Bitalino device not detected by Bitalino support package

I've installed the Bitalino support package and I'm trying to acquire data from a BITalino (r)evolution Plugged Kit BT. I'm running Matlab R2016b on a 64 bit Windows 8.1 PC.

So far I've managed to acquire data seamlessly with OpenSignals, and also with the Matlab API from the Bitalino website.

But when I try using the support package by the MathWorks Instrument Control Toolbox Team; it doesn't work:

b = Bitalino

returns the following error:

Unsuccessful open: Cannot connect to the device. Possible reasons are another application is connected or the device is not available.

Yet it seems that the Instrument Control Toolbox somewhat detects it:

myInstr = instrhwinfo('Bluetooth');
myInstr.RemoteNames{3}

ans =

BITalino-17-24

myInstr.RemoteIDs{3}

ans =

btspp://201607181724

I'm really stuck, here. Could anyone please point me to the right direction?

Thanks very much.

[Hugo Silva]

Hi there,

I think you'll need to pass the Bluetooth Serial Port address of your device as an input argument to the statement b=Bitalino

From the information you have listed above, please try b=Bitalino("btspp://201607181724",1)

At least based on the comments found on the API file, this should work: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/53983-bitalino-support-from-matlab/content/Bitalino.m

Best regards,

Hugo Silva

[Von Duesenberg]

Thanks very much, Hugo, it works perfectly well (btw: just replace the double quotes by single quotes).

It's still a mystery why neither the bitalinoApp in Matlab, nor the "official" Instrument Control App were able to make the connection.

All the best!

Answer 1

[Vinod]

Have you changed the bitalino's friendly name from 'bitalino' to something else? The default constructor assumes that the Bitalino's Bluetooth friendly name is 'bitalino'. As Hugo says, it takes an optional input parameter for the cases where you have renamed it.

If you have not renamed it, remember to pair the Bitalino with your PC before trying to use it in MATLAB. This should get it to show up in the app as well.

[Von Duesenberg]

Thanks for your reply, Vinod. My default Bitalino's friendly name was: BITalino-17-24. I changed it to: bitalino. Now the bitalinoApp finds the remote ID. But when I press connect, I get a connection error window and a warning (which I always get) at the Matlab prompt. The strange thing is that, when I use the command line:

b=Bitalino('btspp://201607181724',1);

I always get this warning: Warning: Unsuccessful read: The specified amount of data was not returned within the Timeout period.

But it doesn't prevent Matlab from acquiring data from the Bitalino with the startBackground and the read functions.

So it seems that I can get everything to work, except the bitalinoApp.

Thanks again.

[Vinod]

I do not have a BITalino anymore so I am unable to help you troubleshoot further.

The source code for the bitalinoApp is part of the download. Perhaps you can open up the source and step through it to see where the error occurs?

[Von Duesenberg]

Ok, thanks, Vinod. I'll have a closer look at the source code ASAP and check where the error occurs.

[Von Duesenberg]

Ok, now the app works once in a while (without me changing anything since my previous comment) and I can't figure out why.

[Vinod]

I suspect you will find that the BITalino is going into some kind of low power mode where it becomes non-discoverable after a while of no Bluetooth activity.

If you try to use the app, but each time you use it you power cycle the BITalino, the app will work consistently.

Could you try and let me know?

[Von Duesenberg]

Thanks Vinod, but, no, turning the BITalino on and off repeatedly does not seem to solve the problem. And even when the app doesn't work, the command line solution always works.