"):
return
# raise Rejected("Connection rejected by user")

Now after I reboot my beaglebone and wait 2.5 minutes, I am required to enter PIN 123456 when connecting to beaglebone via bluetooth.

There is a weakness with this approach. The beaglebone allows bluetooth connection without PIN during 140 seconds until simple-agent starts up.
You might want to cut down the sleep times (120, 10, 10 seconds) to something more appropriate for your system. However, if simple-agent runs too early, then it fails to start up properly and a PIN is never required.

mirakamali · 05-27-2019, 09:36 AM

hello, i followed your tutorial. it is good. the phone asks for a password but it is not pairing then with the pi. the phone is saying that the pi is not ready to pair.