Overview#

The Simplicity Bluetooth NCP Commander is a tool for sending BGAPI commands to NCP target applications. It offers an intuitive GUI for controlling BLE or Bluetooth Mesh NCP targets, allowing users to learn the Bluetooth API, launch commands via a smart console, perform common BLE functions, manipulate GATT databases, and provision Bluetooth Mesh devices.

Key Features

  • Control the NCP target intuitively through a graphical user interface and learn the inner workings of the Bluetooth API

  • Launch commands effortlessly through the smart console with built-in documentation and intellisense

  • Perform the most common BLE functions (advertising, scanning, connections)

  • Manipulate the GATT database on the NCP target leveraging Dynamic GATT feature on the embedded stack

  • Provision and configure Bluetooth Mesh devices

For detailed information about using NCP Commander and developing Bluetooth NCP-Host applications, see Silicon Labs Bluetooth Stack v3.x and Higher in Network Co-Processor Mode.

Two versions of the tool are available:

  • Bluetooth NCP Commander Standalone

  • Bluetooth NCP Commander on the Web (See here)

Before launching Bluetooth NCP Commander, make sure that the correct board is connected. If you are just getting started, build and flash a project based on Bluetooth - NCP.

To launch the Simplicity Bluetooth NCP Commander:

  1. In the Simplicity Studio v6, click Tools > NCP Commander.

  2. In the Connection Manager dialog, select the target device and click Connect.

Once the UART connection to the mainboard is established, an Interactive view opens, which you can use to issue BGAPI commands. Note that the connected device is shown in the lower right. You can change target devices without leaving Bluetooth NCP Commander by clicking that area. It will show Disconnected if not connected to any device. Check the log for the NCP target response and status messages.

You can also issue commands manually. For example, you can issue the sl_bt_system_hello() command at any time to verify that communication between the host and the device is working. The Smart Console provides auto completion and documentation for the possible commands.

NCP Commander provides a simple scripting feature. Create or import an existing script using the controls in the top right corner. You can use any BGAPI commands in the script, but it has no additional features, such as branching or error handling. Click Export to save the commands sent through the console to a file that can be imported back as a script.