ESP32 BLE tracker can't find anything

ESPHome
#1

Hi,
I need some help. I’m trying to integrate ESP32 into my home assistant.

I have esp32dev board with bluetooth and wifi. BLE tracker enabled, but probably not working properly.

esphome:
  name: bluetooth1

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

# Enable logging
logger:

esp32_ble_tracker:

I recently flashed Xiaomi LYWSD03MMC B1.4 with custom firmware v3.9 (pvvx.github.io), the device is responding and working perfectly. But I can’t find it in BLE scanner in ESPhome. I followed already different youtube tutorials and it usually should be discovered very soon after scan start. But it doesn’t, well no device shows up.

Any ideas what am I doing wrong?

Thank you
Jakub

#2

Missing some important stuff in your yaml?

Ether do like described in the docs on how to get your LYWSD03MMC working :point_down:

Or go full monty with the bluetooth proxy so HA will handle all the payloads etc.

#3

Thanks for your answer, I found the mac address with a different app on my phone and then set it directly as sensor. It works now, but the scanner still nothing :man_shrugging: nevermind, sensor is working

#4

I experienced something similar recently as well. I could not get any devices to appear when using esp32_ble_tracker to scan. After a lot of trial and error, I found this solution.

#5

Thank you @icecreamtruck! Exactly, this solves the problem and BLE tracker found the device.

In the last few days I experienced another issue - the sensor freezes for no reason. The sensor physically keeps measuring, but stops sending data. I tried HA restart, sensor restart but nothing helped. I had to unplug esp32 and plug it back. But when I checked if the esp32 is working, it was logging everything normally. Now I tried to downgrade custom firmware of the Xiaomi sensor, noa I’m waiting if it happens again, it took few days to happen.

#6

The above solution did not work for me. But the following did: I disabled the continuous search and made 2 buttons that start and stop the search. So when I started the search the devices appeared in the log

esp32_ble_tracker:
  scan_parameters:
    continuous: false  
  id: ble_tracker_id

button:
  - platform: template
    name: "Start Scan"
    on_press:
      - esp32_ble_tracker.start_scan:
  
  - platform: template
    name: "Stop Scan"
    on_press:
      - esp32_ble_tracker.stop_scan:
#7

I have 16 of the Xiaomi BLE temp sensors around the house and they works really well!
I use the bluetooth proxy and have 2 ESP 32 boards on either side of the house.
I flashed the custom firmware onto the temp sensors and enabled the BTHome reporting.
Install the BTHome integration and it seems to just auto discover them no problem!