node-tile

Package to ring & talk to your Tile Tracker

This project is the result of countless hours of reverse engineering the Tile bluetooth protocol. If you like my work, give this repository a ⭐ or consider Buying Me A Coffee ☕

Installation

npm install node-tile

This package can use both node-ble or noble to connect to bluetooth. This means you require a bluetooth adapter.

Based on which bluetooth package you want to use, you might need some additional configuration:

Node-ble

Provide permissions

(Source) In order to allow a connection with the DBus daemon, you have to set up right permissions.

Create the file /etc/dbus-1/system.d/node-ble.conf with the following content (customize with userid)

<!DOCTYPE busconfig PUBLIC "-//freedesktop//DTD D-BUS Bus Configuration 1.0//EN"
  "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/dbus/1.0/busconfig.dtd">
<busconfig>
  <policy user="%userid%">
   <allow own="org.bluez"/>
    <allow send_destination="org.bluez"/>
    <allow send_interface="org.bluez.GattCharacteristic1"/>
    <allow send_interface="org.bluez.GattDescriptor1"/>
    <allow send_interface="org.freedesktop.DBus.ObjectManager"/>
    <allow send_interface="org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties"/>
  </policy>
</busconfig>

Noble

Running without root/sudo (Linux-specific)

(Source) To use this package on linux, you will have to run the script as root to get access to your bluetooth adapter. Otherwise you will get the error that the noble adapter's state is unauthorized.

You can also fix this by running the following command:

sudo setcap cap_net_raw+eip $(eval readlink -f `which node`)

This grants the node binary cap_net_raw privileges, so it can start/stop BLE advertising.

Note: The above command requires setcap to be installed. It can be installed the following way:

• apt: sudo apt-get install libcap2-bin
• yum: su -c \'yum install libcap2-bin\' You will have to checkout the noble documentation on how to configure NodeJS to use a Bluetooth Adapter.

Usage

See example.js or example-noble.js. Once you have a connected service, you can do the following:

Make your tile ring:

await service.sendRinger(TileVolume.MED)

Program the default ring tone:

await service.sendRinger(TileVolume.MED)

Run some code on a single tab on your tile's button:

service.on("singleTab", _ => console.log("Got single tab!"))

Double tab:

service.on("doubleTab", _ => console.log("Got double tab!"))

On signal strength/RSSI update reported by bluetooth adapter

only supported by noble, NOT node-ble

service.on("rssi", rssi => console.log("rssi", rssi))

On signal strength/RSSI update reported by your tile

service.on("tileRssi", rssi => console.log("tileRssi", rssi))

Get debug output:

service.on("debug", msg => console.log("debug", msg))

Features

• Make your Tile ring
• Get the signal strength to your Tile (only available using noble)
• Act on the event you single click your Tile button
• Act on the event you double click your Tile button
• Program the "Bionic Birdie" song

Tested & working with

• Tile Slim 2022
• Tile Pro 2022
• Tile Mate 2022

This package may not work with all Tiles as the protocol changes over time. Also the level of success may vary depending on your bluetooth adapter and tile.