Hello,
As It's difficult to search for "ANT+" in the forums, sorry if this issue has already been addressed
And now some extra keywords to ease the search: ant, ant+, antplus, ant_plus, antwireless, ant_wireless
This is a thread to summarized all the facts about ANT+ and the Nexus 5 I have found so far:
HARDWARE: BCM4339. The Nexus 5 has this chip which provides WiFi, BT and presumably ANT+. It's also present in the Galaxy Note 3 which reportedly has ANT+ capabilities.
DRIVER: The required driver source can be found here: https://github.com/ant-wireless . Once compiled it generates a module (libantradio.so) and two apk (AntHalService.apk, ANTRadioService.apk).
SOFTWARE: There are several apps with ANT+ enabled, but for testing purposes the ANT+ demo can be used.
To be able to test ANT+ I have the Nexus 5 and ANT+ capable hardware (HRM, cadence sensor, etc), the ANT+ Demo in google play but I'm missing the driver.
I know I need a kernel with module loading enabled (for example this modified stock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2514765) but I don't know howto to compile the ANT+ module.
Can someone generate the driver as per the instructions in https://github.com/ant-wireless/ANT_in_Android or explain me how to do it?
I'm on a linux host, I have a rather limited experience in compiling stuff but I'm not afraid of learning something in the process!
Thanks!!
very interested in the results. thank you for your work on this
interested
Subscribed.
I am also interested in this as I have my phone and Garmin Forerunner watch with me when I run so if I can just carry my phone and get the same data that would be awesome!
If no one else takes this on, I'll see about looking into it later. Keep in mind though that I'm not a developer of any sort but am comfortable with compiling kernels. I have an ANT+ HRM from my Motoactv that I'd like to use.
Ok,
So far I haven't able to compile stock kernel. I'm trying with NDK GCC 4.7 without success: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47577117
But I've investigated in other fields. I've downloaded S4 and Note3 ROMS with ANT+ support to have a look at the files.
S4 CRASH_ROM_V11: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322619
Note3 BoBCaTROM_V2.0: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2498687
This is want I've found so far:
There are three system apps: AntHalService.apk, ANTRadioService.apk and ANTPlusPlugins.apk. These two latter can be found in google play. The first app is the one that "informs" the system that the device is ANT+ capable (as stated in the ant_wireless git). I've tried to install this apk manually but fails due to certificates (samsung).
S4, Note3 and Nexus5 have all different revisions for the bcm433x firmware but they all have an "ANTLockUsed" string in it (hexdump). Is it related to ANT+ or the ANTenna? Incidentally, the wisol firmware revision doesn't have this string.
The rest of the files related to ANT+ are for the com.dsi.ant.antradio_library (etc/permissions and framework files).
I can't find any ANT+ related module (ant*.so, libant*.so). Thus, is it already compiled in the kernel or not needed at all?
I've uploaded all these files in case anyone wants to have at look them.
Subscribed. ANT+ support would be awesome for all the athletes out there.
I'm a big supporter of ANT+. I wish I knew more about Android to help on this side. I have a blog that documents a lot of hacking projects related to ANT+.
If the Nexus 5 could access ANT+ it could be an amazing cycle computer potentially.
I work a bit with a SOC from Nordic. The way it works for BLE is that it compiles and downloads a soft protocol. I'm wondering if this is how the Boardcom chip works too. My reasoning is in the github:
Additionally, in Android 4.2, the Bluetooth stack switched to Bluedroid (from BlueZ) and this existing ANT implementation for chips using Vendor Specific Bluetooth HCI messaging for ANT packets (wl12xx and bcm433x) is currently not compatible, until somebody is able to do the work for the different bluetooth stacks. The chip vendors may provide build support for their own products if you inquire with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it sounds like, because ANT+ and BLE are so similar, they upload a new stack to the chip which enables it. However, this stack is not in the wild.
kwakeham said:
So it sounds like, because ANT+ and BLE are so similar, they upload a new stack to the chip which enables it. However, this stack is not in the wild.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense as I wasn't able to find any more files related to ANT+ (directly not by looking into the source code).
However, I'm very stubborn and I want ANT+ in the nexus :silly:
First of all: It still doesn't work, but so far I've learnt a few things.
First I copied the Note3 files (attached) related to ANT+ (root needed, remember to chmod 644):
/system/app/AntHalService.apk (modified to strip samsung certificates)
/system/etc/permissions/com.dsi.ant.antradio_library.xml
/system/framework/com.dsi.ant.antradio_library.jar
/system/vendor/firmware/bcm4335_A0.hcd (renamed to bcm4335c0.hcd to max nexus5 firmware name. Backup old one first!!)
Upon reboot I also installed from google play the rest of ANT+ app required.
ANT radio service: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.service.socket
ANT+ Plugins: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
ANT+ Demo: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.antplusdemo
When using the ANT+ Demo App it doesn't warn about anything missing (good!!) but when searching for the HRM I have it just fails (bad!!). It fails with either firmware (nexus or note). In any case dmesg doesn't so any info related to ANT+.
To summarize:
The previous files are needed so that androids "knows" ANT+ hardware is present, but
Something else needs to be modified. As stated by kwakeham probably the bluetooth stack.
I have no android or coding skills (or any skills at all ), but with this information I hope someone can have a look at the modified bluetooth stack of either S4 or Note3 to port those changes to Nexus5 :fingers-crossed:
I'm very confident because XDA is a great place with lots of wonderful people, fully capable of implementing ANT+ in the Nexus5.
They've done much harder things!!
Is it true that Bluetooth 4.0 can only connect to one device at a time? So, if we wanted to monitor heart rate on the phone and listen to music via bluetooth headphones, this would not be possible unless we used an ANT+ heart rate monitor, correct?
Cleanskinned said:
Is it true that Bluetooth 4.0 can only connect to one device at a time? So, if we wanted to monitor heart rate on the phone and listen to music via bluetooth headphones, this would not be possible unless we used an ANT+ heart rate monitor, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Close but not quite.
A BT4 HR strap will only allow one device to connect to it at a time but the phone can connect to multiple BT devices at the same time. ANT+ lets an infinite number devices to connect to a single HR strap, so like your phone stashed in your pocket and a running watch on your arm. ANT+ would also allow you to read data from hundreds of sensors, though that would be more useful for a trainer at a spin class or something lol.
Exactly, and to verfy that I just connected two Bluetooth 4.0 devices with my Nexus 5. My Pebble and the fitbit Flex from my girlfriend, both worked fine simultaneously.
Btw, windows has a limit of 7 connected Bluetooth devices at a time, but that's not caused by the Bluetooth specification.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Hello,
Still no success.
I've been looking into the source code of both S4 and Note3 opensource kernels for android version 4.3, but due to lack of coding skills I just have no idea of what to search.
The source code of bluetooth stack from these kernels and the one for nexus5 seem completely different thus it's hard to draw any conclusions. The only thing clear is that running a "grep" search into the code for "ant+", "antplus", "ant_wireless" (or similar) doesn't show any results.
It seems someone is working on having ant+ on the google editon S4: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2542922
Let's hope his work can be reused for the nexus5.
PS. I don't have enough posts yet to ping him back to this thread but I will try to use the files he has attached.
usu4rio said:
It seems someone is working on having ant+ on the google editon S4: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2542922
Let's hope his work can be reused for the nexus5.
PS. I don't have enough posts yet to ping him back to this thread but I will try to use the files he has attached.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's me. I've found you looking for some info to help me out.
The main issue I'm facing is the AntHalService.apk from the vendors(Samsung,Sony) is the 3.0.0 and there were 2 updates already.
I compiled the 3.1.1 but I can't run it as a system app.
Regarding the Nexus 5, I guess that since S4 got ANT+ activated on 4.3, something in the updated radio probably activated it, and as you mentioned, no .so modules on the system.
Maybe analyzing the ANTHal code deeply might bring up some light on this.
Btw, you're Brazilian or Portuguese or Spanish? (due to your nickname)
If so, we can add each other on G+ and progress on talks to see if we can bring some light to the athlete droiders out there...
Worst case scenario you can use an USB Ant+ Stick with an OTG cable. (what I am going to do while I research for this.... )
Oh, btw, Galaxy S3 also had the hardware but Samsung never activated it...
ADD
AdrienC said:
That's me. I've found you looking for some info to help me out.
The main issue I'm facing is the AntHalService.apk from the vendors(Samsung,Sony) is the 3.0.0 and there were 2 updates already.
I compiled the 3.1.1 but I can't run it as a system app.
Regarding the Nexus 5, I guess that since S4 got ANT+ activated on 4.3, something in the updated radio probably activated it, and as you mentioned, no .so modules on the system.
Maybe analyzing the ANTHal code deeply might bring up some light on this.
Btw, you're Brazilian or Portuguese or Spanish? (due to your nickname)
If so, we can add each other on G+ and progress on talks to see if we can bring some light to the athlete droiders out there...
Worst case scenario you can use an USB Ant+ Stick with an OTG cable. (what I am going to do while I research for this.... )
Oh, btw, Galaxy S3 also had the hardware but Samsung never activated it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have a Galaxy S4 but i want to change it for Nexus 5
i hope it works
following
HI to all
I'm interesting on this too and I'm waiting how advance this to buy an nexus 5
You will try to ask on thisisant forum. there are developers from ant+ and offer some news about phones sometimes.
Waiting news, best regards to all.
Guys, I've got a message from @fcastillousfq and I think it might be of your interest my response:
fcastillousfq said:
Hey, I saw the post about getting a USB accessory for the Nexus 5 to be able to use ANT+ as a last resource, I've been searching online and can't find any for Android, only for iPhone. The only one I've found was huge and it's not for sale yet.
Could you provide me a link or the name of the accessory so I could buy it?
Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, it the Suunto Movestick Mini + OTG Cable
Then you have to install:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.usbservice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.service.socket
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.antplusdemo (for testing)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.antplus.grapher.heartrate (for testing)
And you're set. It's pretty easy!!
ps: forget to mention that you can use regular size ant+ usb sticks, as the one from Garmin, but I preferred this one as it's smaller.
With a bit of DIY you can make something smaller.
Thanks for the info! I'm going to look into it and probably buy it.
I'm also considering the Viiiiva, which acts as a bridge between all my Ant+ devices and Bluetooth 4. The bad thing is that there's no android app yet, in the mean time, the USB one will suffice.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
AdrienC said:
That's me. I've found you looking for some info to help me out.
The main issue I'm facing is the AntHalService.apk from the vendors(Samsung,Sony) is the 3.0.0 and there were 2 updates already.
I compiled the 3.1.1 but I can't run it as a system app.
Regarding the Nexus 5, I guess that since S4 got ANT+ activated on 4.3, something in the updated radio probably activated it, and as you mentioned, no .so modules on the system.
Maybe analyzing the ANTHal code deeply might bring up some light on this.
Btw, you're Brazilian or Portuguese or Spanish? (due to your nickname)
If so, we can add each other on G+ and progress on talks to see if we can bring some light to the athlete droiders out there...
Worst case scenario you can use an USB Ant+ Stick with an OTG cable. (what I am going to do while I research for this.... )
Oh, btw, Galaxy S3 also had the hardware but Samsung never activated it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delay.
Yes! spanish :good:
Unfortunately I don't use G+ (or facebook or in fact any other so-called social network). I will try to be active here so we can achieve the desired ANT+ support.
Tomorrow I will have a look at the ANT+ files you compiled (posted in the other thread) and I will compare the results with the ones provided by samsung (which I somehow managed to installed but don't really know if are working or not). I will add a post with the steps I followed to make it work.
AdrienC said:
Guys, I've got a message from @fcastillousfq and I think it might be of your interest my response:
Sure, it the Suunto Movestick Mini + OTG Cable
Then you have to install:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.usbservice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.service.socket
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.antplusdemo (for testing)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.antplus.grapher.heartrate (for testing)
And you're set. It's pretty easy!!
ps: forget to mention that you can use regular size ant+ usb sticks, as the one from Garmin, but I preferred this one as it's smaller.
With a bit of DIY you can make something smaller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have the LARGE garmin usb stick. I successfully used it with the Razr (910xt), but if only we could make use of the internal ANT+ hardware it would be soooo convinient
usu4rio
PS. As a "last resort" I'm planning to contact Carlo Pescio, the creator of Sportablet (http://www.sportablet.com). If I were able to use the internal ANT+, I would definitively buy his software (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carlopescio.uploader). I hope this doesn't sound as extortion ... too much :angel:
Hi!
I'm not really a technic geek, so for me its not easy to root my galaxy gear
But I want to have a pdf-reader on the gear. Whats the simplest way to install it and what for a reader should i take?
Anyone tested it yet?
Thank you guys
Check the threads for how to sideload apps using overshares. It's very simple
Remember the screen is tiny, can't imagine being able see much of a pdf
_____
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 i7310
I'm running Null rom and have Office suite pro and quickoffice installed. They actually work better than one might think. As far as reading them, you'll have to do some zooming. Just like my kindle app I loaded on my Gear - which may sound ridiculous, but actually it works better than one would expect. Not hard to read, just more swiping to change pages obviously. So it's doable and not as cumbersome to use a PDF reader or office app on the Gear. Now the fact that it doesn't have a WIFI radio really is what makes many apps not very useable as you have to BT tether for internet and that is slow and eats battery.
LOL, I installed kindle myself just to see if it would Work.
I think I Used it for 10 Minutes before deciding it was totally worthless and uninstalling it.
I can't even imagine trying to read a PDF on the gear (or why you would want to)
jmorton10 said:
LOL, I installed kindle myself just to see if it would Work.
I think I Used it for 10 Minutes before deciding it was totally worthless and uninstalling it.
I can't even imagine trying to read a PDF on the gear (or why you would want to)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Each to their own. I would not read Kindle books on the gear often, but on a plane or in certain situations it's fine. As far as PDF - I do all my payroll (about 25 employee's) on my TF300 or Note 3 via an excel sheet I made. I loaded the excell sheet with office suite pro and save each bi-weekly payroll so that I have it readily available. The excel sheet figures payroll for me as I plug in hours for each employee, etc. Anyway, I actually loaded that payroll excel sheet onto my gear and I could use it in a pinch. But yes, you had to zoom - a lot - and it was cumbersome. Point for me was more "can I" than "will I" much, or at all. I got the Gear as an Xmas gift, didn't ask for it, so for me it's a fun gadget that I enjoy pushing the limits of the device. :good:
Hello,
I didn't manage to upload my PDFs to Gear.
I've searched for similar topics on this site, but I didn't find relevant posts.
Please help!
Ist there some Team/Developer working on an OpenSource alternative to the official Samsung Galaxy Gear Manager? I am the programmer behind OpenFetch (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sindaccos.openfetch) which was just a test to get the HTC Fetch working with any BLE/Android 4.3 enabled Smartphone.
This gave me so much experience with BLE profiles, characteristics and co. so I am searching for some more devs helping me coding an OpenGearManager.
So who is with me?
Regards,
Gamer
Sounds like a great idea hope you get more devs on board
Nope, no work on a OpenSource replacement is going on atm, not in the public anyway.
I´we done some custom Gear apps for the null_ rom but if I´m capable of helping out with this, I don´t know.
I´m sure @fOmey (author of null_) can help out with lot´s of info for the project.
I love the idea !
Pushing notifications to the gear using a open program would be awesome for end users.
Have you checked out M2D ? It would be a great start if you could get the source.
How about an iPhone (Cydia) app that would push notifications to the Gear?
This is the best idea yet. Because of the fact that I'm an idiot I would love to be able to push apps and make other changes via the gear manager. I would think this would open the door for other idiots like myself to get this watch. I am running null 16 but had someone else load it for me. would love to go 22 but don't know how plus I heard you lose settings in touchwiz...a reinvented gear manager would fix this right?
I would like to help, but do not have the time right now. Could it be possible to reverse engineer the proprietary protocols so we can use the apps created for the gear with the open version of gear manager?
I have been looking into this. But there is alot thats way over my head. But i would say its not possible. Not for now anyhow. But anything is possible i guess.
smokestack76 said:
I have been looking into this. But there is alot thats way over my head. But i would say its not possible. Not for now anyhow. But anything is possible i guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't go as far as saying its impossible...
If you have experience in bluetooth communication between devices & JSON requests it may not be as hard as you may think.
It would be a bit of a difficult project tho !
Lets forget about JSON requests for a minute and listen to my theory:
Half of it is done with M2D manager by pacosal, the bluetooth connectivity part anyway... if someone was to code a notification listener for the host phone, we could push the M2D intents to the gear.. simple enough right ?
We then code a listener for the gear to listen for M2D intents, when one of the "notification intents" is received we fire the following intent to show a custom notification.
For a example put this command in adb shell:
Code:
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -n com.samsung.notifications/com.samsung.notifications.NotificationAlertActivity -e title Test
This would give basic notification functionality, its not that difficult to code and it would work across all android devices.
If I was confident enough to code in JAVA, I would take on the project myself although with a lack of time to learn and other ongoing projects it makes it hard... in saying that tho I am more than happy to help anyone who is game to make a start !
One of the gear users created a third party app to send notifications to the gear: ATN
If only he released the source, it would be excellent to get an idea how things work.
I'm all up for that iPhone cydia app! I really want a gear but don't like samsung phones. I'd pay for the app too, if you list it for a price, I'd pay up to $15-$20 for it
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
It would be great to have this working, i am currently using ATN Manager and was a pain to get working as you have to find and use a specific version of the app to get the functionality, i posted about it here as well as getting the WatchStyler working on a non-Samsung device (Nexus 5) here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=50550974&postcount=129
However you only get a message that you got a notification for some and not a full message to read, while that works while your phone may be on silent it would be great to have the full functionality like with a Samsung device.
Very excited about this! Hope someone can get it going! I'd be more than happy to test as I am sure is with other!
First of all - Hi everyone! I'm a frequent reader, first time poster.
Now to the point. As soon as I'm done with my masters defense (around next two weeks), I'm starting a project that might help with this idea.
I'm basically going to implement an android service that will provide an abstract interface for communication between any android phone with bluetooth capability (if possible, still some research ahead of me) and Galaxy Gear. I haven't decided yet if interaction will be done by intents or if it would be in form of a library or even raw classes. Still if the project will succeed I'm going to try to build the same abstract interface for Windows Phone devices (no intents here, so propabbly as a library). If it proves possible then same thing will be done with iOS, by a friend of mine.
Assuming this would work, someone would have to reverse engineer the Gear Manager, so if there is anyone that is able to do that I will be happy to cooperate in any way I can.
I'm not promissing anything for now, but let's see how will things go.
Gohanks said:
First of all - Hi everyone! I'm a frequent reader, first time poster.
Now to the point. As soon as I'm done with my masters defense (around next two weeks), I'm starting a project that might help with this idea.
I'm basically going to implement an android service that will provide an abstract interface for communication between any android phone with bluetooth capability (if possible, still some research ahead of me) and Galaxy Gear. I haven't decided yet if interaction will be done by intents or if it would be in form of a library or even raw classes. Still if the project will succeed I'm going to try to build the same abstract interface for Windows Phone devices (no intents here, so propabbly as a library). If it proves possible then same thing will be done with iOS, by a friend of mine.
Assuming this would work, someone would have to reverse engineer the Gear Manager, so if there is anyone that is able to do that I will be happy to cooperate in any way I can.
I'm not promissing anything for now, but let's see how will things go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, looking forward to where this goes!