Using the BLE Bridge with Bluetooth Meshtastic Devices

The MeshMonitor BLE Bridge is a specialized gateway that enables MeshMonitor to communicate with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Meshtastic devices by translating between BLE and TCP protocols.

What is the BLE Bridge?

The BLE Bridge is a lightweight Python application that:

Connects to Meshtastic devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Exposes a TCP interface on port 4403 compatible with MeshMonitor
Translates between BLE's raw protobuf format and TCP's framed protocol
Runs as a standalone Docker container alongside MeshMonitor
Provides automatic reconnection and error recovery

When to Use the BLE Bridge

Use the BLE Bridge when:

✅ Your Meshtastic device only has Bluetooth connectivity (no WiFi/Ethernet)
✅ You want to monitor a portable/mobile Meshtastic device
✅ Your device is nearby (within Bluetooth range, typically 10-30 meters)
✅ You're running MeshMonitor on a system with Bluetooth hardware (Linux with BlueZ)

Do NOT use the BLE Bridge if:

❌ Your device has WiFi/Ethernet - connect directly via TCP instead
❌ Your device is USB/Serial connected - use the Meshtastic Serial Bridge instead
❌ Your system doesn't have Bluetooth hardware

Prerequisites

Before setting up the BLE Bridge, ensure you have:

Linux system with Bluetooth support
- BlueZ Bluetooth stack installed
- D-Bus system bus running
- Bluetooth adapter enabled
Docker and Docker Compose
- Docker Engine 20.10+
- Docker Compose v2
BLE MAC address of your Meshtastic device
- Find it using the scan command (see below)
- Usually visible in Android/iOS Bluetooth settings

Quick Start

1. Find Your Device's BLE MAC Address

Run the BLE bridge in scan mode to discover nearby Meshtastic devices:

bash

docker run --rm --privileged \
  -v /var/run/dbus:/var/run/dbus \
  ghcr.io/yeraze/meshtastic-ble-bridge:latest --scan

Look for output like:

Found Meshtastic device: Meshtastic_1a2b (AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF)

The MAC address is AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF.

2. Create Environment File

Create a .env file in your MeshMonitor directory:

bash

# .env file
BLE_ADDRESS=AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF  # Replace with your device's MAC address

3. Start MeshMonitor with BLE Bridge

Use the docker-compose overlay to add the BLE bridge:

bash

docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.ble.yml up -d

4. Verify Connection

Check the logs to confirm the BLE bridge is connected:

bash

# Check BLE bridge logs
docker compose -f docker-compose.ble.yml logs ble-bridge

# Look for:
# "Connected to BLE device AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF"
# "TCP server listening on 0.0.0.0:4403"

# Check MeshMonitor logs
docker compose logs meshmonitor

# Look for:
# "Connected to Meshtastic node at localhost:4403"

Configuration Details

Docker Compose Overlay

The docker-compose.ble.yml file adds the BLE bridge service:

yaml

services:
  ble-bridge:
    image: ghcr.io/yeraze/meshtastic-ble-bridge:latest
    container_name: meshmonitor-ble-bridge
    privileged: true  # Required for BLE hardware access
    network_mode: host  # Allows localhost TCP communication
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - /var/run/dbus:/var/run/dbus  # Required for D-Bus/Bluetooth
      - /var/lib/bluetooth:/var/lib/bluetooth:ro  # Pairing information
    environment:
      - BLE_ADDRESS=${BLE_ADDRESS:-}
    command: ${BLE_ADDRESS:-}

Key Configuration Options

Privileged Mode

The BLE bridge requires privileged: true to access Bluetooth hardware. This grants the container direct access to the host's Bluetooth adapter.

Security Note: Privileged mode should only be used on trusted systems. For production, consider using device-specific capabilities instead.

Host Networking

Using network_mode: host allows the BLE bridge to listen on localhost:4403, making it accessible to MeshMonitor without complex container networking.

Alternative: For isolated networking, see Advanced Networking below.

Volume Mounts

Two volumes are required for Bluetooth access:

D-Bus socket (/var/run/dbus): Communication with BlueZ daemon
Bluetooth config (/var/lib/bluetooth): Access to pairing database

MeshMonitor Configuration

When using the overlay, MeshMonitor automatically configures itself:

yaml

environment:
  - MESHTASTIC_NODE_IP=localhost
  - MESHTASTIC_NODE_PORT=4403

The BLE bridge acts as a transparent TCP proxy on port 4403.

Pairing Your Device

Some Meshtastic devices require Bluetooth pairing before the bridge can connect.

Pairing on Linux Host

If the device requires pairing, use bluetoothctl on your host system:

bash

# Start bluetoothctl
bluetoothctl

# Enable scanning
scan on

# Wait for your device to appear
# You'll see: Device AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF Meshtastic_1234

# Pair with the device
pair AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF

# Trust the device
trust AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF

# Exit
exit

After pairing on the host, the BLE bridge container can access the paired device through the /var/lib/bluetooth mount.

Troubleshooting

Device Not Found During Scan

Problem: --scan doesn't show your Meshtastic device.

Solutions:

Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on the device:
- Check Meshtastic app settings
- Verify BLE is not disabled in device configuration

Check host Bluetooth adapter:

bash

# Verify adapter is up
hciconfig

# Should show: hci0 UP RUNNING

# If down, bring it up:
sudo hciconfig hci0 up

Verify BlueZ is running:
bash
```
systemctl status bluetooth
```
1

Connection Refused or Timeout

Problem: BLE bridge can't connect to the device even though scan finds it.

Solutions:

Pair the device (see Pairing section)
Ensure device is in range:
- BLE typically works within 10-30 meters
- Move device closer to the host system
Check for interference:
- WiFi routers and other 2.4GHz devices can interfere
- Try moving away from interference sources

MeshMonitor Can't Connect to BLE Bridge

Problem: BLE bridge starts but MeshMonitor shows "Connection failed".

Solutions:

Verify TCP server is listening:

bash

# From host
netstat -tln | grep 4403

# Should show: tcp 0.0.0.0:4403 LISTEN

Check BLE bridge logs:

bash

docker compose -f docker-compose.ble.yml logs ble-bridge

Verify environment variables:

bash

docker compose -f docker-compose.ble.yml config

BLE Bridge Keeps Disconnecting

Problem: Connection drops frequently or BLE bridge restarts.

Solutions:

Check Bluetooth signal strength:
- Move device closer to host
- Remove obstacles between device and host

Review BLE bridge logs for errors:

bash

docker compose -f docker-compose.ble.yml logs -f ble-bridge

Verify power management isn't disabling Bluetooth:

bash

# Disable USB autosuspend for Bluetooth adapter
echo 'on' | sudo tee /sys/bus/usb/devices/*/power/level

Advanced Networking

Using Bridge Network Instead of Host Network

For better container isolation, you can use a bridge network instead of host networking:

yaml

services:
  ble-bridge:
    image: ghcr.io/yeraze/meshtastic-ble-bridge:latest
    privileged: true
    networks:
      - mesh-network
    volumes:
      - /var/run/dbus:/var/run/dbus
      - /var/lib/bluetooth:/var/lib/bluetooth:ro
    environment:
      - BLE_ADDRESS=${BLE_ADDRESS}

  meshmonitor:
    image: ghcr.io/yeraze/meshmonitor:latest
    networks:
      - mesh-network
    environment:
      - MESHTASTIC_NODE_IP=ble-bridge
      - MESHTASTIC_NODE_PORT=4403
    depends_on:
      - ble-bridge

networks:
  mesh-network:
    driver: bridge

Running BLE Bridge on Separate Host

If your MeshMonitor server doesn't have Bluetooth hardware, run the BLE bridge on a separate machine:

On Bluetooth-enabled host:

yaml

services:
  ble-bridge:
    image: ghcr.io/yeraze/meshtastic-ble-bridge:latest
    privileged: true
    network_mode: host
    volumes:
      - /var/run/dbus:/var/run/dbus
      - /var/lib/bluetooth:/var/lib/bluetooth:ro
    environment:
      - BLE_ADDRESS=AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF

On MeshMonitor host:

yaml

services:
  meshmonitor:
    image: ghcr.io/yeraze/meshmonitor:latest
    environment:
      - MESHTASTIC_NODE_IP=192.168.1.50  # IP of BLE bridge host
      - MESHTASTIC_NODE_PORT=4403

Note: Ensure port 4403 is accessible between hosts (check firewalls).

Building Locally

To build the BLE bridge from source instead of using the pre-built image:

bash

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Yeraze/meshtastic-ble-bridge.git
cd meshtastic-ble-bridge

# Build the image
docker build -t meshtastic-ble-bridge:local .

# Update docker-compose.ble.yml to use local build
# Uncomment the 'build' section and comment out 'image'

Performance and Resource Usage

The BLE bridge is lightweight:

Memory: ~50-100 MB
CPU: Minimal (< 5% on idle)
Network: ~1-5 KB/s (depends on mesh activity)
Bluetooth: Standard BLE power consumption

Security Considerations

Privileged containers have full access to host hardware
- Only run on trusted systems
- Consider using specific device capabilities in production
Bluetooth security:
- Use pairing when possible
- Keep Bluetooth firmware updated
- Monitor for unauthorized connections
Network security:
- The TCP interface is unencrypted
- Use firewall rules to restrict access to port 4403
- Consider running on isolated network segment

Protocol Details

For developers and advanced users:

BLE Protocol

Service UUID: 6ba1b218-15a8-461f-9fa8-5dcae273eafd
ToRadio (Write): f75c76d2-129e-4dad-a1dd-7866124401e7
FromRadio (Read/Notify): 2c55e69e-4993-11ed-b878-0242ac120002
Format: Raw protobuf bytes (no framing)

TCP Protocol

Frame Structure: [0x94][0xC3][LENGTH_MSB][LENGTH_LSB][PROTOBUF_DATA]
Port: 4403 (Meshtastic standard)
Format: 4-byte header + protobuf payload

The BLE bridge handles translation between these protocols automatically.

Next Steps

Configure notifications for real-time alerts
Set up a reverse proxy for remote access
Deploy to production with monitoring
BLE Bridge GitHub Repository for source code and updates

Alternative Solutions

If the BLE bridge doesn't meet your needs:

WiFi/Ethernet devices: Connect directly via TCP (no bridge needed)
Serial/USB devices: Use the Meshtastic Serial Bridge instead
Virtual nodes: Use meshtasticd for testing without hardware
HomeAssistant users: Connect through HomeAssistant's Meshtastic integration
Long-range BLE: Consider using a BLE-to-WiFi bridge device

Using the BLE Bridge with Bluetooth Meshtastic Devices ​

What is the BLE Bridge? ​

When to Use the BLE Bridge ​

Prerequisites ​

Quick Start ​

1. Find Your Device's BLE MAC Address ​

2. Create Environment File ​

3. Start MeshMonitor with BLE Bridge ​

4. Verify Connection ​

Configuration Details ​

Docker Compose Overlay ​

Key Configuration Options ​

Privileged Mode ​

Host Networking ​

Volume Mounts ​

MeshMonitor Configuration ​

Pairing Your Device ​

Pairing on Linux Host ​

Troubleshooting ​

Device Not Found During Scan ​

Connection Refused or Timeout ​

MeshMonitor Can't Connect to BLE Bridge ​

BLE Bridge Keeps Disconnecting ​

Advanced Networking ​

Using Bridge Network Instead of Host Network ​

Running BLE Bridge on Separate Host ​

Building Locally ​

Performance and Resource Usage ​

Security Considerations ​

Protocol Details ​

BLE Protocol ​

TCP Protocol ​

Next Steps ​

Alternative Solutions ​

Using the BLE Bridge with Bluetooth Meshtastic Devices

What is the BLE Bridge?

When to Use the BLE Bridge

Prerequisites

Quick Start

1. Find Your Device's BLE MAC Address

2. Create Environment File

3. Start MeshMonitor with BLE Bridge

4. Verify Connection

Configuration Details

Docker Compose Overlay

Key Configuration Options

Privileged Mode

Host Networking

Volume Mounts

MeshMonitor Configuration

Pairing Your Device

Pairing on Linux Host

Troubleshooting

Device Not Found During Scan

Connection Refused or Timeout

MeshMonitor Can't Connect to BLE Bridge

BLE Bridge Keeps Disconnecting

Advanced Networking

Using Bridge Network Instead of Host Network

Running BLE Bridge on Separate Host

Building Locally

Performance and Resource Usage

Security Considerations

Protocol Details

BLE Protocol

TCP Protocol

Next Steps

Alternative Solutions