Is there a way use Bluetooth LE libraries C# in Windows 10 to communicate with sensors or micro-controllers?

Question

I spent some time looking for ways to exchange data from a micro-controller Bluno Beetle from DFRobots that uses Bluetooth LE and a desktop application written in C#. DFRobots actually has a code (in Java Android), where they use GATT profiles to exchange data from/to the micro-controller and an Android Phone. I tested this app myself and it works perfectly. I would like to have a similar application written in C# running on a Desktop. I recently bought a BLE dongle (the cheapest option I found on Amazon) which I can pair successfully.

So far, I found solutions that involve using UWP, being one of those an example for exchanging data between a Windows Phone and a Heart Rate monitor , and very little documentation on how to accomplish that for Desktop applications here and here , that involve using System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime but no other information about how to connect to a device or listen to what is being broadcast.

Do any of you guys know if it is really possible to accomplish that? And if so, are you aware of a tutorial I could use to help me?

Thanks!

Answer 1

but no other information about how to connect to a device or listen to what is being broadcast

Here is an official and complete BLE client/server sample which you can use as a starting point

Answer 2

Look into the BTFramework library. We have worked with it for years. It took one afternoon to establish good communication with an ioT device this week. We are using C# NET, by the way. Their libraries have worked well on all platforms from the latest versions of Windows 10 all the way back to barely-functioning XP machines, skipping Vista of course. As to the dongles you can buy... we support a commercial product using those dongles, and found their marketing claims don't always support their performance. Some work fine for a day, then fail, then work again. And one large batch from one vendor may work fine, but a batch purchased months later may have a high failure rate when you are pushing the envelope.