I’ve got FastLED working beautifully on my project and am attempting to add bluetooth control but I seem to need some help. I’ve got the android LED controller app installed on my nexus 7, and my DFRobot V3 bluetooth chip powered up and paired with the nexus. The code is running on my Arduino Micro and the lights are on and running the initial mode I’ve selected. I’ve connected to my BT device in the app. However, when I try to change modes and press “engage” in the android app, nothing happens. 
I’ve connected TX → pin 2 and RX → pin 3 on my arduino micro. (also power and ground are hooked up)
I’ve tried all the various baud rates (uncommenting each line one at a time) and it doesn’t help. The default on my BT chip is 9600 baud.
I have updated the code as follows:
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <FastSPI_LED2.h>
#define VERSION_NUMBER 0.51
//—LED SETUP STUFF
#define LED_COUNT 28 //FOR TESTING w/ SIGN
#define LED_DT 9 //SERIAL DATA PIN
#define LED_CK 11 //SERIAL CLOCK PIN
#define DATA_PIN 9
int BOTTOM_INDEX = 0;
int TOP_INDEX = int(LED_COUNT/2);
int EVENODD = LED_COUNT%2;
struct CRGB leds[LED_COUNT];
int ledsX[LED_COUNT][3]; //-ARRAY FOR COPYING WHATS IN THE LED STRIP CURRENTLY (FOR CELL-AUTOMATA, MARCH, ETC)
int ledMode = 3; //-START IN RAINBOW LOOP
//int ledMode = 888; //-START IN DEMO MODE
//int ledMode = 888; //-MODE TESTING
int thisdelay = 20; //-FX LOOPS DELAY VAR
int thisstep = 10; //-FX LOOPS DELAY VAR
int thishue = 0; //-FX LOOPS DELAY VAR
int thissat = 255; //-FX LOOPS DELAY VAR
int max_bright = 64; //-SET MAX BRIGHTNESS TO 1/4
int thisindex = 0; //-SET SINGLE LED VAR
int thisRED = 0;
int thisGRN = 0;
int thisBLU = 0;
//—SERIAL/SOFTWARE SERIAL SETUP STUFF
#define SERIAL_BAUDRATE 9600
//#define SERIAL_BAUDRATE 57600
//#define SERIAL_BAUDRATE 115200
#define SERIAL_TIMEOUT 5
#define SOFT_RX_PIN 2 // BTCHIP-TX → NANO-SOFT-RX (2)
#define SOFT_TX_PIN 3 // BTCHIP-RX → NANO-SOFT-TX (3)
SoftwareSerial btSerial(SOFT_RX_PIN, SOFT_TX_PIN);
int btBOOL = 1; //-ACTIVATE BLUETOOTH OR NOT
byte inbyte; //-SERIAL INPUT BYTE
int thisarg; //-SERIAL INPUT ARG
Here’s a photo of me wearing my project. Yes! It’s a light-up, swimmable mermaid tail. I am almost ready to do some photo shoots but I really need to be able to change modes without completely de-mermaid-ing.
Any and all advice and help is greatly appreciated!!! (I’m having no end of trouble with bluetooth on this project and am just about ready to rip all my fins out)
