UNO R4 WiFi and BLE working simultaneously

Official Hardware Classic UNO R4 WiFi
1

The User Manual states:

However, this trace antenna is shared with the Bluetooth® module, which means you cannot use Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® at the same time.

In my case, the sketch connects to a WiFi network and then an MQTT broker and publishes messages to a topic every 15 seconds. The sketch also sets up the board as a BLE peripheral and sends data to a connected BLE App on a smartphone (acting as a central) every 15 seconds.

WiFi surely does not disconnect as that would have printed a message. I haven't checked for BLE disconnect, but if it did disconnect I would need to manually reconnect from the app which I don't need to.

So this situation where both WiFi and BLE are able to stay connected and send data in bursts (I don't need any continuously streaming data), is absolutely fine and gives me WiFi and BLE "at the same time".

What then is the understanding of "at the same time" when the documentation says you cannot use them at the same time?

2

I think you have provided the example. It sounds like you have proved it literally means only one can transmit at a single point in time, but if you write the code to alternate, then it is fine.

3

What Bluetooth module?
There is only ESP module on the board, the NORA-W106 module from u-blox so that statement really makes no sense.

4

This is verbatim from the Arduino UNO R4 documentation so maybe someone from the Arduino team can clarify for you.

1 Like
5

I don't need any clarification, the statement just doesn't make any sense.

6

I am happy it's working, but I did not write any specific code to alternate.

In fact, since this was my first time trying to use both, I just combined the WiFi and BLE code and ran it to see what error I may get but it just seems to work.

I understand that the code may be using only WiFi or BLE at literally exactly one point in time. If that's the only limitation then it's good enough for many use cases.

7

Feedback to the Arduino team can be submitted using this form:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/contact-us/

8

I suspect it is possible to start a transmission that may be long and may restart such that it overlaps a short BLE. If I wanted to use that device I would code it in a way that guarantees no overlap. I understand why Arduino didn't say that, too many non-professional programmers who understand and know how to deal with it. Also the pros would know just like I did what it means and how to use it safely.
Now I wonder how many other boards are like that?

1 Like
9

Why tell me?

10

You seemed concerned about the wording used in the Arduino documentation. The link I provided is the best way to convey such feedback to the appropriate audience.

11

I don't remember expressing concern.
All of the Arduino documentation is full of mistakes.