This tutorial explains on how to take any iBeacon device and configure it as a beacon that can be picked up by SafeDistance badges in order to override the default BLE TX power and/or RX level to adjust the proximity distance range.
Note! This feature is only available in SafeDistance Badges with software_revision 13.15 and upwards. You can find the version of your badges on the SafeDistance Portal for each Badge in the Asset --> Setup --> Devices section by clicking on the Edit button.
When a user enters a zone that is equipped with an iBeacon, the SafeDistance Badge will pick up the iBeacon that is strongest and will automatically apply the configured settings. The same can be done for setting the SafeDistance badge in mute, vibrate only, beep only or normal mode (both vibration and beeping enabled), as described in this tutorial.
Powering on the SafeDistance iBeacon
Open the iBeacon and then push the switch from off to on as shown in the picture below. A white light will blink once it is on.
Open a BLE configuration app, like LightBlue for Android or iOS. iBeacon with ‘iBeacon_xxxxxx’ will show in the app, click the corresponding one to enter the configuration page. Please click the iBeacon within 1 minute after power on or it must be
restarted to enter the configuration mode again.
Setting the iBeacon UUID and Minor
To accomplish this, any iBeacon device can be used, as long as the UUID an Minor can be configured. Please use the parameters below to program the iBeacon to the desired function.
Set the BLE UUID to : 7B9BC50BCF6D42788D4D5FA6EA468517 SafeDistance Badges will constantly look for this type of iBeacon for changing the buzzer an vibration alerts.
In order to set the SafeDistance Badge's BLE TX power, set the BLE Minor to:
| Minor value | Minor value when Range Up is used in RX level (*) | TX Power | Approx. Range in meter |
| 0000 | 0080 | Not changed | |
| 0010 | 0090 | +4 dBm | >10 |
| 0020 | 00A0 | 0dBm | 8 |
| 0030 | 00B0 | -4dBm | 6 |
| 0040 | 00C0 | -8dBm | 4 |
| 0050 | 00D0 | -12dBm | 2 |
| 0060 | 00E0 | -16dBm | 1 |
| 0070 | 00F0 | -20dBm | <1 |
(*) Range Up in BLE Receive Threshold allows to change the scale of BLE receive sensitivity on the SafeDistance Badges, allowing further detection of the badges.
In order to set the SafeDistance Badge's BLE RX level, set the BLE Minor to:
| Minor value | RX Level |
| 0000 | Not changed |
| 0001 (*) | -58dBm |
| 0002 (*) | -59dBm |
| 0003 (*) | -60dBm |
| 0004 (*) | -61dBm |
| 0005 (*) | -62dBm |
| 0006 (*) | -63dBm |
| 0007 (*) | -64dBm |
| 0008 (*) | -65dBm |
| 0009 (*) | -66dBm |
| 000A (*) | -67dBm |
| 000B (*) | -68dBm |
| 000C (*) | -69dBm |
| 000D (*) | -70dBm |
| 000E (*) | -71dBm |
| 000F (*) | -72dBm |
| 0001 | -73dBm |
| 0002 | -74dBm |
| 0003 | -75dBm |
| 0004 | -76dBm |
| 0005 | -77dBm |
| 0006 | -78dBm |
| 0007 | -79dBm |
| 0008 | -80dBm |
| 0009 | -81dBm |
| 000A | -82dBm |
| 000B | -83dBm |
| 000C | -84dBm |
| 000D | -85dBm |
| 000E | -86dBm |
| 000F | -87dBm |
(**) Please note that all tests are performed with SafeDistance Badges in free space, meaning with badges hanging on Lanyard with tripod, with no human body next to it! Wearing the SafeDistance badge will have a negative impact on the RF performance, thus lowering the proximity detection!
Please leave the BLE Major value unchanged.
Reboot the iBeacon device and install it on the desired location.
When any SafeDistance badges are nearby and pick up the beacon they will apply the changes on-the-fly. Changes are not stored after a reboot! Factory default settings will be loaded after a reboot.
Setting the iBeacon Transmit Power
By setting the Transmit power of the iBeacon, you can configure the range of the signal of the iBeacon itself. Setting the TX to 0dBm gives you about 50m (164foot) of range in a free space area. Setting the TX power to -21dBm gives you about 8m (26foot) of range in free space. Please use the table below to select the desired range of the iBeacon:
| Hex Value | TX Power (dBm) | Approx. Range (meter) |
| 0x0 | -21 | 8 |
| 0x1 | -18 | 10 |
| 0x2 | -15 | 15 |
| 0x3 | -12 | 20 |
| 0x4 | -9 | 25 |
| 0x5 | -6 | 30 |
| 0x6 | -3 | 40 |
| 0x7 | 0 | 50 |
| 0x8 | 1 | >50 |
| 0x9 | 2 | >50 |
| 0xA | 3 | >50 |
| 0xB | 4 | >50 |
| 0xC | 5 | >50 |
Default iBeacon TX Power value is set to 0x07 (0dBm).
Battery life for a SafeDistance iBeacon is apprx. 5years when TX power is set to 0dBm. Batteries can be replaced with 2x R2477 coin type.
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