Question 1

How to use Universal Bluetooth Beacon Library with Xamarin?

Accepted Answer

Install the core NuGet package and add platform-specific projects for Android and UWP using the provided extensions. The README includes Xamarin example apps, but note that iOS support is mentioned as coming later.

Question 2

Universal Beacon Library vs raw BluetoothLEAdvertisementWatcher in UWP

Accepted Answer

This library abstracts the clustering of advertisements by MAC address and parses Eddystone and iBeacon frames automatically, saving you from implementing low-level protocol details, as shown in the C# usage example versus manual byte parsing.

Question 3

Does it support iBeacon on Android devices?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through Proximity Beacon frames compatible with iBeacon, but you must use Xamarin for Android and comply with Apple's iBeacon license agreement, as highlighted in the README's philosophy section.

Question 4

How to parse custom beacon frames not covered by Eddystone or iBeacon?

Accepted Answer

Create a derived class from the base beacon frame type and implement custom parsing logic. The library's extensibility allows this, demonstrated in the code example for unknown frames where raw payload is accessible.

Question 5

Is Universal Beacon Library still maintained in 2024?

Accepted Answer

The last update was in August 2017, and the README states it's stable, but for active development, check the GitHub issues page or the author's Twitter, as suggested in the availability section.

Question 6

What Bluetooth permissions are needed for Windows 10 beacon apps?

Accepted Answer

Ensure Bluetooth is turned on, device sync is enabled in privacy settings, and flight mode is off, as detailed in the README's permissions and privacy settings guide for UWP applications.

Universal Bluetooth Beacon Library

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