Android beacon library - minimum steps to start ranging

Question

I would like the simplest program to add in my app. The program should only take beacon information after a dialog box option is clicked, I tried many times to write the code but didn't get what are the minimum steps required to start ranging.

public class SecondClass extends Activity implements BeaconConsumer {
private BeaconManager beaconManager;
protected static final String TAG = "RangingActivity";
RegionBootstrap regionBootstrap;

Region region;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.second_layout);

    beaconManager = BeaconManager.getInstanceForApplication(this);
    beaconManager.getBeaconParsers().add(new BeaconParser().
            setBeaconLayout("m:2-3=0215,i:4-19,i:20-21,i:22-23,p:24-24"));
    beaconManager.bind(this);

    region = new Region("backgroundRegion", null, null, null);

    NotificationManager mNotificationManager = (NotificationManager) getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
    mNotificationManager.cancel(101); //closes notification

    //opens the alert dialog
    AlertDialog.Builder builder;
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
        builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this, android.R.style.Theme_Material_Dialog_Alert);
    } else {
        builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
    }
    builder.setTitle("Send data")
            .setMessage("Are you sure you want to send your data to the server?")
            .setPositiveButton(android.R.string.yes, new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {

                public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                    // if yes was pressed, send the data

                    try {
                        beaconManager.startRangingBeaconsInRegion(region);
                    } catch (RemoteException e) {
                        Log.d(TAG, "Can't start ranging");
                    }

                }
            })
            .setNegativeButton(android.R.string.no, new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
                public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                    // if cancel was pressed, do nothing

                }
            })
            .setIcon(android.R.drawable.ic_dialog_alert)
            .show();
}


@Override
public void onBeaconServiceConnect() {

    beaconManager.addRangeNotifier(new RangeNotifier() {
        @Override
        public void didRangeBeaconsInRegion(Collection<Beacon> beacons, Region region) {
            if (beacons.size() > 0) {
                Log.i(TAG, "The first beacon I see is about " + beacons.iterator().next().getDistance() + " meters away.");
            }
        }
    });
}
}

Can anyone explain how the onBeaconServiceConnect runs? And do I need before to start ranging to do the monitoring process, check if there is a beacon and if there is a beacon to start ranging or is okay just to have a program only ranging?

I tried to do as described in Android Beacon Library sample code section, but didn't work

Best regards

EDIT

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

Added these permissions to the code, but still not work

Another thing I did was to check if ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION was enabled by using the function described in here (2nd top most voted answer)

davidgyoung · Answer 1 · 2020-01-30T14:15:26.313

2

Ranging by itself is fine.

The onBeaconServiceConnect is a callback that is made when the beacon scanning service is ready to go, after you call beaconManager.bind(this);. The callback indicates you are ready to start ranging or monitoring. Make sure you get this callback.

Make sure you can detect the same beacon with an off the shelf beacon detecting like BeaconScope: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.davidgyoungtech.beaconscanner&hl=en_US
If using iBeacon, Eddystone or a custom beacon format. Make sure you have registered the proper BeaconParser to work with the library. Here is the code for iBeacon: beaconManager.getBeaconParsers().add(new BeaconParser().setBeaconLayout("m:2-3=0215,i:4-19,i:20-21,i:22-23,p:24-24")); Eddystone has a different layout.
Make sure you have programatically requested and obtained location permission from the user if you are testing on Android 6+, otherwise detections will be blocked. http://altbeacon.github.io/android-beacon-library/requesting_permission.html
Make sure Bluetooth is on, Location is enabled for the phone.
If on Android 10+, make sure you have obtained FINE_LOCATION permission as COARSE_LOCATION is no longer sufficient.

edited Jan 30 '20 at 14:15

answered Feb 02 '18 at 13:03

davidgyoung

63,876
14
121
204

I added the permission, checked both (location and Bluetooth functionality) and if it works with a another app and everything seems to be right... still app doesn't work – pb77 Feb 05 '18 at 00:20
To check if app is working, I open the Logcat and check if I get "The first beacon I see is about " but nothing shows up... – pb77 Feb 05 '18 at 00:26
Can you add a log line to the start of onBeaconServiceConnected to see it tomorrow code gets there? – davidgyoung Feb 05 '18 at 03:55
Yes code gets there, the problem is in inside the `beacons.size() > 0` – pb77 Feb 05 '18 at 04:56
The problem might be I just gave permission in the manifest but not requested to the user – pb77 Feb 05 '18 at 09:09
Yes, see my first link above. This is required for it to work. – davidgyoung Feb 05 '18 at 13:00
Already added that part of the code and granted coarse location to user but still didn't work... problem still in the `beacons.size() > 0` if – pb77 Feb 06 '18 at 01:39

pb77 · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-06T23:41:05.613

0

The problem was: in the sample code I thought it was already specified for iBeacons, so I left as it was... changing to

beaconManager.getBeaconParsers().add(new BeaconParser(). setBeaconLayout("m:0-3=4c000215,i:4-19,i:20-21,i:22-23,p:24-24"));

worked for the beacon I am using

edited Feb 06 '18 at 23:41

answered Feb 06 '18 at 07:05

pb77

47
9

Android beacon library - minimum steps to start ranging

2 Answers2