bleak VS WaterrowerAntBle

I've used Bleak in Python https://github.com/hbldh/bleak to connect to BLE devices from my laptop using the built-in card. I can iterate over services/characteristics, transmit stuff, use indicates, etc.

On the Raspberry Pi I recommend the Python library Bleak. It has some examples, such as the sensortag.py example that shows how to read characteristics, and the enable_notifications.py example that shows how to subscribe to notifications to read data from a characteristic.

We’ve automated testing on our BLE device. Our rig is based on a Raspberry pi configured with a Gitlab-runner that runs a test suite written in Python. We use a library called Bleak: https://github.com/hbldh/bleak

There are quite a few good BLE helper libraries out there that can make my job easier. But not all are created equal, some may be perfect for building peripheral BLE applications but may not be the best for central BLE applications. As I am going to make the Raspberry Pi the client, Bleak is a great one to use. Bleak is a GATT client software, capable of connecting to BLE devices acting as GATT servers. It is designed to provide a asynchronous, cross-platform Python API to connect and communicate with other BLE devices e.g. sensors.

There is a workaround in here although they claim this is fixed in most recent update: https://github.com/hbldh/bleak/issues/720

If your Python script on your computer should work as the GATT client and your code on the ESP32 as the GATT server, Bleak is an easy-to-use Python library. Have a look at the code examples.

They easily could if they added the Ant+ radio hardware. But even with just Bluetooth it's entirely possible with the proper protocols. I mean, if this guy can write software to make it work on a Raspberry Pi, then SmartRow should be able to figure it out.

I’m using pirowflow: https://github.com/inonoob/pirowflo

It's disappointing that Garmin's specification sheets don't say this explicitly, but this forum post suggests that Garmin watches can connect via BluetoothFTMS to rowers that support it. And this device supposedly fixes the SmartRow's issues with limited Bluetooth connectivity capabilities.

Ah, yeah, tough. If you're technologically adventurous, you could always try https://github.com/inonoob/pirowflo

For any devs/tech tinkerers maybe u/leelooleered's PiRowFlo [GitHub] could be used to replace the ComModule since I see it out of stock from most shops.

I am newish to Flutter and know no other languages. I am wanting to develop an app that will run on Android, iOS, web, Windows etc. The app is require to read (and hopefully write as well) BLE. Initially just from the Waterrower (www.waterrower.com) but hopefully in the future from other rowers as well. The Waterrower has a bluetooth addon (Commodule) which appears to not be very reliable. https://github.com/inonoob/pirowflo is developing a Pi based unit which is yet to come on the market but looks very promising. Coxswain is a waterrower app that only works on Android that is written in Java, can uses bluetooth and can also uses a USB cable for direct serial connection. There are a few Flutter BLE libraries (flutter_blue, flutter_bluetooth_serial (based on flutter_blue), flutter_reactive_ble) but they are only for Android and iOS. There is github.com/tbressler/waterrower-core written in Java for connecting the waterrower with Windows, Linux and macOS. I have no idea how the app running in a browser would connect to BLE.

Project is open source: https://github.com/inonoob/pirowflo

This is the link to the github repo: https://github.com/inonoob/WaterrowerAntBle